
DISCUSSION WITH M. PASTEUR 163 
of publicity, it is conceivable that an interesting in- 
vestigation may result ; but if it is really desired to 
obtain a verdict which will carry weight elsewhere 
than in Paris, it would be well to add to the dis- 
tinguished savants already nominated some who are 
less committed to Pasteur’s views and less dazzled 
by the glamour of his great reputation. We doubt 
much whether Pasteur would, even with the strongest 
guarantees, consent to appear before three English 
believers in spontaneous generation.” 
On the afternoon of July 15 I met the Commis- 
sion, by arrangement, in the laboratory of M. Pasteur 
at the Ecole Normale. The Commission was re- 
presented only by MM. Dumas and Milne Edwards, 
M. Boussingault having been compelled to withdraw 
on account of a recent domestic affliction. M. 
Pasteur was also present. 
The first stage of our discussion was the announce- 
ment to me by M. Milne Edwards of his objection 
to the second condition mentioned in my letter of July 
6, and of his determination to take no part in the 
inquiry if I still adhered to this condition. M. 
Dumas’ letter of July 12, in the name of the Com- 
mission, and on the faith of which I had come to 
Paris, was thus at once set aside. 
M. Milne Edwards contended that he could not 
take part in any Academy Commission which had 
not full power to vary the experiments at discretion ; 
while I, on the other hand, contended that my stay in 
Paris must, as I had said from the first, be limited 
to a few days, and that I could not see my way, 
