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greatly contributed to establish the doctrine of a common origin of all the languages of the globe; and to strengthen, therefore, the hypothesis of the original unity of mankind. We shall now briefly inquire, in the last place, what are the principal difficulties in the way of this hypothesis, and what the merit of the arguments by which it is usually

met.

The ground usually taken by those who uphold the doctrine of numerous original stocks, is the fixity of the characters by which the several races of men are at present distinguished; whence it is inferred that they must have been always separated by the same differences. We have already met this argument, by opposing facts; but we shall now say a word or two on the results to which it must necessarily lead, if legitimately carried out.

When it is found, for example, that in the interior of the African and the American continents, and throughout the scattered islands of Oceania, there are numerous tribes of people, differing at least as much among themselves as the Ethiopian, American, and Malayan varieties have been considered to differ from each other, it becomes obvious that we must extend our ideas of original diversity of stock to all these subordinate divisions; and that every race which differs from the rest by any well-marked characters, must have a distinct parentage assigned to it. But such an hypothesis would leave utterly unaccountable the similarity of language, tradition, habits of thought, and social condition, which is undoubtedly found to exist between nations separated from one another by trackless deserts or a wide expanse of ocean; and the more rigorously it is applied, the greater are the difficulties and inconsistencies which it involves. Thus, if, without regard to historical or philological considerations, we assume cranial conformation as a valid ground of specific distinction, we must assign a distinct ancestry to the Turks of Europe and to those of Central Asia, to the Magyars of Hungary, and to the Ugrians of Asiatic Russia; whilst we should bring together the Negroes of the Guinea coast and the blacks of Papua, and might even find it difficult to exclude the Tahitian or Marquesan islanders from the European division. If we take complexion, again, as our guide, we shall be led into yet greater absurdities; for we must then split up the Jewish people into half a score of diverse races between the ruddy Saxon and the black Hindoo we must establish a dozen of

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distinct grades; and when we come to the African, American, and Oceanic nations, we must assign a new Adam and Eve to almost every tribe. We may be told that we are refining too much-that original diversity should be inferred only where a well-marked distinction exists-that we should be guided, therefore, only by the prominent differences, and not perplex ourselves with the subordinate ones. But every one who has tried his hand at classification, whatever may be the objects of his attention, knows full well that a line must be drawn somewhere; and that, however easy may be the separation of groups when their respective characters show no tendency to mutual approximation, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, when a complete gradation exists between them. Thus it is very easy to say that the Hindoo must have had a different origin from the Saxon or Celt; but to which family shall we assign the swarthy inhabitants of Southern Europe, or the fair-skinned dwellers among the mountain ranges of Northern India? The red Egyptians and the jet black Negroes are distinct enough in the paintings left to us by the former; but without going far from the valley of the Nile, every possible shade of transition will be found. With which group are we to arrange these intermediate varieties?

Such are a few examples of the inconsistencies and difficulties which are involved in the hypothesis of numerous original stocks, marked by all the diversities of physical character which at present exist. From these (and we might multiply them almost without limit) there seems no way of escape, save in the doctrine that a certain capacity for variation exists in the human race, as in the races of domesticated animals. We have purposely abstained from dwelling on the analogical argument, which is put prominently forward by Dr. Prichard, because we have thought it more satisfactory to base our inquiries on the phenomena presented by the human race alone. And we must content ourselves for the present with the remark, that-whether our various breeds of domesticated animals have originated from single or similar stocks, as maintained by some, or are the result of the intermixture of several originally distinct species, as supposed by others, there is adequate historical evidence that, when left to themselves and introduced into new conditions, they may undergo changes, even within the course of two or three centuries, at least equal in degree to the diversities by which they were previously distinguished

same peculiarity, and causing them to breed together. In this manner are new and wellmarked varieties occasionally produced, even in our own day, among domesticated animals; although it would seem as if this tendency had well nigh exhausted itself. Now it cannot but be admitted that the human race possesses a strong tendency to spontaneous variation. How else are we to account for the endless diversity of form and feature ex

from each other. Ample proof to this effect is afforded by a comparison of the present characters of the races of animals introduced into South America by the Spaniards, and now spread in a wild state over the whole continent, with those of their domesticated ancestors. These present a striking contrast, not merely in the character of their integuments, but in the configuration of their skeletons, and not unfrequently, also, in their habits and instincts. Wide as are the phys-hibited by the individuals of any one communiical differences between the cultivated European and the barbarous Negro or the Australian savage, they are not greater than those which have been certainly produced by the agency of external conditions, within a very limited time-almost, indeed, under our own observation-in the ox, sheep, hog, &c., of South America.

It may be argued, however, that although a certain modification may be allowed to have been effected in the characters of minor subdivisions of the human race by the agency of external conditions, yet the extreme or typical forms, of whose existence in the remotest periods of the history of our race we have adequate evidence, cannot with any probability be supposed to have thus originated, and must be referred to distinct parentage at the beginning. In support of this argument it may be urged that, although complexion and cranial conformation within a certain extent are altered by climatic influence and habits of life, yet that such influences tend merely to change one variety into another, or to reduce them all to a common type; and that we have no evidence that new varieties could spring up in our race under any such agency. This is a purely physiological argument, to be discussed upon physiological grounds; and if we cannot meet it by positive disproof, we think that we can bring a strong weight of analogical evidence to bear against it. For it is a well-known fact, that all races of animals which exhibit a capacity of modification from external agencies, present at the same time a tendency to variations for which such agencies will not account, and which we are obliged, in our ignorance, to term spontaneous. It is in this manner that new breeds are every now and then originated among domesticated animals. Individuals are frequently born with some peculiarity of organization which distinguishes them from their fellows and if this peculiarity should be considered in any way advantageous, every care is taken to render it permanent, by selecting those among the offspring of this peculiar individual which present the

ty, subjected for ages to the same climatic and social influences? Moreover, we may observe it not only in the ordinary diversities which are every day offering themselves to our notice, but in extraordinary modifications of rarer occurrence, though of great significance. Thus, infants are occasionally born with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot; and this peculiarity is often found to descend through successive generations. In case those who possess it were to be exclusively matched together, there can be no reasonable doubt but that a permanent sixfingered and six-toed race of men would be produced; whilst, on the other hand, by free intermixture with the surrounding mass, the six-fingered race, however originated, tends to merge in the prevailing five-fingered type.

Now, if we turn our attention to the probable condition of the human population at an early period of its history, we shall at once see how much it would favor the perpetuation of any such spontaneous variety; for its scantiness and want of settled habits would tend to isolate different families, or very small tribes, from each other, and would occasion continual intermarriages even among very near relatives; so that the force of circumstances would do that which is now often accomplished by intentional interference, in the multiplication of breeds of animals. And if it be urged that the diversities which now occasionally present themselves are not comparable in amount with those which exist between the most widely separated types of humanity, it may be fairly replied, that we should naturally expect this tendency to spontaneous variation to have a limit; and that we might anticipate that its most remarkable manifestations should have occurred at an early period of the history of the human race, as we have every reason to believe that they did in all analogous instances-such as those of our domesticated animals and cultivated plants.

But lastly it has been argued that, admitting the possibility of all which we have urged, the lapse of time necessary to bring

this topic. It is too interesting a question, however, to pass by altogether; and we may state our own conclusion, drawn from a comparison of the geographical, physiological, and glottological considerations involved in it, that some part of High Asia was the centre from which the world was peopled; and that the race still inhabiting that region most nearly represents the original stock. All the early migrations of which we have any traditional evidence, appear to have proceeded from this region as their centre; and its connections with all other lands are such as are possessed by no other region. The Mongolian type of conformation seems to be that which is at the same time most susceptible both of improvement into the highest European form, and of degradation into the prognathous Papuan or Australian. And the more closely and extensively the affinities of language are studied, the more is it found that the most ancient inhabitants of every part of the globe communicate with the nations of High Asia, or with some of their acknowledged offsets.

about such changes as those required in any hypothesis of the single origin of the human races, is far greater than the received chronology admits; the evidence of extreme diversity of races being at least coeval with the earliest records. An objection founded upon the authenticity of the Mosaic chronology comes with an ill grace from those who refuse their assent to the Mosaic account of the origin of the human race from a single pair; and in the present state of critical inquiry, it scarcely needs a serious refutation. For there is no more reason to suppose that the book of Genesis was intended to give us an exact chronology, than that it was designed to teach us geology or astronomy. All writers who have entered upon the investigation of primæval history, have felt a difficulty in reconciling the proofs of the early existence of powerful empires and high grades of civilization, with the ordinary chronology founded upon the Mosaic records; whilst the fragmentary character of these records, depriving them of all claim to be regarded even as affording a continuous genealogy, has been increasingly felt and acknowledged by un- We must not conclude without expressprejudiced biblical critics. The whole ten-ing our high sense of the value of the labors dency of modern geological inquiry, more- of Dr. Prichard; who has unquestionably over, is to lengthen the period which has done more than any other single individual elapsed since the commencement of the re- to place Ethnology on a scientific basis. cent epoch; so that without carrying the We have seen how many departments of origin of man one step further back in geo- inquiry must be prosecuted, and this not logical time, we are quite free to assign any superficially, but profoundly, to warrant moderate number of thousands of years that even the simplest conclusion; and it is not we may think necessary, for the diffusion of too much to say that Dr. Prichard has acthe race, and for the origination of its va- quitted himself in each-whether Physical rieties. Ethnology is in no state at present Geography, Anatomy, Physiology, Psyfor dogmatical conclusions: and so far are chology, History, or Philology-as if it we from presenting our own as such, that alone had occupied his attention. Not that we should be glad if our readers would com- we would claim for him the highest place pare what we have said upon the "varieties among the votaries of any one of these of complexion in the human race,' ," with the sciences; but we are sure that he may rank opposite views put forth in a recent number as facile princeps among those who have of the Ethnological Journal. The subject attempted to bring them all into mutual rein all its branches is one not of revelation but lation. We should be giving a very erroof science and, on this and similar subjects, neous view of his labors, however, if we our most zealous theologians need not be represented them as merely directed to the afraid of being found in the company of Dr. maintenance of the position he has taken up Henry Moore; who, in his "Defence of the regarding the single origin of the race. Moral Cabbala," has cited, with approbation, his larger work he has essayed to bring tothe judgment of Bodinus-that "the unskil-gether, in a condensed form, all the most ful insisting of our divines upon the literal sense of Moses has bred many hundred thou- | sands of atheists."

It might, perhaps, be safer in the present state of the inquiry, to refrain from speculating as to the primary condition of the race, and the centre of its diffusion; and Dr. Prichard has cautiously held his peace on

In

important information that can be collected from the various sources we have indicated, illustrative of the present condition and past history of the races of mankind; and whilst deducing from these materials his own conclusions, he gives his readers the most ample means of forming a judgment for themselves the whole evidence on each point

being candidly stated without disguise or suppression. Although composed in the intervals of laborious professional occupation, this work might well be supposed to be the result of the labor of a life uninterruptedly devoted to the investigation. Originating nearly forty years since in an academical thesis, it has become the standard of ethnological science; and will remain so, we feel assured, so long as the life of its accomplished author shall be spared to engraft upon it the results of the inquiries now so extensively and vigorously prosecuted.

Of the smaller work it will be enough to say that it affords a more concise and popular view of the subject, for the use of those who might be deterred from entering upon it by the bulk and profundity of the "Physical History;" those departments, however, being dwelt upon in most detail, which most support the doctrine of the Unity of the Race. We shall be happy if, by making Dr. Prichard's writings better known among our countrymen, we contribute towards their obtaining that place in our scientific literature, which they have long held in the estimation of the learned of Germany.

by savage and unrelenting fierceness, are gentle, and tender, and affectionate to their young. The grim lion fondles with paternal softness his playful cubs; and the savage bear has been known to interpose her own body between the deadly musket and her helpless offspring. But this feeling in animals lasts only for a season. After they have nourished and brought up their young, these go out from their parents, all further ties between them are broken up, and they know each other no more. How different is this from human connections! The fond mother watches over the long and helpless period of infancy, instils into early childhood lessons of wisdom and virtue, and feels her hopes and affections increase with every year that brings an increase of reason. Nor are such family ties severed by death. The child, on its part, returns the care and affection of its parents, and when old age and second childhood come upon them, the children then feel it their greatest happiness to repay in acts of kindness and attention the debt of gratitude which is justly due. What a moral beauty is thus thrown over the common instinctive affections, and how greatly superior appears man's nature to that of the mere brute.-British Quarterly.

AFFECTION FOR OFFSPRING IN BRUTES AND HUMAN BEINGS.-One of the strongest feelings of animals is that of affection for their offspring, and indeed so intense is this impulse among the greater number, that it may be said to exceed the care which they employ for their own preservation, or the indulgence of their own appetites. Among insects and some other of the inferior tribes, the care and solicitude of providing for their young engrosses the better half of their existence; for they labor during the prime of life to provide a comfortable nest and proper food for their offspring, which they are never destined to see, death overtaking them before they can enjoy the pleasure of beholding their future family. Many timid animals that shrink from danger while they are single and alone, become bold and pugnacious when surrounded by their young. Thus the domestic hen will face any danger and encounter any foe in order to protect her brood of chickens; and the lark and linnet will allow themselves to be taken in their nest rather than desert the young which lie protected under their wings. Even those animals whose general nature is characterized

DICKENS IN AFRICA.-Perhaps no author ever sprung into popularity so suddenly and universally as Dickens. That popularity may be ascribed to the sympathy and geniality of Boz's style, and the thorough nationality and genuineness of his portraitures. An anecdote will illustrate the influence of his works upon foreigners and absentees. "Mr. Davy, who accompanied Colonel Cheney up the Euphrates, was for a time in the service of Mehemet Ali Pacha. Pickwick' happening to reach Davy while he was at Damascus, he read a part of it to the Pacha, who was so delighted with it that Davy was, on one occasion, called up in the middle of the night to finish the reading of the chapter in which he and the Pacha had been interrupted. Mr. Davy read, in Egypt, upon another occasion, some passages from these unrivalled Papers' to a blind Englishman, who was in such ecstasy with what he heard, that he exclaimed he was almost thankful he could not see he was in a foreign country; for that while he listened, he felt completely as though he were again in England."

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From Bentley's Miscellany.

MARIA EDGEWORTH.

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WHEN considering the imaginative litera- | ing to the Good Fairy who delighted us in ture of England during the past half cen- the young days when a "book was a book," tury, the historian to come,-especially if being called to the pleasant duty of prothere be anything of the Salique law-giver nouncing an éloge (as they say in France) in his composition,-will possibly be sur- upon the authoress of "Castle Rackrent,' prised by the value of the contributions and the Absentee," and "Vivian," and made to it by women. It is pleasant meanBasil Lowe," and " Harry and Lucy,"while for contemporary chroniclers to reflect the excellent and incomparable Maria Edgehow many among these have been allowed worth. by "Time and Change" to live to the full enjoyment of their virtuous and bright reputation to have seen one fashion pass and another succeed, and the illustrations of truth and beauty which they originated, as clear and as little likely to wane as at the moment of being given forth to the world, amidst all the fevers and tremors of virgin authorship. The authoress of "The Canterbury Tales" has lived to become a classic; Jane Porter, to read the long list of historical novels of which her own and her sister's were the predecessors; Joanna Baillie, though

"Retired as noontide dew,"

Our éloge, however, shall not be, "after the manner of the French," a piece of unmitigated flattery. No one has more closely and systematically addressed herself to the understanding than the delightful novelist whom we shall attempt to characterize; in the case of no one, therefore, is the keenest intellectual appreciation more of a necessity. The Della Cruscans did well to rhapsodize over one another's Della Cruscanisms; the class-novelists must look to be propped by class-panegyric, or assailed by class-prejudice;-the romantic, to be romantically approached with compliments of the superlative degree. We will try to be “ fair and honest" with one, the whole scope and tissue of whose authorship has been to defend fairness and honesty by the inculcation of truth and high principle.

delightful example among those who have been the equal and chosen friends of men of genius, and yet have kept, not acted the By Miss Edgeworth's own preface to the keeping of their womanly simplicity, has third edition of the Memoirs of her Father, been searched out on the Hampstead Hill, we are reminded that eighty-two years have by the voices of the worthiest of the world elapsed since she was born, being the daughbringing her their precious and honest trib-ter of Richard Lovell Edgeworth, by the utes. And here, now that we are at the end of a period of novelists,-now that the spasmodic manufacturers of horrors have had their day,-now that the Silver Fork people have "said their say," and can hardly find a reader in the Porter's black chair, or in the drowsy Abigail, who sits up waiting for the return of Lady Anne from Almack's -now that the last school, that of "The Wooden Ladle," with its tales of jails and hospital anatomies, and garret graces, and kennel kindlinesses, begins to tire, and its sentimentality to be proved "a hollow thing,"-here do we find ourselves, return

first of four wives, born in England, and
until the age of thirteen, with little excep-
tion, brought up in this country. So far as
can be gathered from the record already
quoted Maria was less rigidly trained accord-
ing to system than some of her brothers and
sisters; one of whom was brought up ac-
cording to the canons of Rousseau, and
others, it may be divined, on plans which her
own reference to her father's work on
"Prac-

tical Education" explicitly points out were,
in many of their details, proved to be untena-
ble, if not fallacious. Time and space may
thus have been given for an originality to de-

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