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Proceedings of Societies, 



essentials of history — they say the books ascribed to Moses are 

 devoid of authority, and must be abandoned ! 



That is not the way in which we are accustomed to read any 

 ancient history ; and, though different canons are used for criti- 

 cising the inspired writers from those applied to other historians, 

 yet, as to the mere text, the books of Moses are entitled beyond 

 others to a fair and liberal construction, as the most ancient books 

 in the world, and as having passed through an infinite number of 

 transcriptions and translations. 



But I must declare my entire concurrence with Dr Hannah, that 

 " it is a dangerous and mistaken policy to raise these disputes to 

 adventitious importance, by treating them as though they neces- 

 sarily involved the issue of our highest interests." 



For the persons of tender conscience, who feel themselves con- 

 strained " to build up those scattered fragments of difficulty into a 

 coherent edifice of doubt," they would themselves surely feel easier, 

 as it would be a relief to the world, who are judging in the quarrel, 

 if they could cease to be members of a Church which founds so 

 confidently on the Mosaical history. They would assail with more 

 satisfaction if they had not promised to defend. 



For the geologist, if my voice were wanting to encourage him, 

 I would bid him go forward, cautiously, reverently, yet without 

 fear. Let him test the evidence with all care before publishing a 

 discovery. He must consider he has everything to prove, and he 

 should assert nothing without evidence, and take nothing for 

 granted. We want proof of the antiquity of the Drift-deposit, and 

 of the fossils contained in it belonging to the extinct animals 

 named. We want proof that the flints are hand-wrought, and not 

 chipped accidentally in the rolling drift. Much more, we desire 

 proof that they were found there, and not 'placed to be found by 

 some cunning quarryman. It is not only the flint instrument but 

 its manufacture, its chipping into shape, that must be tested. Is 

 the fracture of the flint such that it might have been made many 

 thousand years ago ? 



Farther, the geologist should publish to the world the evidence 

 of his facts ; for the inquiry is one that concerns the public, and in 

 which the public take an interest. But why should I intrude my 

 advice upon men who have shown they know well what is required 

 at their hands in a momentous inquiry ? Nine of the most eminent 

 geologists of France and England met in friendly conference at 

 Paris, and, later, at Abbeville, to compare specimens, to test the 

 evidence, to do everything for ascertaining the truth ; and they 

 published the proces-verhal of their proceedings in the " Natural 

 History Eeview" of last August, with the sanction of Dr Falconer's 

 name, and others equally well known. It seems hardly to be doubted, 

 that numerous frauds have been perpetrated upon the naturalists. 

 When specimens are well paid for, they become plentiful, both in 

 England and in France, but there may be means of detecting the im- 

 positions, and these means our geologists are using with all care. 

 The iron horse -shoe, lately put forth among the primeval relics, has 



