98 CRITICISMS ON " THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES " m 



devoted to the subject, but to the perfect fairness 

 of his argumentation, and the generous appreciation 

 of the worth of Mr. Darwin's labours which he 

 always displays. It would be satisfactory to be 

 able to say as much for M. Flourens. 



But the Perpetual Secretary of the French 

 Academy of Sciences deals with Mr. Darwin as the 

 first Napoleon would have treated an " ideologue ; " 

 and while displaying a painful weakness of logic 

 and shallowness of information, assumes a tone of 

 authority, which always touches upon the ludicrous, 

 and sometimes passes the limits of good breeding. 



For example (p. 56) : 



"M. Darwin continue : 'Aucune distinction absolue n'a etc 

 et ne peut etre etablie entre les especes et les varietes.' Je vous 

 ai deja dit que vous vous trompiez ; une distinction absolue 

 separe les varietes d'avec les especes." 



" Je vous ai ddjd dit ; moi, M. le Secretaire per- 

 petuel de 1' Academic des Sciences : et vous 



" ' Qui n'etes rien, 



Pas meme Academicien ; ' 



what do you mean by asserting the contrary ? " 

 Being devoid of the blessings of an Academy in 

 England, we are unaccustomed to see our ablest 

 men treated in this fashion, even by a " Perpetual 

 Secretary." 



Or again, considering that if there is any one 

 quality of Mr. Darwin's work to which friends and 

 foes have alike borne witness, it is his candour and 



