any monkey in the universe; "and
you have only to say the word, Sir John, and I will just step into
the next room, and by the help of my knife and a little judgment in
choosing, I'll fit you out with a jury-article, which, if there be any
ra'al vartue in this sort of thing, will qualify you at once to be a
judge, or, for that matter, a bishop."

We were now summoned again to the lecture-room, and I had barely time
to thank Captain Poke for his obliging offer, which circumstances just
then, however, forbade my accepting.

CHAPTER XII. BETTER AND BETTER--A HIGHER FLIGHT OF REASON--MORE OBVIOUS
TRUTHS, DEEPER PHILOSOPHY, AND FACTS THAT EVEN AN OSTRICH MIGHT DIGEST.

"I gladly quit what I fear some present may have considered the personal
part of my lecture," resumed Dr. Reasono, "to turn to those portions of
the theme that should possess a common interest, awaken common pride,
and excite common felicitations. I now propose to say a few words
on that part of our natural philosophy which is connected with the
planetary system, the monikin location--and, as a consequence from both,
the creation of the world."

"Although dying with impatience to be enlightened on all these
interesting points, you will grant me leave to inquire en passant, Dr.
Reasono, if your savans receive the Mosaic account of the creation or
not."

"As far as it corroborates our own system, sir, and no farther. There
would be a manifest inconsistency in our giving an antagonistic validity
to any hostile theory, let it come from Moses or Aaron; as one of your
native good sense and subsequent cultivation will readily perceive."

"Permit me to intimate, Dr. Reasono, that the distinction your
philosophers take in this matter, is directly opposed to a very
arbitrary canon in the law of evidence, which dictates the necessity
of repudiating the whole of a witness's testimony, when we repudiate a
part."

"That may be a human, but it is not a monikin distinction. So far from
admitting the soundness of the principle, we hold that no monikin
is ever wholly right, or that he will be wholly right, so long as he
remains in the least under the influence of matter; and we therefore
winnow the false from the true, rejecting the former as worse than
useless, while we take the latter as the nutriment of facts."

"I now repeat my apologies for so often interrupting you, venerable and
learned sir; and I entreat you will not waste another moment in replying
to