MR. GLADSTONE AND GENESIS 179 



a question on which a prudent biologist will 

 reserve his opinion. 



I think that I have now disposed of those parts 

 of Mr. Gladstone's defence in which I seem to 

 discover a design to rescue his solemn " plea for 

 revelation." But a great deal of the " Proem to 

 Genesis " remains which I would gladly pass over 

 in silence, were such a course consistent with the 

 respect due to so distinguished a champion of the 

 reconcilers." 



I hope that my clients the people of average 

 opinions have by this time some confidence in 

 me ; for when I tell them that, after all, Mr. 

 Gladstone is of opinion that the "Mosaic record" 

 was meant to give moral, and not scientific, 

 instruction to those for whom it was written, they 

 may be disposed to think that I must be mis- 

 leading them. But let them listen further to 

 what Mr. Gladstone says in a compendious but 

 not exactly correct statement respecting my 

 opinions : 



Ho holds the writer responsible for scientific precision : I look 

 for nothing of the kind, but assign to him a statement general, 

 which admits exceptions ; popular, which aims mainly at pro- 

 ducing moral impression ; summary, which cannot but be open 

 to more or less of criticism of detail. He thinks it is a lecture. 

 I think it is a sermon (p. 5). 



I note, incidentally, that Mr. Gladstone appears 

 to consider that the differentia between a lecture 



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