Alfred Russel Wallace 



meritorious ? When a jury try a case, all hear the same 

 evidence, but nine say ^' Guilty ^' and three '' Not guilty,'* 

 according to the honest belief of each. Are either of these 

 more worthy of reward on that account than the others ? 

 Certainly you will say No ! But suppose beforehand they 

 all know or suspect that those who say ^' Not guilty " will 

 be punished and the rest rewarded : what is likely to be 

 the result ? Why, perhaps six will say '' Guilty '^ honestly 

 believing it, and glad they can with a clear conscience escape 

 punishment; three will say '' Not guilty *' boldly, and rather 

 bear the punishment than be false or dishonest ; the other 

 three, fearful of being convinced against their will, will 

 carefully stop their ears while tKe witnesses for the defence 

 are being examined, and delude themselves with the idea 

 they give an honest verdict because they have heard only 

 one side of the evidence. If any out of the dozen deserve 

 punishment, you will surely agree with me it is these. 

 Belief or disbelief is therefore not meritorious, and when 

 founded on an unfair balance of evidence is blameable. 



Now to apply the principles to my own case. In my early 

 youth I heard, as ninety-nine-hundredths of the world do, 

 only the evidence on one side, and became impressed with 

 a veneration for religion which has left some traces even 

 to this day. I have since heard and read much on both 

 sides, and pondered much upon the matter in all its bear- 

 ings. I spent, as you know, a year and a half in a clergy- 

 man's family and heard almost every Tuesday the very best, 

 most earnest and most impressive preacher it has ever been 

 my fortune to meet with, but it produced no effect whatever 

 on my mind. I have since wandered among men of m'any 

 races and many religions. I have studied man, and nature 

 in all its aspects, and I have sought after truth. In my 

 solitude I have pondered much on the incomprehensible 

 subjects of space, eternity, life and death. I think I have 



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