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external universe is a thing which I cannot help. So, again, I cannot help 
believing that the future, under similar circumstances, will be like the past. 
That is another truth independent of all reasoning : to say that it comes from 
experience would be wrong. 
Dr. Irons. — It is reason operating in the midst of its circumstances. 
The Chairman.— To say that I arrive at that conclusion from an act of 
reasoning, or from experience, is not correct. There is some principle in the 
human mind under which I cannot help believing : I apprehend that that 
is the general sense in which the term “ reason ” has been used by Mr. 
Mitchell, and, in that way it is possible to attach a consistent meaning to 
the term. I still hold with the first passage in the paper, that reason, 
whether exerted upon philosophy, science, or religion, is substantially the 
same principle. The subject matters differ most widely, and, of course, 1 
might exercise that faculty in a different manner ; but to say that reason 
does not lie at the basis of religion, as well as at the basis of anything else, 
is simply absurd. (Cheers.) 
Mr. Mitchell. — I rejoice at the discussion that has taken place upon this 
paper. Had I not expected discussion I should not have come all the way 
from Manchester to-day ; but I wanted discussion, and I have been 
glad at the discussion we have had. Let me, as the author of the 
paper, express my gratitude for the many words of kindness and encourage- 
ment that have fallen from the lips of all the speakers. There have been 
some points which have been objected to, but the only one that I 
cared to charge my memory with bas already been answered by the 
Chairman : as for the rest, the various gentlemen who have taken part in 
the discussion have answered one another, and I am profoundly grateful to 
them for so doing. The question which has been raised about unconscious 
cerebration has been to me for some time an exceedingly interesting one, 
but I do not know how any one can be unconscious of a thing and yet 
note it. However, I will not enter into that aspect of the discussion. In 
justice to Mr. MacClymont I ought to say that I do not depreciate any 
of the men whose remarks I have subjected to review in my paper. I 
have spent many anxious hours — many earnest, thoughtful hours in 
wading as best I could through their works ; and I can assure you that 
it was with no disrespect for Mr. Mill, or any other author, that I 
put my finger on these weak points. I put my finger upon them 
simply as points around which the whole question at issue seems 
to gather ; and I trust Mr. MacClymont will not think there is any un- 
reasonable opposition on my part to that class of men, or any unwillingness 
to take hold of what truth they represent. But at the same time we must 
all admit that in writing a paper of this kind you cannot discuss every 
point. Some friend has referred to the poetical character of the paper. 
That is a discovery to me. I was not aware that there was anything of that 
kind in it ; certainly, there was not meant to be. But you know that when 
we have to meet all classes of men, and to speak so often, we do get into 
