Nor is personal controversy agreeable to him.

It is always a pitiful spectacle to see two hostile self-esteems crossing swords.

He protests, therefore, beforehand against every interpretation of his ideas, every personal application of his words, saying with the Spanish fablist:-- Quien haga aplicaciones Con su pan se lo coma.
In truth, several of the leading champions of "sound literary doctrines" have done him the honour to throw the gauntlet to him, even in his profound obscurity--to him, a simple, imperceptible spectator of this curious contest He will not have the presumption to pick it up.

In the following pages will be found the observations with which he might oppose them--there will be found his sling and his stone; but others, if they choose, may hurl them at the head of the classical Goliaths.
This said, let us pass on.
Let us set out from a fact.

The same type of civilization, or to use a more exact, although more extended expression, the same society, has not always inhabited the earth.