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Huxley's discourse at the time, having seen in the Record 
newspaper a letter from me to the President of Sion College 
on this subject,* has kindly forwarded to me his notes, and of 
these I have gladly availed myself. 
THE TEACHING OF THE CLERGY. 
Professor Huxley, having finished his exordium, thus 
opened the issues of discussion : — 
« You [the clergy] tell your congregations that the world was made 6,000 
years ago, in six days, and that all living animals were made within that 
period,” &c. 
Then he added : — 
« I am hound to say, I do not believe these statements you make and 
teach ; and I am further bound to say that I cannot call up to mind amongst 
men of science and research, and truthful men, one who believes those things, 
but, on the other hand, who does not believe the exact contrary.” 
Now, even here, without going further, I must ask, Is the 
Professor's statement accurate? Is it true that there is, or 
ever has been, such a uniformity of opinion among the clergy 
or other students of Scripture as regards the chronology of 
Genesis ? Surely he knows something of the literature of the 
other side. Discarding altogether the interpretation now held 
by very many (as was stated by the Rev. Simcox Lea, in Sion 
College), namely, that the first verse of Genesis probably relates 
to a time at an immense chronological distance from the verses 
that follow; discarding also other modem interpretations, 
such as those of Mr. Rorison, Professor Challis, Dr. MUosh, 
and others, it is surely a well-known fact, that long before 
there were supposed to be any difficulties with science as 
regards this popular chronology of the Bible, the days " of 
creation were by many interpreted as signifying lengthened 
periods, and not literal days of twenty-four hours. It is also 
a fact that the Hebrew, Samaritan, and Septuagint versions of 
Genesis all differ, as regards the chronologies of Chapters v. 
and xi. ; and many chronologers would be found to give about 
8,000 years, as more probably the age of the world as literally 
deducible from Genesis , than the 6,000 years of the Vulgate 
and Archbishop Usher. I am quite aware that 2,000 years is 
of little account in “ geological chronology," as set forth by 
Professor Huxley ; but then such a period might be of conse- 
* Vide Note A, p. 370. 
