the earth was cool enough to allow of the existence of fluid
water. And, in this case, dry land may have existed before the
sea. As to the first appearance of life, the whole argument of
analogy, whatever it may be worth in such a case, is in favour
of the absence of living beings until long after the hot water
seas had constituted themselves; and of the subsequent
appearance of aquatic before terrestrial forms of life.
But whether these "protoplasts" would, if we could examine them,
be reckoned among the lowest microscopic algae, or fungi; or
among those doubtful organisms which lie in the debatable land
between animals and plants, is, in my judgment, a question on
which a prudent biologist will reserve his opinion.

I think that I have now disposed of those parts of Mr.
Gladstone's defence in which I seem to discover a design to
rescue his solemn "plea for revelation." But a great deal of the
"Proem to Genesis" remains which I would gladly pass over in
silence, were such a course consistent with the respect due to
so distinguished a champion of the "reconcilers."

I hope that my clients--the people of average opinions--have by
this time some confidence in me; for when I tell them that,
after all, Mr. Gladstone is of opinion that the "Mosaic record"
was meant to give moral, and not scientific, instruction to
those for whom it was written, they may be disposed to think
that I must be misleading them. But let them listen further to
what Mr. Gladstone says in a compendious but not exactly correct
statement respecting my opinions:--