thing so unphilosophical, so unreasonable, be was 268 years later than the earliest mention entitled to our belief. of the white race; and according to the HeOn the other hand, whilst our mode of arbrew chronology 842 years after the flood, or gument is objected to what we ask, is the ar- 1650 years after the flood, according to the gument of our opponents, is it demonstra- Septuagint Chronology. There is an absotion, is it proof? No-nothing but inference lute want of testimony in the examination of from the first starting point, to the very con- such skulls as have been submitted to the clusion, different nations are unlike; we are learned inspection of the late Dr. Morton, as not to account reasonably, philosophically-to what period they belonged. It will doubtfrom experience, from observation, from as-lessly be admitted, that a high degree of mencertainable causes, why this difference; but tal and moral culture exercises a large influlooking to it in an isolated view, obscured by ence in moulding the development of the the impenetrable veil of a mysterious nature, brain, and unless the doctor could have shown simply to say that the unlikeness, in the human race, admits no explanation, and mankind are no longer one. If the different nations of Antiquity were not derived from a common centre, there would be some reliable date upon which the ethnographer could stand to prove some, if not all nations, had taken a rise, a la into existences, and had continued its ide tity, as a people, down to the present romeat; there is no question connected with man upon which he is, and has always beea, more anxious, more inquisitive. than Lis national origin; yet the archives, the history, the tradition of no people, preserve different, original, distinctive types, and why-it does not exist. Much learning has been exhibited in connection with the examination of the negro skull, and the comparative inferiority of the negro with the European. We are unable to see the scientific force of that argument, which makes the negro, with a different cranium, and different facial Angle, so slight as it is, an entirely different race. If our readers are satisfied that the complexion and hair are occasioned by climate, we feel assured that the argument deduced from the negro craniometry will be the most inefficient of any that has been presented by our very learned antiquarian authors. No doubt exists now, if indeed ever, but that the negro race have depreciated from an educated and enlightened sphere, to their present fallen condition, and their degradation is attributable to certain external causes. The negro race, according to Dr. Morton, is known to have existed 3345 years.* This * Crania Americana. p. 88. VOL. XXI-4 that the one hundred skulls sent him by Mr. Glidd on from the tombs of departed Egyptian glory, belonged to a period of the cultivated times of Egypt, we will conclude that they did not, for the obvious reason, that the upon author of Leipsius, no primitive Egyptian crania -xist earlier than 550 B. C. This compares with the great Egyptian period, at which time it is said by Pickering that most of the Egy stian mummies had been removed by the Roans, the Greeks, the Persians, and the Sa.acens. It is more probable, that these skulls beof which belonged to the Egyptian race, longe to degenerate race, only forty nine twenty nine Pelasgie, six Semitic, two he denominates idiot, and one negro-this is very conclusive with us also-that these skulls full tide of his intellectual development, in were not from the old Egyptian, when in the no other way can the discrepancy and mixture be accounted for; the Semitic, it will be remembered, belongs to the white race. The intelligent reader will not require proof of the enlightened and educated condition of the once proud and polished Egyptian, and it will be useless to accumulate authority-if then it be admitted that a long process of education, mental and moral, does develope the brain, it will be at once conceeded, if Dr. Morton's examination be entitled to the weight of scientific testimony-that it must relate to a time at which the Egyptian nation was sinking into that night of darkness, from which it has never yet immerged. If we are mistaken in this view of the subject, it will not be asking too much of the reader, or placing too low an estimate on the learning and talent of Dr. Morton, to place his testi Smyth, p. 366. mony on an equal standing with other, and were driven from Armagh, and the south of as high, and pure, and learned authority. Down into that mountainous tract extending Dr. Caldwell in comparing the negro and from the barony of Flews eastward to the Caucasian races, says: "In both individuals sea; -on the other side of the kingdom the we find the brain which we regard as the same race were exposed to the worst effects seat of the moral principles, precisely alike, of hunger and ignorance, the two great bruexcept that in the African it is somewhat talizers of the human race. Their decensmaller." dants are marked by great physical degradaAnother more learned even than Dr. tion. They are remarkable for open, projectCaldwell, one who has laboriously analyzed ing mouths, prominent teeth and exposed the skulls of the negro, and European, de- gums, and their advancing cheek bones and nies their inequality in any essential partic-depressed noses, bear barbarism in their very ular.f front. It is said also, in Sligo, and northern If it were contended, that the ancient Mayo, the result of the two centuries of degBritain belonged to a different "type" than radation and hardship has shown so forcibly the present inhabitant of the Island, it might in the entire physical condition of the people, be done with equal force of reason and con- as to affect not only the features, but the sistency-for we are informed by Dr. Tiede-frame and form which, whilst it is to be lamann, that the brain of the early and unciv-mented, we can but regard it as a valuable ilized Britain, was not more developed than lesson of instruction upon human deteriorathe average sized negro brain.‡ Hamilton tion from known causes. "Five feet two Smith sustains us in the view, just taken, inches upon an average, pot-bellied, bowthat the development of the brain depends legged, abortively featured: their clothing a much on education. It has been manifested wisp of rags, these spectres of a people, who in the African race in this country. "The were once well grown, able bodied, and comemoment either typical stock, is in a position ly, stalk abroad into the day light of civilizato be intellectually excited, by education, it tion; the annual apparitions of Irish ugliness, is progressive in development in succeeding and Irish want."* generations."|| In other parts of the Island, where the In connection with this branch of our sub-population, consisting of the same race of peoject, it will be well worthy the attention of ple perhaps, and more than probable, nearly those who deny the unity of the races, to allied, had not been subjected to the same permit us to refer them to an instance of the causes of physical degradation, we find exdecay of a part of a race, which belongs to hibited the most perfect specimens of human modern times, the typical identity of which, beauty, moral and mental attractions, and all none will deny; and another thing is worthy other features of enlightenment, which mark of recommendation to that class of thinkers the most refined and polished of the Caucawho hold the absurd doctrine that no people sian family. have ever made a great change, either from de- It supplies us with a very strong argument gradation and barbarism, to high advancement to notice the remarkable history of a class and civilization, or from the heights of civili- of people, who still inhabit the Island of Ceyzation, become fallen and degraded, without lon, situated in the Indian Ocean, at the ena change in its blood by some admixture trance of the Bay of Bengal. The climate is with another nation. We allude to a well excellent, and it abounds in some very supeknown occurrence in modern history, among rior soil, and is particularly abundant in fruits a portion of the Irish population. It is related of a superior quality. Knox, who resided. on the plantation of Ulster, and afterwards among the Islanders for nearly twenty years, on the success of the British against the rebels speaks of them as being, "in carriage and in 1641 and 1689, that great numbers of Irish Enquiry, &c. in the Portfolio, p. 13. † Dr. Tiedemanu. Tiedemann on the brain of the negro, in the Phil. Trans. 1838. p. 497. Nat. His. Human Race, pp. 132, 194. behavior very grave and stately; in understanding quick and apprehensive; in danger subtle and crafty; in discourse courteous, neat *Unity of the races by Smyth, p. 370. And Dublin University Mag. No. 48. and provident in their families; commend- it must appear evident to all that no distinct ing good husbandry." Industrious, active, types exist, when the gradual steps from one and of midling size, they possess a health, variety to another are such, as to forbid any one constitution, and average four score and up-from making any demarkation of its alterawards.* tions: when after commencing, how traceable, how defined, how noted in its progress. They are all impossible. Among these people, of the same race, sprung from the same loins, are to be found a numerous population called "Veddahs," who We hope, after what has been written, the have refused all efforts made by the govern- reader may be enabled to come to the same ment, and by self-sacrificing missionaries, to conclusion with us; that the authors of the be enticed from their wild jungle life, and work before us, have failed to establish upon bow beneath the mild and genial rule of civ-any philosophical grounds, the principle with ilization. They are not savages, for they which they started, and the object for which are harmless, they escape from the sight of they have expended so much labor and learnother men than their class, and despise alike ing. the homes, as well as the habitations, and Look for a moment to the history written clothing of man. In their food they are om- and traditional of the human race; nothing niverous, eating carrion, vermin and every is disclosed to shake the established faith thing loathsome to civilized men, and are well informed persons must have, that we described by a recent traveller, as being "tim- can trace, in the language of Sir William id, though active, and deformed, though ath-Jones, to one center the three great famletic, with large heads and misshapen limbs."ilies from which the families of Asia apThe children he likewise speaks of as very pear to have procceded." unsightly objects, " entirely naked, with misshapen joints, huge heads, and smaller sto machs.t" For, says Dr. Goodman, "The history of the world as presented to us by the most authentic records, or by the voice of univerAre these people distinct in type from the sal tradition, leads us inevitably to conclude, inhabitants of the Island, or can a reasona- that from some point in the eastern Contible supposition be found for their remarka- nent the human race originated, and gradble physical, as well as moral condition?ually extended in various directions, subThose acquainted with the topography of the ject to the influence of all accidents of Island, and the dreadful jungles that exist place, climate, disease, and the facility or in the country, fruitful only of the death- difficulty in procuring food."" bearing malaria, and jungle fevers, will see at once, the cause of their continued degradation and deformity. Look to the profound and wondrous researches of Geology which has lent even though reluctantly, its undying light to sustain the truth of the Mosaic record, by testifying that no traces of man can be found at a period earlier than that pointed out by the pen of inspiration. A few of the Veddahs who have been enticed within the range of civilization, are rapidly emerging from their low condition and wearing the likeness of the islanders, yet the "Types of Mankind" would suppose, And as we learn from the very hand of and have us believe, they were of another type. inspiration that the earth was peopled by the Sufficient has been said to convince the three sons of Noah, it is also true, that most reader, that the races of man have at all if not all the known inhabitants of the globe ages been subject to certain varieties, which can be, and indeed have been, traced to one have been occasioned by external causes; or the other of these three roots; " and thus which in themselves are changing, and subject to repeated modifications. The insensible gradations of their varieties have long attracted the attention of scholars, and *Edn. Enc. Art. Ceylon. Tennent on the physical and social history of Cey lon, also quoted by Smyth, p. 270 verify in their permanent condition and destiny the prophecy made by Noah, and preserved by Moses, respecting the future posterity of Shem, Ham, and Japhet." *American Nat. His, vol. I. p. 19. + Lyell's Principles of Geology. Mantell's Wonders of Geology. We have endeavoured to show that the have considerable effect in altering the conunity of the races, has been regarded as an stitution of men and animals; but that this established fact, not from the Bible, for that effect, as well as that of art or accident, is must be conceded by all, who are not poisoned confined to the individual, not being transby the influence of infidelity; but, from the mitted by generation, and therefore not af book of nature we have drawn our facts; fecting the race. That the human species, the hand of science has been uplifted in our therefore, like that of the cow, sheep, horse, behalf, which we have used; the voice of pig and others, is single; and that all the experience, and observation have alike pro- differences which it exhibits, are to be regardclaimed that we are right; the learning of ed merely as varieties."* the philosophers, and especially those acquainted with comparative anatomy, has been our hand maid, and literally may we exclaim in the language of the great dramatic poet, "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin." We have traced the causes which operate, and operate to a sufficient and satisfactory extent, in producing and accounting for every variety; and fully persuaded are we, that whether our subject be the wild Indian of America; the Caucasian or the black; "whatever may be their tints, their souls are still the same." From the origin of the varieties of the human species, we deduced, as a natural and striking argument, the insensible gradations of those varieties, which characterize the species, exhibiting the blending links, which at first scarcely marks a difference, but which progressing in its course, ultimately binds the most discordant materials of the human race, in one compact unity, which "Lives through all life, extends through all extent, Spreads undivided, operates unspent." No research or observation presents a stronger argument in connection with the insensible gradations of the varieties of the human race, than the improved development of the skull of the negro; for without amalgamation with the white race, we find with every type of the negro the most remarkable im Look to the origin of the varieties of the human species, which we have attempted to sketch, all of which have been accounted for from natural causes. But few eminent naturalist doubt the origin of the domestic ani-provement in the skull of the negroes of the United States. In connection with this topic, we have the accurate measurement of a variety of skulls, in which Dr. Bachman says, and within one inch as large as those of the "the negro skull was less than the European, Pians, Armenians and Caucasian, and 122 square inches larger than two branches f the Caucasian race-the Indostanic and Ilatic." mals from their respective commor. centers; yet the widest difference exists in almost every case, between the wild and domesticated breeds, the difference being traced to the different treatment they receive, and the totally dissimilar habits engendered by domestications; we have the authority of a distinguished author, "that the difference: of physical organization, and of moral and He tells us also in the average measure. intellectual qualities, which characterise the ment between the skulls of the English and several races of our species, are aralagourish, there were nine cubic inches difference, in kind and degree, to those which distinguishad only four inches between the mein of the breeds of domestic animals; and must ixty-two African skulls and six native Irish. therefore be accounted for on the same prin- The largest African was ninety-nine, and the ciples. That they are first produced in both largest Irish ninety-seven. This proves instances as native or congenital varieties that the negro skull had more brains than the and then transmitted to the offspring in hereditary succession. That of the circumstances which favor this disposition to the production of varieties in the animal kingdom, the most powerful is the state of domestication. That external or adventitious causes, such as climate, food, way of life, Lectures on Man, by Dr. Lawrence. Vide the arguHindoos, those being black who reside in the hot plains ment of Prichard in reference to the complexion of the near the tropics, whilst those who live in the northern colonies are extremely fair, and xanthous, with blue eyes, and all the characteristics of a Northern and even of a Irishman. I will leave the question to the [its well established truths. Of what avail "Types of Mankind" which had the most are the reasonings of philosophy, if not disense; but without digression, we beg leave rected to the discovery of truth-not to the to ask of these learned writers, if the ad- destruction of well-established principles of measurement of skulls taken by Dr. Bach- science, as is the tendency of the "Types man, to which we just alluded, does not prove of Mankind." The testimony then of the beyond dispute, that these insensible grada- various branches of natural science which tions, we have been speaking of, have been illustrate this subject, all bears directly against manifested in the crania, as well as the other our authors. characteristics of races. "Among many Its distinctions are upon a narrow scale, skulls of negroes and Europeans which are and every admitted fact, upon which relinow before us," says Dr. Bachman, we find ance is placed, has been, and is, explained some where the two races approach each by the very sciences it would overthrow, in other so nearly, that it requires much atten- some of their most palpable and obvious tion and a practised eye to distinguish be- truths; for instance, it relies on the differtween them; and were we to give the white ence in the shape of the skull and size of colour and straight hair of the Caucasian to the brain, of families and individuals of the some of the skulls of the negro, the most same nation, as between the Caucasian and practical anatomist, and physiologist might other races, when it has been established be easily deceived." that these varieties attain as high a standard In addition to the authorities we have cited among one people as another. It is strimay be offered that of Dr. Dowler, who says, kingly unphilosophical, in attempting to set "It may be affirmed with considerable pro- up as a cause of difference in the family of bability, that cultivation changes even the man, a theory which, when applied to the organization, developing, for example, the strictest test of science, asserts and mainanatomy, increasing the nutrition, the sensi- tains as a principle, things which the obserbility, the adaptive powers, and the energy | vation of man, from the most remote ages, of the whole nervous system, especially of have been able to account for, under the its intercranial portion."* strict and vigilant eye of experience, and in When first our careful attention was be- a manner entirely subversive of the theory. stowed on the work before us, we were for- By way of illustration, the races of man, cibly struck with the learning and ingenuity say our authors, are different and separate which its pages present to our consideration species, because they present such differfrom beginning to end. Yet the most atten- ence in appearance, physical formation, diftive consideration we have been able to give ference in skull, colour, &c. The broad field it, convinces us that it is an unphilosophical of science opens upon this view, and preproduction, as much so in its mode of illus- sents the unmistakable, undeniable influence tration as in its views. Unphilosophical be- of the many natural causes which have been cause its data is inclusive to break down a known to operate in changes, such as our long established conclusion, sustained as it authors contend for; all of which natural has been by the united influence and power causes fully answer every question of differof the sciences of anatomy, physiology, geol-ence known to exist among species. ogy, history. theology, and we may add, the If they place their reliance upon physical combined testimony of nearly all the learned men who have given their attention to the subject of ethnology. But more especially is it unphilosophical, because it aims by isolated, contracted, one-sided argument, to prove that which submitted to the test of the broad and comprehensive scope of the blended power of the different parts of science on which it bears, is utterly at variance with * New Orleans Med. Jour., May, 1849. and external differences, as they do, it amounts, in the language of Dr. Smyth, to an exclusion of the "ethnographic, the mental, the moral, the historical, the geographical, and the social condition of man." The authors of this work have done little for the advancement of scientific truth, by running against the most palpaole lights of science, and when men are found in company with. Thomas Paine and Voltaire, in ad |