I shall willingly withdraw any historical argument, if shown that I have unawares rested on a false basis.

In balancing counter statements and reasons from diverse sources, different minds come to different statistical conclusions.
Dean Milman ("Hist.

of Christianity," vol.ii.p.

341) when deliberately weighing opposite opinions, says cautiously, that "Gibbon is perhaps inclined to underrate" the number of the Christians.

He adds: "M.