37 



t1 ; LETTER VIL 



SIR, 



SINCE you have confessed that you cannoi 

 solve the problem concerning the origin of the 

 human race by the assistance of philosophy, it 

 might have been hoped that you would have 

 lent a favourable ear to the intelligence of Reve- 

 lation; at least, that, as the account of Moses 

 could not be rectified by the calculations of 

 science, you would have permitted your pupils 

 to repose, in this respect, on the pillow of the 

 national faith. It seems you are determined to 

 inform them of the difficulties under which you 

 labour, and to invite them to join you in 

 sharing the burden. Perhaps it would not have 

 been discreditable to your character as a teach- 

 er, if you had concealed these difficulties from 

 their eyes ; and in compassion to the ignorance 

 and dangers of youth, had not thrown open the 

 portals of that scepticism, to which the descent 

 is so easy when compared with retreat. Facilis 

 descensus Averni : Sed revocare gradum. 



After the most attentive study of your opini- 

 ons, I have not been able to arrive at any clear 

 or satisfactory conclusion concerning your sen- 

 timents on the question whether mankind 

 consist of one species, or several. Allow me 



