12 RKI'LY TO THE CHARGES 



As to the charge itself, P)f bringing forward doctrines 

 with any design liostile to the principles or opinions on 

 which the welfare of society depends, or with any other in- 

 tention except that of displaying to you the impartial result 

 of my own reflections and researches, I reply in one word — 

 that it is false. I beg you, indeed, to observe, that I have 

 only remarked on the opinions of others; 1 have adduced 

 none of my own. I profess an entire ignorance of the na-, 

 ture of the vital properties, except in so far as they are dis- 

 closed by experience; and tind my knowledge on this sub- 

 ject reduced to the simple result of observation, that certain 

 phenomena occur in certain organic textures *. To the 

 question, what opinions I would substitute in place of those 

 to which I object, I answer, none. Ignorance is preferable 

 to error : he is nearer to truth who believes nothing, than 

 he who believes what is wrong. 



AvA here I take the opportunity of protesting, in the 

 strongest terms — in behalf of the interests of science, and 

 of that free discussion which is essential to its successful 

 cultivation — against the attempt to stifle impartial inquiry 

 by an outcry of pernicious tendency — and against pervert- 



• The author of the Physiologiccil Lectures entertains some peculiar vie^vs 

 concerning the evidence on which we are to rely in our physical researches, 

 which probably furnish a clue to the peculiar results at which he has arrived. 

 He "confides more in (he eye of reason than in that of sense; and would ra- 

 ther form opinions from analogy, than from the imperfect evidence of sight," 

 (p. 203,) where the expression is employed in discussing a question of fact. 

 The same statement, in nearly the same words, occurs in several other places. 

 From a comparison of these passages with each other, and with the leading 

 doctrines of the lectures, I consider their meaning to be, that when the evi- 

 dence of the senses is at variance with preconceived notions, or the construc- 

 tions, combinations, or other operations of the mental faculties, the author re- 

 jects the former and ad!ieies to the latter. As the author must be the best 

 judge of the relative value belonging to the evidence of his own senses and 

 that of his fancy, imagnation, and other internal powers, it is fair to pre- 

 sume that he has exercised a sound discretion in this very important determina- 

 tion. It is, however, rather unreasonable for iiim to expect that others should 

 rely on the working- of his i^iwcx in preference to the evidence of their own 



