PREFA TOR Y NO TE. 



are not proven should not be authoritatively instilled 

 into the minds of young people. 



If Professor Virchow will agree to make this excel- 

 lent rule absolute, and applicable to all subjects that 

 are taught in schools, I should be disposed heartily to 

 concur with him. 



But what will his orthodox allies say to this ? If 

 " not provenness " is susceptible of the comparative 

 degree, by what factor must we multiply the imperfec- 

 tion of the evidence for evolution in order to express 

 that of the evidence for special creation ; or to what 

 fraction must the value of the evidence in favour of 

 the uninterrupted succession of life be reduced in 

 order to express that in support of the deluge ? Nay, 

 surely even Professor Virchow's " dearest foes," the 

 " plastidule soul " and " Carbon & Co.," have more to 

 say for themselves, than the linguistic accomplishments 

 of Balaam's ass and the obedience of the sun and 

 moon to the commander of a horde of bloodthirsty 

 Hebrews ! But the high principles of which Professor 

 Virchow is so admirable an exponent do not admit of 

 the application of two weights and two measures in 

 education; and it is surely. to be regretted that a man 

 of science of great eminence should advocate the 

 stern bridling of that teaching which, at any rate, 

 never outrages common sense, nor refuses to submit 

 to criticism, while he has no whisper of remonstrance 



