FoR more reasons than one we may, perhaps, now 
look back with advantage upon the friendly contro- 
versy carried on rather more than a century ago 
between the learned and generous Abbé Spallanzani 
and our no less distinguished countryman Turberville 
Needham. Writing concerning his own relation to 
Needham, the Abbé said*, “I wish to deserve his 
esteem whilst combating his opinion” ; and in accord- | 
ance with this sentiment, we find him treating his 
adversary’s views with great respect, and at the same 
time repudiating much of the empty and idle criticism 
in which so many of Needham’s contemporaries in- 
dulged with regard to his work. This criticism, 
Spallanzani sayst, “Without looking into details, 
contented itself by throwing doubt upon some of the 
facts, and by explaining after its own fashion others 
whose possibility it was willing to admit.” He more- 
over warmly reprobated the ignorant and disrespectful 
* Nouvelles Recherches sur les Découvertes Microscopiques et la 
Génération des Corps Organisés, &c. London and Paris, 1769, vol. i., 
p. 69. + Loc. cit., p. 9. 
