formation, have a well-formed polysyllabic language, without resemblance to that of the Chinese.*

any

The monosyllabic language of so large a portion of Asia appears the more remarkable, when it is contrasted with the languages of the native Americans, who in the form of the head, approach closely to the characters of the Mongolian variety. In the capability of inflexion and composition, and in the consequent length of words,† many of the American tongues offer a complete contrast to those of China, Thibet, &c.

America is also distinguished from the old continent by the great number of its different languages. Mr. JEFFERSON ‡ states that there are twenty radical languages in America for one in Asia. "More than twenty languages are still spoken in the kingdom of Mexico, most of which are at least as different from one another as the Greek and the German, or the French and Polish. The variety of idioms spoken by the people of the new continent, and which, without the least exaggeration, may be stated at some hundreds, offers a very striking phenomenon, particularly when we compare it to the few languages spoken in Asia and Europe."§

The causes of these diversities, and the relations between the form and structure of the brain, the appetites, sentiments, moral and intellectual character, of the several human races, and the genius of their languages, are important subjects for future inquiry. It will be sufficient to assert, in reference to the present subject, that no difference of language hitherto observed affords any argument against unity of the species. We can have no difficulty in arriving at this conclusion when we find, as in America, numerous completely distinct tongues in the several families of one great and, in all essential points, uniform race; and when we discover, moreover, so strong a contrast as that which the monosyllabic languages of Asia and the complicated long words of so many American languages present, in nations whose organic traits are so similar.

Adelung; Mithridates, v. i. p. 572.

+ Humboldt informs us that not lazomahuiztespixcatatzin is the term of respect used by the Mexicans in addressing the priests. Political Essay, v. i. p. 139, note. Notes on Virginia, p. 164.

Political Essay, v. i. p. 138. This statement is corroborated by Vater, who observes that "in Mexico, where the causes producing insulation of the several tribes have been for a long time in a course of diminution, Clavigero recognisedt hirty-five different languages (Saggio di Storia Americana, t. iii. append. ii. c. 3, p. 282). And those with which we are acquainted by written accounts are quite radically distinct, and almost unconnected with each other." Mithridates, th. iii. p. 373.

CHAPTER VIII.

Differences in moral and intellectual Qualities.

AFTER surveying and describing the diversities of bodily formation exhibited in the various races of men, and alluding to a few physiological distinctions, we naturally proceed to a review of their moral and intellectual characters, to examine whether the latter exhibit such peculiarities as the numerous modifications of physical structure lead us to expect; whether the appetites and propensities, the moral feelings and dispositions, and the capabilities of knowledge and reflection, are the same in all, or as different as the cerebral organs, of which they are the functions?* If the physical frame and the moral and intellectual phenomena of man be entirely independent of each other, their deviations will exhibit no coincidence; the noblest characters and most distinguished endowments may be conjoined with the meanest organization: if, on the contrary, the intellectual and moral be closely linked to the physical part, if the former be the offspring and result of the latter, the varieties of both must always correspond.

The different progress of various nations in general civilization, and in the culture of the arts and sciences, the different characters and degrees of excellence in their literary productions, their varied forms of government, and many other considerations, convince us beyond the possibility of doubt, that the races of mankind are no less characterized by diversity of mental endowments, than by those differences of organization which I have already considered. So powerful, however, has been the effect of government, laws, education, and peculiar habits, in modifying the mind and character of men, that we experience great difficulty in distinguishing between the effects of original difference, and of the operation of these external causes.

From entering at large and minutely into this interesting subject, I am as much prevented by want of the necessary information, as by the immediate object and limited length of these Lectures. To pass it over in silence would be omitting the most important part of the natural history of our species; one of the most interesting views in the comparative zoology of man. I shall therefore submit a few remarks to illustrate the point of view in which the phenomena have appeared to myself,

• See Lecture IV. p. 73 and following, on the Functions of the Brain; Section I. Chap. IV. on the Characters of the Human Head; Chap. VI. on the Structure of the Brain; and Chap. VII. on the Mental Faculties of Man.

and shall be happy if they incite any of my readers to a further prosecution of the inquiry.

The distinction of colour between the white and black races is not more striking than the pre-eminence of the former in moral feelings and in mental endowments. The latter, it is true, exhibit generally a great acuteness of the external senses, which in some instances is heightened by exercise to a degree nearly incredible. Yet they indulge, almost universally, in disgusting debauchery and sensuality, and display gross selfishness, indifference to the pains and pleasures of others, insensibility to beauty of form, order, and harmony, and an almost entire want of what we comprehend altogether under the expression of elevated sentiments, manly virtues, and moral feeling. The hideous savages of Van Diemen's Land, of New Holland, New Guinea, and some neighbouring islands, the Negroes of Congo and some other parts, exhibit the most disgusting moral as well as physical portrait of man.

PERON describes the wretched beings, whom he found on the shores of Van Diemen's Island, and of the neighbouring island Maria, as examples of the rudest barbarism: "without chiefs, properly so called, without laws or any thing like regular government, without arts of any kind, with no idea of agriculture, of the use of metals, or of the services to be derived from animals; without clothes or fixed abode, and with no other shelter than a mere shed of bark to keep off the cold south winds; with no arms but a club and spear.' ""*

Although these and the neighbouring New Hollanders are placed in a fine climate and productive soil, they derive no other sustenance from the earth than a few fern-roots and bulbs of orchises; and are often driven by the failure of their principal resource, fish, to the most revolting food, as frogs, lizards, serpents, spiders, the larvæ of insects, and particularly a kind of large caterpillar found in groups on the branches of the eucalyptus resinifera. They are sometimes obliged to appease the cravings of hunger by the bark of trees, and by a paste made by pounding together ants, their larvæ, and fern-roots.t

Their remorseless cruelty, their unfeeling barbarity to women and children, their immoderate revenge for the most trivial affronts, their want of natural affection, are hardly redeemed by the slightest traits of goodness. When we add, that they are • Voyage de Découvertes aux Terres Australes; t. i. chap. 20.

+ Collins, Account of the English Colony in N. S. Wales. Appendix. See also Turnbull's Voyage round the World, second edition, ch. viii.

quite insensible to distinctions of right and wrong, destitute of religion, without any idea of a Supreme Being, and with the feeblest notion, if there be any at all, of a future state, the revolting picture is complete in all its features.* What an afflicting contrast does the melancholy truth of this description form to the eloquent but delusive declamations of ROUSSEAU on the prerogatives of natural man and his advantages over his civilized brethren!

In

The same general character, with some softening, and some modifications, is applicable to most of the native Americans, of the Africans, and of the Mongolian nations of Asia; to the Malays, and the greater part of the inhabitants of the numerous islands scattered in the ocean between Asia and America. the most authentic descriptions we every where find proofs of astonishing insensibility to the pains and joys of others, even their nearest relations; inflexible cruelty, selfishness and disposition to cheat, a want of all sympathetic impulses and feelings, the most brutal apathy and indolence, unless roused by the pressure of actual physical want, or stimulated by the desire of revenge and the thirst of blood. Their barbarous treatment of women, the indiscriminate and unrelenting destruction of their warfare, the infernal torments inflicted on their captives, and the horrible practice of cannibalism, fill the friend of humanity by turns with pity, indignation, and horror.

With the deep shades of this dismal picture some brighter spots are mingled, which it is a pleasing task to select and particularize.

The inferiority of the dark to the white races is much more general and strongly marked in the powers of knowledge and reflection, the intellectual faculties, using that expression in its most comprehensive sense, than in moral feelings and disposi

* Mr. Collins, who had ample opportunities of observing this race, and who seems to have contemplated them with an unprejudiced mind, says, “I am certain that they do not worship sun, moon, or stars; that, however necessary fire may be to them, it is not an object of adoration; neither have they any respect for any beast, bird, or fish. I never could discover any object, either substantial or imaginary, that impelled them to the commission of good actions, or deterred them from the perpetration of what we deem crimes. There indeed existed among them some idea of a future state; but not connected in any wise with religion; for it had no influence whatever on their lives and actions." Lib. cit. p. 547. Whether they had any knowledge of right and wrong, was doubtful. They had words for good and bad, as applied to useful or hurtful objects. The sting-ray which they never ate, was bad, the kangaroo good. Their enemies were bad; their friends good; cannibalism was bad; when our people were punished for ill treating them, it was good. Midnight murders, though frequently practised among them, whenever revenge or passion were uppermost, they reprobated; but applanded acts of kindness and generosity; for of both these they were capable.' Ibid. 549,

tions. Many of the former, although little civilized, display an openness of heart, a friendly and generous disposition, the greatest hospitality, and an observance of the point of honour according to their own notions, from which nations more advanced in knowledge might often take a lesson with advantage. Many of the Negroes possess a natural goodness of heart and warmth of affection: even the slave-dealers are acquainted with their differences in character, and fix their prices, not merely according to the bodily powers, but in proportion to the docility and good dispositions of their commodity, judging of these by the quarter from which they are procured.

Although the Americans appeared so stupid to the Spaniards, that they were with some difficulty convinced of their being men and capable of becoming Christians (for which purpose a papal bull was necessary); and although this deficiency of intellect is still attested by the more candid and impartial reports of modern travellers, the empires of Mexico and Peru show that some tribes at least were capable of higher destinies, and of considerable advancement in civilization. They were united under a regular government; they practised agriculture, and the other necessary arts of life, and were not entirely destitute of those which have some title to the name of elegant.* History and romance

The visionary notions of De Paauw (Recherches Philos. sur les Américains) and Buffon (Hist. Naturelle; Homme) concerning the imperfection and feebleness of animal life in America, too lightly adopted in many instances by Robertson (Hist. of America), have been amply exposed and refuted, so far as the people themselves are concerned, by Count Carli, who has proved, by the clear testimonies of the original Spanish conquerors, that the Mexicans and Peruvians defended themselves with the greatest bravery and resolution; and that they had made considerable advances in knowledge, in the arts, in general civilization, and in government, at the time of the Spanish conquest. See his Lettere Americane, composing the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th volumes, of his Opere, 15 t. Milano, 1786: but particularly the two first.) The two fundamental truths of religion, the existence of God, and the immortality of the soul, were recognised in Peru (Lettere, t. i. 1. 7); and the knowledge of arithmetic and astronomy had been carried to a great extent (ib. t. ii. 1. 1. et 2). They had constructed considerable aqueducts, of which the remains are still to be seen, and numerous canals for irrigation, of which one is said to have been 150 leagues in length (t. i. p. 317). They were able to extract, separate, and fuse metals; to give to copper the hardness of steel, for the fabrication of their weapons and instruments; to make mirrors of this hardened copper or of hard stone; to form images of gold and silver hollow within; to cut the hardest precious stones with the greatest nicety; to manufacture and dye cotton and wool, and work and figure the stuffs in various ways; to spin and weave the fine hair of hares and rabbits into fabrics resembling and answering the purposes of silks (ibid. t. 1). The preceding statements are fully corroborated by the existing remains of these ancient arts, as seen and described by Ulloa, Bouguer, Condamine, and Humboldt. (Travels in South America, v. i. book 6, ch. 11. Acad. des Sciences; 1740, 1745. Vuedes Cordilleres, Monumens des Peuples, &c.) "The Toultees," says the latter author, "introduced the cultivation of maize and cotton; they built cities, made roads, and constructed those great pyramids, which are yet admired, and of which the faces are very accurately laid out. They knew the use of hieroglyphical paintings; they could found metal and cut the hardest stones; and they had a solar year more perfect than that of the Greeks and Romans." Political Essay, book ii, ch. 6.