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274
Hereditary Genius
recent cases will, I trust, satisfy the reader, and absolve me from
entering any further into details.
The summary of the results concerning the Divines, to which I have
thus far arrived, is: That they are not founders of families who have
exercised a notable influence on our history, whether that influence
be derived from the abilities, wealth, or social position of any of their
members. That they are a moderately prolific race, rather under, than
above the average. That their average age at death is a trifle less
than that of the eminent men comprised in my other groups. That
they commonly suffer from over-work. That they have usually
wretched constitutions. That those whose constitutions were
vigorous, were mostly wild in their youth; and conversely, that most
of those who had been wild in their youth and did not become pious
till later in life, were men of vigorous constitutions That a pious
disposition is decidedly hereditary. That there are also frequent cases
of sons of pious parents who turned out very badly; but I shall have
something to say on what appears to me to be the reason for this.
I therefore see no reason to believe that the Divines are an
exceptionally favoured race in any respect; but rather, that they are
less fortunate than other men. I now annex my usual tables.
TABLE I.
SUMMARY OF RELATIONSHIPS OF 33 OF THE DIVINES OF
MIDDLETON'S “BIOGRAPHIA EVANGELICA” GROUPED
INTO 25 FAMILIES.
One relation (or two in family).
Clarke
F.
Knox
p.
2. Dod (and Wilkins)
p.
Leighton
F.
(Downe, see Jewell.)
(Nowell, see Whitaker.)
2. Erskine
B.
Welch
S.
Guise
S.
Whitaker (and Nowell)
u.
Hildersham
S.
(Wilkins, see Dod.)
Hospinian
u.
Witsius
u.
2. Jewell (and Downe)
n.
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