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earth,” but expressly shows that we are “ the offspring of 
God.” The account of the creation of Adam is given in 
Genesis as a, fact. If not a fact, it must be a fiction. 
But let the talented “father” choose which. He cannot 
combat on both sides. He does not himself believe in 
Darwin’s theory, and to attempt a compromise is to mingle 
in the tumult of discordant voices described by Dante as 
filling an atmosphere * of no definite shade of colour, but 
obscure, like a London fog.f Here are collected on the banks 
of the Styx the souls of those who lived in the world in a 
state of neutrality and compromise ; and they have for their 
companions the angels who were neither faithful to God, nor 
yet rebellious against Him. The position is desci’ibed as one 
of such extreme discomfort that they would willingly change 
it for any other lot.J 
The highly popular orator to whom I allude will pardon 
me for saying that I should be sorry to see even a tendency 
in this direction, either in his case or in that of others, whom 
these remarks may concern. 
“ Fama di loro il mondo esser non lassa, 
Misericordia e giustizia gli sdegna, 
Non ragioniam di lor, ma guarda e passa.” 
In the Utopia, in which alone I shall ever desire to become 
an active citizen, I should seek the enactment of stringent 
regulations, to the effect that no public instructor should be 
allowed to teach anything that he does not Icnoiv. The man 
of science should explain facts, and give us the theories neces- 
sary to bind the facts together, and to give them their logical 
import ; but he must distinguish between what is proven and 
what is unproven. If he goes beyond his ordinary province 
and ventures on philosophy, he should do so under peril of 
having his claims to the fair title of philosopher subjected to 
the searching of such courts of equity as we have here in 
England. If he cannot do this, and if he fail to describe and 
to make manifest to all, his perfect familiarity with and know- 
ledge of that portion of “the infinite azure” which he claims 
as peculiarly his own, he should be adjudged by a jury of his 
countrymen a spurious claimant, and treated accordingly. 
I should also endeavour to avoid the practical inconvenience 
* “ Senza tempo tinta.” 
t “Come l’arena quando ’1 turbo spira." 
I “ Che invidiose son d’ogni ultra sorte.” 
