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form；〃 intelligible enough as a metaphor； if taken literally is
absurd； for a material thing existing in space must have a
superficies； and if it has a superficies it has a form。
The wildest streaks of marestail clouds in the sky； or the most
irregular heavenly nebulae； have surely just as much form as a
geometrical tetrahedron； and as for 〃void；〃 how can that be void
which is full of matter？ As poetry； these lines are vivid and
admirable； as a scientific statement； which they must be taken
to be if any one is justified in comparing them with another
scientific statement； they fail to convey any intelligible
conception to my mind。
The account proceeds： 〃And darkness was upon the face of the
deep。〃 So be it； but where； then； is the likeness to the
celestial nebulae； of the existence of which we should know
nothing unless they shone with a light of their own？ 〃And the
spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters。〃 I have met
with no form of the nebular hypothesis which involves anything
analogous to this process。
I have said enough to explain some of the difficulties which
arise in my mind； when I try to ascertain whether there is any
foundation for the contention that the statements contained in
the first two verses of Genesis are supported by the nebular
hypothesis。 The result does not appear to me to be exactly
favourable to that contention。 The nebular hypothesis assumes
the existence of matter； having definite properties； as its
foundation。 Whether such matter was created a few thousand years
ago； or whether it has existed through an eternal series of
metamorphoses of which our present universe is only the last
stage； are alternatives； neither of which is scientifically
untenable； and neither scientifically demonstrable。 But science
knows nothing of any stage in which the universe could be said；
in other than a metaphorical and popular sense； to be formless
or empty； or in any respect less the seat of law and order than
it is now。 One might as well talk of a fresh…laid hen's egg
being 〃without form and void；〃 because the chick therein is
potential and not actual； as apply such terms to the nebulous
mass which contains a potential solar system。
Until some further enlightenment comes to me； then； I confess
myself wholly unable to understand the way in which the nebular
hypothesis is to be converted into an ally of the
〃Mosaic writer。〃
But Mr。 Gladstone informs us that Professor Dana and Professor
Guyot are prepared to prove that the 〃first or cosmogonical
portion of the Proem not only accords with； but teaches； the
nebular hypothesis。〃 There is no one to whose authority on
geological questions I am more readily disposed to bow than that
of my eminent friend Professor Dana。 But I am familiar with what
he has previously said on this topic in his well…known and
standard work； into which； strangely enough； it does not seem to
have occurred to Mr。 Gladstone to look before he set out upon
his present undertaking； and unless Professor Dana's latest
contribution （which I have not yet met with） takes up altogether
new ground； I am afraid I shall not be able to extricate myself；
by its help； from my present difficulties。
It is a very long time since I began to think about the
relations between modern scientifically ascertained truths and
the cosmogonical speculations of the writer of Genesis； and； as
I think that Mr。 Gladstone might have been able to put his case
with a good deal more force； if he had thought it worth while to
consult the last chapter of Professor Dana's admirable 〃Manual
of Geology；〃 so I think he might have been made aware that he
was undertaking an enterprise of which he had not counted the
cost； if he had chanced upon a discussion of the subject which I
published in 1877。
Finally； I should like to draw the attention of those who take
interest in these topics to the weighty words of one of the most
learned and moderate of Biblical critics：
〃A propos de cette premiere page de la Bible； on a coutume de
nos jours de disserter； a perte de vue； sur l'accord du recit
mosaique avec les sciences naturelles； et comme celles…ci tout
eloignees qu'elles sont encore de la perfection absolue； ont
rendu populaires et en quelque sorte irrefragables un certain
nombre de faits generaux ou de theses fondamentales de la
cosmologie et de la geologie； c'est le texte sacre qu'on
s'evertue a torturer pour le faire concorder avec
ces donnees。〃
In my paper on the 〃Interpreters of Nature and the Interpreters
of Genesis；〃 while freely availing myself of the rights of a
scientific critic； I endeavoured to keep the expression of my
views well within those bounds of courtesy which are set by
self…respect and consideration for others。 I am therefore glad
to be favoured with Mr。 Gladstone's acknowledgment of the
success of my efforts。 I only wish that I could accept all the
products of Mr。 Gladstone's gracious appreciation； but there is
one about which； as a matter of honesty； I hesitate。 In fact； if
I had expressed my meaning better than I seem to have done； I
doubt if the particular proffer of Mr。 Gladstone's thanks would
have been made。
To my mind； whatever doctrine professes to be the result of the
application of the accepted rules of inductive and deductive
logic to its subject…matter； and which accepts； within the
limits which it sets to itself； the supremacy of reason； is
Science。 Whether the subject…matter consists of realities or
unrealities； truths or falsehoods； is quite another question。 I
conceive that ordinary geometry is science； by reason of its
method； and I also believe that its axioms； definitions； and
conclusions are all true。 However； there is a geometry of four
dimensions； which I also believe to be science； because its
method professes to be strictly scientific。 It is true that I
cannot conceive four dimensions in space； and therefore； for me；
the whole affair is unreal。 But I have known men of great
intellectual powers who seemed to have no difficulty either in
conceiving them； or； at any rate； in imagining how they could
conceive them； and； therefore； four…dimensioned geometry comes
under my notion of science。 So I think astrology is a science；
in so far as it professes to reason logically from principles
established by just inductive methods。 To prevent
misunderstanding； perhaps I had better add that I do not believe
one whit in astrology； but no more do I believe in Ptolemaic
astronomy； or in the catastrophic geology of my youth； although
these； in their day； claimedand； to my mind； rightly claimed
the name of science。 If nothing is to be called science but that
which is exactly true from beginning to end； I am afraid there
is very little science in the world outside mathematics。
Among the physical sciences； I do not know that any could claim
more than that it is true within certain limits； so narrow that；
fo