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It would be both uncourteous and unfair of me to close these my hasty
Lectures, without expressing my hearty thanks for the great courtesy and
kindness which I have received in this my first visit to your most noble
and beautiful city; and often, I am proud to say, from those who differ
from me deeply on many important points; and also for the attention with
which I have been listened to while trying, clumsily enough, to explain
dry and repulsive subjects, and to express opinions which may be new,
and perhaps startling, to many of my hearers. If my imperfect hints
shall have stirred up but one hearer to investigate this obscure and yet
most important subject, and to examine for himself the original
documents, I shall feel that my words in this place have not been spoken
in vain; for even if such a seeker should arrive at conclusions
different from my own (and I pretend to no infallibility), he will at
least have learnt new facts, the parents of new thought, perhaps of new
action; he will have come face to face with new human beings, in whom he
will have been compelled to take a human interest; and will surely rise
from his researches, let them lead him where they will, at least
somewhat of a wider-minded and a wider-hearted man.
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