The Colonization herald and general register

              Colonic
txaib
AND GENERAL REGISTER.
CONDUCTED BY   THE   PENNSYLVANIA   COLONIZATION  SOCIETY.
WHATSOEVER  YE   WOULD   THAT   MEN   SHOULD  SO   TO   YOU,   DO   YE   EVEN  SO   TO  THEM.
Vol. I.—NEW SERIES.
PHILADELPHIA,  WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST   I,   1 »»8
I\0. 31.
For the Colonization Herald. I     In a letter ofthe 15th of December, 1824, Mr. Ash-
HISTORY OF LIBERIA. I mun says, " I am sensible that the most dn-pas-ionate
statement of facts cann>t wholly escape the su<pi»ion
^°   Vl1, of a studied flattery ot the picture.    BntHe who knows
The Porpoise arrived at Porto Praya on the 24th of B.| (binge, knows that I intend neither to overrate the
July, and on the evening of the same day Mr. Ash- actual measure of his distinguished mercies, nor to sup-
mun came on board. Mr. Gurley, with great frank- press any adverse circumstances with which he has
hess, explained to him tne ohj ct ot his mission and chosen to temper them." Again he says in the sam
th" proceedings of th" Board and Government. The letter, "I now consider myself authorized to state,
manner in which Mr. Ashmun received these commu- t..at there is an enlightened attachment rooted in the
hicaiions—affecting s > deeply his reputation—the sim- bo>oms ot the great body of the ppople, to their laws,
pie ingenuousness and m mly candor of his statements, their officers, and the authority of the society." *» But
combined with the dignified s-lt-resp' ct of his whole the greate.-t blessing of all remains to be acknowl^dg-
deo.eanor, made a highly favorable impression <»n Mr. Prj. jt |lns p'easp{] The God and Father of our Lonl
Gurlev's rnind. In his own words, "the recollection Jesus Christ to visit the colony with an abundant effu-
that Satan himself is sometimes transformed into an 6j0,. of His Holy Spirit. This great event, an era in
angel ot light, alone could guard the judgment against the history of the settlement, which has been marked
the instant admission of his integrity." j„ Heaven, and will long be celebrated by its witness-
It wns fortunate for A-hmnn, and for Africa, that es and monuments on earth, occurred in all the month
the important duties of this miss on were intrusted to of September. About the middle of that month were
one wh> se honorable and high minded principles ele- witnessed tbe first appearances, which gave evidence
vated him above the influence of passion and prejudice, Qf the lioly work. I feel that this is a theme to which
and whose generous feelings enabled him to nppre- a m„rta| pen ought to approach with awful cau
cnte, intuitively, the noble attributes of a kindred na- tion." In the fulness of his pious heart, he exclaims,
ture, though obscured by the clouds of calumny and at the close of this letter, " I congratulate every Chris-
misrepresentation, ttan and devout friend of this establishment, on thi-
Suoerior, himself, to the petty feelings nnd sordid Bjen_l answer to their pray rs, and crown of their pre-
impulses of a selfish policy, in estimating the charac- cj us hopes. Rejoice! your labor is not in va n. Put
ter of another, he felt not the influence of that snspi- a]| these astonishing blessings together, and in the
cious prudence whose doubts are summoned into the humble exultation ot vour hearts exclaim, th* mighty
foreground of inquiry, to struggle wi h every favorable God is our helper! By many, this precious dispe.sa-
development,until compelled to yield tothe irresist.b'e tjon 0f Providence must be regarded as of little im
force of truth. He accordingly entered upon h sin ves'i-! p0riance.    But poor Africa will think otherwise; and
gations with a mind undinvned by the mists of preju¬
dice nnd open to the convictions of truth. Every suc¬
ceeding interview, and all subsequent inquiry nnd
reflection, deepened the favorable impassion of Mr.
Ash nun's character, first made on Mr. Gnrley's mind ;
to thp flays of eternity a countless host of her children
will look back and date from it the first effectual daw n-
ing of that heavenly l'_rht, which shall at length have
conducted them to th • f >ld and the city of God."
On the arrival of the brig Hunter with a bodv of
ind every latent doubt of his ability or integrity vvas I emigrants, principally farmers, Mr. Ashmun saw Hit
6oou swallowed up in the most perfect confidence and I necessity of extending, if possible, the limits of the
sincere admiration. colony; and he determined, if that object could be ef-
Mr. Ashmun accompanied the commissioners on ; feeted, to commence, with the new settlers, an agri-
board the Porpoise to Cape Mesurado. where they ar-: cultural settlement. Hi* attention was ditected to a
rived on the 13'h of August. With indefatigable in- j magnificent tract of land, lyng along the south bank
dusiry, both ot these gentlemen applied themselves to ; of the St. Paul's river, and possessing the greatest ad-
tbe removal of such real causes of complaint as existed j vantages for agricultural purposes.    A negotiation wa>
—the satisfying of doubts, the relief of suffering, and
the establishment of an " effi mm government, founded
in the approbation ofthe peop'e, an 1 adaptable not only
to their present, but fu'nre p ditical necessities."
•'No subj'ct was left  uncon-idered, that required
attention.    Regulations were adopted for the benefit
immediately set on loot with the kings of the country,
and after the usual delays of African treaty-making
a ce-sioti was concluded on the 11th of May, of the
whole tract, embtacing an extent of twenty miles along
the river, and from three to ninn miles in brea 'th.
On this tract'a town was laid out at a beautiful point
of widows and orphans, the infirm on I the helpless. I 0f ihe river, about six miles from Monrovia, and at th-
The requests of individuals, as well as thepuhlic wants, '. |,ead „f finslirod Island. The first draft of lands took
were noted, that they might he made knovvn to the ' p|ace m Uns settlement on the 9: h of November, 1825.
managers ofthe society. The constitution of govern-; an(j on the 14 b the complete occupation of the lands
ment agreed on, while it took nothing from the power j t„0k pVe. The name given to the new towns was
ofthe society, in cases of final resort, admitted of a full i St. Pauls, which has since been changed to Caldwell,
expression, on public measures, of the opinions of the ; jn honor of Elias B. Caldwell, one of the *n\j and
settlers, ami gave them a large share in the manage-j devoted friends ofthe cause. The sturdy Virginians,
ment of political affairs." j who in the true spirit of colonization had volunteered
Several causes concurred to aid the efforts for the to forego the comparative security and comforts of
re.-tor-t;«- -*" •*!«__•_____ tt.nnermanent adjustment of Monrovia, thm ihey might secure, in the forests of Sf.
the affurs of the colony. I he difficulties which had [ Hauls, tne means ot a more certain and pertnan.-..-;..
produced such serious disorders as for a time tothieat- \ dependence, soon experienced some of the difficulties
en the existence ofthe colony, had grown out of j „f their situation. The fever, which attacked nearly
circumstances incident to the extraordinary scenes <a|| within a month after their arrival in the colony,
through which the settlers had passed in Africa—their I vvas or.eatlv protracted and increased in violence from
peculiar and unprotected condition there, nnd the j the want of proper me li'-al treatment. The board had
habi's of their former condition in America. But ex- | fHiled to procure a physician, and the only practitioner
cept in lhe case of two or three persons, there was no jn the colony was Lott Cary, whose good'sense and as-
seitled hostility to the government, nrvr any prevalent siduous attentions, however, went far to make up for
disposition to insubordination. On the contrary, there , his want of science and experience,
was generally a strong attachment to the hoard, min- . uul though deprived of manv comforts, and pressed
gb-d with a proud cmsci usness of the resp msthilities ; down by sickness, they uttered no complaint, nor was
which attached to their own siuriton as pioneers in a ithere at any time a sing'e voice raised in favor of aban-
grand enterprise. Bu', more than all, the principles ;'doning their exposed situation. For this n>b!e conduct
of religion ex-rted a controlling influence ov. rt lie pub-' ,|iey were jn ,jme rewarded, by seeing the wilderness
'., lie mmd. and powerfully counteracted the effect of j around them changed into thriving plantations, and a
disorganizing causes. i succession of neat houses skiiting the margin of the
The arrival of a special commissioner, clothed with ; hroa(j rivPr ,or a mi|e a,1(j a \v^\ wit|, a busy.con'em-
1 comp tent powers to repair all real wrongs, to punish j P(\ an,| prosperous papulation, rejoicing securely in the
> the wilful transgressor, and to make suitable arrange-  nch blessings of a free inheritance.
ments for th'ir future protection, at once restored per-j     .. _\t ,his period the slave-trade was carried on ox-
■  feet confidence and excited a feeling of gratitude to-! tensively within eight miles of Monrovia.   From eight
ward the hoard.    The pressure of want which, during i to ten and even fifteen vessels were engaged at the
'  Mr. Ashmun's absence, had grown heavy upon them,  game ti„,e in this odious traffic, almost under the guns
Mad proved an irresistable argument for exertion, and  0f the settlement; and in July of tins year, Contracts
Whose who formerly had been troublesome from idle-   were existing for eight hundred slaves, to be furnished
■biess, were now subdued in spirit and disposed to work i jn the short space of four months, within eight milps
feiligenily in repairing the evils they had themselves ; of ihe Cape.    Four hundred of these were'to be pur-
Bnduced.    " All lhe decisions of the agents, with the ; chased for two American traders."    Mr. Ashmun felt
Wan of government they had resolved to recommend   keenly the outrages thus inflicted upon humanity, and
■n tbe society, were read and explained to the assem-   rn,,ur__pd bitterly his own want of power to arrest "ihem,
bled  colonists, who expressed  their approbation and  an,| to visit upon those pirates of human rights, the
fixed purpose to sustain both, (should they receive the   punishment due to their crimes.
sanction of Uie board) without a dissenting voice.   Be-;     bu1 he lost no opportunity to manifest his hostility
>eaih the thatched roof of the first rude house for Di-   to t|lis acCnrsed traffic, and to employ the whole influ-
vine  worship  ever erected  m ihe colony, stood the ; Pnce 0t the colonv against it.    He explored the whole
Slttle company of one hundred colored emigrants, who   |jM of t,ie cor,st froin Cape Mount to Trade Town,and
had advenured all things, to train for themselves and   sought, by treaties with  the chiefs, to effect the ex-
>#hildnn a home and inheritance of liberty ; and who be-  elusion of the slave-traders from the country.    While
'■reGod pledged themselves to maintain the conatitu-  within the legitimate jurisdiction of lhe colony, he
|ion of their choice, and prove faithful to the great trust. boldly determined, in the face of an overwhelming su-
•"Committed to their hands. : periority of force, to enforce the laws against them
vMutud confidence was now restored between the   with the utmost rigor.    A case soon o'ecurred to test
tpople and the agent—the people and lhe society; and  tiie firmnePS 0f his purpose and to try the mettle of
'the hope was indulged that a toll and candid represen-   those 0n whom he depended for support.
'tation of the proceedings of Mr. Ashmun would dispel ■     ...   ,, .,    r . .a      '  _   •
%m the minis ofthe managers, every doubt of his in-' J*j" fj ™nlh of August a flagrant piracy was per-
tCrity and ability.    " Shall I ever forget," says Mr.   Pe.trJ,ed fe ,hf «5J °\ a Span.ah-acbooner,   the Cla-
t^ i       „ .i     • i«„- ,„k„„ o.„-,j; _7i_- .i       a     rida) employed in the slave-trade, on an English brig
Gur ev, " the loyous hour when standing by the side   ,  ■ J    _ r  },        _r .u   , r -t •       »•    a u
Jthis man of 6od, in whose features an almost Divine  ]^ * anc^r ft lhe fj of Monrovia.    Mr Ash-
:Weekness and charity softened magnanimity into love,  fmu" d,d not h^!.,atefas to thf,course of **&• /mple
jTw thc delight with which he beheld the despond-   'Simony was taken to prove the piracy     The English
_if encoumged; the weak, resolute; order rising out   br!^ was *_£■ under h,s dlrec,'o"- . A call upon the
^Rnnfuaionrand the whole state of affairs assunung a  Col;:",al n"1'1"1 *" promptly responded to, and an ex-
dhw aspect, of peaee, industry, hope and obedience."   ■ ^iU™ n,f'nP  thfe bfpa"lsh Fa(;tory immediately .se
«Mr. Gnrlev sailed lor the United Slates on the 22d  J foot-     [ ne cl"efs of *e counl.y were aPSUred that
.f jK i_io4 ■tne ,r"lltary movements they mighl witness were not
She* annual meeting ofthe Ame.ican Colonization J0 hp direfed n^ain,s. themselves but were intended
Socfc, held on the 20th of February, of this vear, on ^ vindicate insulted justice, and the dishonored rights
motBof General Harper, the name of Liberia, was ot ^lumaa naiurc
Mr. Ashmun embarked in the brig with twenty-two
volunteers; while Captain Barbour, at the head of
twenty-five men, proceeded with written instructions
to tbe vicinity ofthe Factory at Di<_by, (a little to the
north ofthe mouth of St Pauls) and there awaited the
orders of the Agent.    The Factory, with several Span-
given to the country occupied by the society s seltle-
raent; and on motion of the s.me distinguished gen¬
tlemen, the town on C<pe Mesurado was named Afon-
revim, in honor of the Pre-i lent of the United States.
On the 2d of February, 1^2"., the brig Hunter was de-
matched from Norfd'k, Virginia, with sixty-six emi- . . ..
gf-i-ucu                         »       -      '         c,    ■_,,:,.„) nt  lards belonging to her. (but who it was proved were on
Ente and supplies tor the colony,    fene arnvea at                    a   -             v                        r
0 anu c hk         _.fM„    l      }                                : shore when the piracy was committed) a small amount
wmvia on the lotn ot Alarch.                                           .,                        i             _       e-   i                           .     j
'*IUV1 „          __. .,         ,               ,                 _. „_._- „ i of properly, and a number of saves were captured
Th* affairs of the colony now began to assume a:"'. •__'"''    }\ .            Wics      •    ,             _.   v-      .
,f'u             „.i j^iiM/tf,,! _,„_.„„,     ti.q „i__.m i without resistance.    The Spaniards were dismissed.
moat unimatin"-  and  uelighttol aspect,     i he  gloom      ,  ,     ,         .         , • _. ,             ,          ,                      .
mr?_B\    ,     T i       „„-c.^rU_,i  iie _ i;.___i   k__U«__i   while the native chiefs bound themselves to assist in
■ had  late v  overspread   its polil cal   horizon,   "" . ..     . c   .	
threSita' the fieree ravages of toe tempest and the  ™ way in thcr "*£*£ "r transporting out of the
ornlof had given place to the brightness and serenity  country, •^**J*"« -argeined for by the com-
of a etwmer skv, and the rainbow of hope again rose , ™nder ofthe Clarida. .
in ite,beauty over the summit of Mesurado. An instance of Mr. Ashmun s conscientious regard
Tha Visit of Mr Gurley, and the return of Ashmun,! to justice in his intercourse with the natives, which
with the advantage of additional authority and in- occurred about this time, deserves to be recorded.    A
eased means aided too by the wise and energetic daring robbery had been committed by a Krooman,
■res of the board, had an astonishing effect, not upon public property.    As this was not the first m-
-nereltpin restorino- order, but in giving a new impulse stance of the violation of the rights of the settlement
to   dustrv and enterprise, and diffusing a spirit of pa-; by the Kroomans, a detachment of the militia was de-
triotisjbithcrto unknown. I patched, with the proper officer, to their town to de¬
mand redress; but to use no lorce unless their oH'er
for a peaceful settlement of difficulties should be re¬
jected. As ibis party entered the town, two or three
■>f tbem fell in the rear of the ithers. and one of iheir
number fired upon and fatally wounded a Krooman.
He was indicted and tried by ajury for murder in the
•PCond degree: The trial cortmued f>r three days,
and finally resulted in a conviction of manslaughter,
(it being proved that the accuied acted from sudden
impulse and a misopprehensi >nof orders, nnd n<t from
malice) and the guilty individtnl wns sentencd to six
months imprisonment, or to a ftieof one hundred bars,
which 6um vvas paid over to the friends of the de-
eeased. The affair was settle) to the satisfaction of
the whole Kroo nation.
"The blood that has flown,'1 said Mr. Ashmun upon
this occasion, "has been a came of greater piin tome
than torrents shed in our host.Mies in 1822; because
the former, differently from tha latter, has lef, the ap¬
pearance of a stain on the chaficfer ofthe colony."
In this expedtmn the colonics did great credit, fo
themselves, by their alacrity firmness, and str ct
•'ttenton to their duty. Tin natives, into whose
country they marched, had occasion to exniess their
ahtonis'iment at the scrupulous regard paid to their
property and persons; and freq«ent deputations were
afterwards sent to thank Mr. Ashmun for these proofs
of his justice and humanity.
A short time after the destneti >n of the Spanish
slave factory, Mr. Ashmun discovered that a plan had
heen f>rmed between the captain ofthe Clarida. some
ofthe native chiefs, and a French s'avo dealer on the
St Pauls, fir violatin.- the en_a_-ement by which the
slaves originally destined for the pirate were to be de¬
livered over t> the colony. He was induced, in conse¬
quence, to break up two other slave factories, and lo
offr to the chiefs concerned ir tiaiisactinns with the
Clarida, n bounty often dollars for each slave, which
m pursuance of th ir agreement th»y should resisn up
to the colonial agent. The cot sequence of this was,
that, one HVNDRicn ano sixteeb sLvvis were soon re-
ceived as freemen inio the bosom of the colonv.
T. B.    |
From Millingen's Curiosities of Medical Exper'ence, \
publisbeet in Bell's Select Medical Library.
VARIETIES OF MANKIND.
The most approved classification of mankind i* that
of Blinrenbach.    He divides then into five varieties :
1.   The Caucasian; 2.   Mongolian;   3. Ethiopian; 4.1
American; and 5 Malay: and the following are  the;
characteristics of each.
I.  VlIE CAUCASIAN.
The skin white; the cheek, rosy—almost a pecu- !
liarity ot-this variety; the hauofa nut brown, run-j
ning on the one hand to yellow, <n the other into black, |
soft, long, and undulating; tie head symmetrical, I
rather globular; the forehead noderately expanded;'
the cheek-bones narrow, not prominent ; lhe alveolar'
edge round, the front teeth of e h jaw placed perpen-'
dicu-'rly. The face oval and ." .tty straight; its t< a-!
tores monei_,_j.j ,i.. *,... t, in_ mob oarrttr—r mrd   i.^,..   _, ,
aquiline, the bridge of it rather prominent: Hie mouth ,
soiall; the lips, especially the lower, gently turned
out; theehta tull and round. This variety com pre-!
hends all Europeans, except the Laplander and the
reel of the Finnish race; lhe Western Asiatics as far
as the Obi, the Caspian and the Ganges; aud the peo¬
ple of the North of Africa.
II.   THE   MONGOLIAN.
Skin of an olive colour ; the hair black, stiff, straight,
and sparing. The head almost square, the cheek-bom s
prominent outwards; ihe t-upercilinry arches scarcely
perceptible; the osseous nomrilfl narrow ; the alveolar
edge arched  obtusely f rvvanl ;   lhe chin   somewlnt:
projecting.   The f>ce broad and flatten d,-tnd its parts >
consequently less distinct ; the apace b tvveen the eye- .
broivs ve y broad as well as flat, the cheeks not only
projecting outward, but nearly globular; the aperture
"f ihe eye-lids narrow aud linear; the nose small and
flat.
This comprehends the remaining Asiatics, except
the Malays of the extremity of the Trans<_angetic ;
Peninsula, the Finnish races of the North of Europe,
Laplander*, &c, and the Esquimaux diffused over the
most northern parts of America, from Behring's Strait
to the farthest habitable point of Greenland.
III.  THE  ETHIOPIAN.
Skin black; the hair black and crisp.    Head nar¬
row, compressed laterally ; forehead arched, the cheek-
hones projecting ; the osseous nostrils lurge, the j.iws
lengthened forward; lhe alveolar a\g^ narrow, elon- j
_-ated, more elliptical; the upper front teeth obliquely ',
prominent, the lower jaw large and strong; the skull
thick ifnd heavy ; the face narrow, and projecting at
it! lower part;   the eyes prominent; the nose thick
and confused with the projecting cheeks ; the lips, es¬
pecially the upper, thick ; the chin somewhat  reced- ,
ing; the legs in many instances bowed.
This comprehends tbe inhabitants of Africa, with
the exception of the Caucasian variety which inhabits
the northern parts.
IV.  THE  AMERICAN.
Skin of a copper colour ; hair black, stiff, straight
and sparing. Forehead short; cheek-bones broad, but
more arched and rounded than in the Mongolian varie¬
ty ; the orbits generally deep ; the forehead and vertex
frequently deformed by art; cranium usually light.!
The face broad, with prominent cheeks, not flattened,
but with every pari distinctly marked if viewed in pro-
file; the eyes deep ; the nose rather flat, but still pro- j
mitient.
This comprehends all the Americans excepting the
Esquimaux.
V.   THE   MALAY.
Skin tawny ; hair black, soft, curled, thick, and
abundant: head rather narrow; forehead slightly
arched; cheek-bones not prominent, upper Jaw rather
projecting. Face prominent at its lower part; the
features viewed in profile more distinct; the nose full,
broad, bottled at its point; month large.
This comprehends the inhabtiants of the Pacific
Ocean, of the Marian, Philippine, Molucca, and Sunda
isles, and of the Peninsula of Malacca.
The Caucasian variety derives its name from Mount
Caucasus, where we meet with a beautiful race—the
Georgians; and because, so far as the imperfect light
of history and tradition can guide us, the original
abode of the 6pecies appears to have been in that quar¬
ter. In this class are included all the ancient, and mo¬
dern Europeans; the Assyrians, Medes, Chaldeans,
Sarmatians, Scythians, and Parthians; lhe Philistines,
Phoenicians, Jews; the Turks, Persians, Arabians, nnd
Hindoos of high caste. Blumenbach is inclined to be¬
lieve that the primitive human race belonged to this
variety, ln support of this opinion it may be 6tated,
that the part of Asia which seems to have been the
cradleof the race has always been, and still is, inhabit¬
ed by tribes of this formation; and the inhabitants of.
Europe in great part may be traced back for their ori-;
gin to the West of Asia*
Are  all   the-e  various  tribes br< thren   descended   of temperature upon  cob nr fr< qnently varies nccord-
frotn one  stock?   or  must   we trace  them to   more   in.- to  ihe seasons.    Pallas ob-cived that fvrn in dc«
than one?    The phvsi lo_/isls who have ventured to  mestic anio al , such as the horse and row. the roat is
express the latter opinmn have been stigmatized'by in-  of a lighter colour in winter.    The Sibeiian roe. red
tolerance and hlin I bigotry as atheists and unbelievers;   in summer, is white in the winter; the fur of the sable
yet this question belongs to lhe domain of the natural-  and thp martin is much deeprr in the warm months;
ist, and the philosopher has an unqualified right to moot  and  the squirrel and mustela nivalis, which become
it without  incurring the heinous charge of infidelity,   white in Siberia nnd Ru-sia, do not change their boo
To form an opinion on this difficult subject, it will be   in Germany.    The winter coat, it has been fbfervrd
necessary, as Lawrence justly observes, to ascertain   by naturalists, is found tar advanced in the preparatory
carefu ly all the differences that exist between the va-  autumn.    This bounteous provision of nature set ma to
rious ra< es of men; to compare them with the diversi-  have been extended to the vegetable kingdem, and it
ties ob-erved among animals ; to apply to them all the   has been observed that the pellicle of onion6 ia much
light which human and onn.perat.ve physiology can   thicker on the approach of a severe winter than on
supply, and  to draw our inferences concerning their  that of a more temperate reason.    But if further proof
nature and causes from all the direct in'ormai ion and   were necessary to  impugn  this rioctrine   respecting
all the analogies which these considerations may un-  climate, we  may adduce the fact of a woman having
fold.    " It is quite clear," continues the samp injeni-  born  twins of different complexions, a  white ard a
ous writer, " that the Mosaic account makes all the   Mark.    With all due respect to tbe much lamented
inhabiinn's ofthe  world descended from Adam and   B shop Heher  we must receive with s< me degree of
Eve.   The entire, or even the partial in-pirati m of the  h sitation his assertii n thai the Persian, Greek. T»rtar,
various writings comprehended in the O'd Testament,   and Arabian  inhabitants of  India, assume,  in a   few
las been and is doubted by many persons, including  g> aeration*, without anv intercourse with the Hindoo*,
learnpd  divines nnd distin.'tti^hed Orienlil nnd Bihli-  a deep blue tint, little lighter than that of a  negro;
cal scholars.    The account of the creation, and snbse-  and that the Portuguese, during three hundred years'
quent events, has the allegorical figurative character  resid-nce in that clinn te, lave assumed the bbtki ess
common to Eastern compositions, and it is distinguish-  of a K- ffer.    The  same learned prelate is of opinion
ed amongst the cosmogonies by a simple gran'eur and   that our European complexion was not primitive, but
natural sublimity, as the r»st of these writings are by   rather that of the Indian ; an in'etmediate tint is per-
appropriato  beauties in  their respective parts.    The   haps the most agreeable to the eye and instinct of tbe
representation of all the animals being brought before   majority of the human race.    Dr. Hebrr, perhaps, had
Adam in the first instance, and sub-equently of their  not seen, in  various Roman Catholic treasures, por-
nll betas Collected in the ark, if we are to und- rstand   traits of the Virgin Mary, painted, according to tradi-
theni as applied to the living inhabitants of the whole  dition, by St. Luke, and  in which she is represented
world, is zoologically impossible.   How could the polar  as a ne»rrss.
bear have traver.-ed the torrid zone ?    If we are to be-       That solar hent produces blackness of the in'egu-
1 eve that the original creation comprehended only a   ments is an ancient opinion, and is illustrated by Pliny,
male and f-male of each speeies. or that one pair only   who tells us, "iEtlnopes vicini sideris vapore torreri,
was saved from an universal deluge, tbe difficult^ sare   adustisque similes gigni, barba et capillo vibrato, non
increased : the carnivorous animals must have perished   est dubium."    Buff'on asserts that " climate maybe
with hunger, or destroyed most of the other species."   regarded as the chief cause of the different colours of
On this obscure subject, Adelnng has expressed him-   man ;" nnd Smith is of opinion " lhat from the pole to
self with much ingenuity : " Asia has been at all times   the equator we observe a gradation in tbe complexion
regarded as the country whore the human race had its ! nearly in proportion to the latitude of the country."
beginning, and from which  its  increase was spread       Blumenbach, under the same impression, enrieavr urn
over the rest of the globe.    Tracing the people up to  toaccoont for thia black tinge hyachemicnl illustration
tribes, and the trib s to fan ilies, we are c« ndueted nt   somewhat curious.  He states that the proximate cause
la-t. if not by history, at least  by the tradition of all   of the dark colour is an abundance of carbon secreted
old people, to n single pair, from which tribes an) na-   by ihe skin with hvdrogen, precipitated ami fixed by
tmns have been sn« cessively produced.    Whnt was the   the contact of the ntmtwpheric oxygen.    Our Creoles,
first family, and lhe first people descended from it ?—  and the Briti-h inhabitants of India, may esteem them-
where vvas it art tied 7 —and how wns it extended so as  selves particularly fortunate in  nol being subject to
to fill the four la'ge divisions of the globe?    It is a . this chemical operation !
quest" n of  fact, nnd  must   be nnswered by history.       On  the other oih. r band, it is well known that a
JJiit hist >ry is silent : her first books have been destroy-   b'ack state of  the skin has been produced in white
ed by time; an I the few lines preserved hy Moses are   races under peculiar circumstances; nnd J.e Cat and
rather calculated to excite than to sati-fy our curiosity.   Camper mention cases of women who turned  dark
" We must fancy to ours- Ives this first tribe endow-  during their pregnancy.    It would be idle to dwell fur-
ed with all  human faculties, but not possessing all   ther on the hv pothetic illustrations regarding this sup-
knowledge and experience, lhe subsequent acquisition ' posed  operation of climate, which  the obs-ervation of
of which is left to the natural operation of time nnd   every unprejudiced traveller can impugn,
circumstances.    As nature   would  not unne^ssnrily       Migration to other countries has also been adduced
expose her fir.-t born and inexperi n-ed son to confliets  as one of the causes of variety in mankind ; but the
nrm xm.-|r.---, ,T-e pla__» .-. .it. ..T.y ■-m-T. ,.-.»«l. — . n, Miintewi' of   rhp plpr-.-na-a-,-.-   Si n",  ,__T ________; rS __JQ_F
s-lected tl at all his wants could b^ easily sati>fied, 1 race militates against this snpp< sition. The physical
and everything e-sential to bis exit-tonce be readily character of tin- Cells, whn peopled the west of Eu-
procured. He would be placed, in short, in a garden rope at an early period, is still observable in the Span-
or paiadise. Such a country is found in cmtral Asia, iard.mnsi ofthe French, the native Welsh, the Manke,
betwe. n the 30th and 50th degrees of rorth latitude, and the Scotch Highlander : whereas the German race,
nnd the 90 h and 110 h of east longitude (from Ferro;) who occupied the more northern and eastern set lie-
a spot which, in respect to its height, can only be com- ments. are still distinguished by their transparent f^kin,
pared to the lofty plains of Quito in South America, rosy complexion, flaxen hair, and blue eyes; nnd in
Here, too, all the nnimnls are fi und wild, which man Ireland, the race of the Dnnes and the Milesians can
has tamed for bis use, and carried with him over tbe to this day be recognised in Heir respective eharaet»rs.
whole earth." Shaw nnd Bruce  traced the descendant of the Van-
Tins ing' nious historical investigatirn points out the dais who passed from Spain into Africa in the fifth
east as the earliest and original seat off nor species, the century ; and, after a lapse of thirteen ct nt dries, Bruce
source of our do oe-ticated animals and of our princi- says lhat they are " fair like the English, iheir hair
pal vegetable f od : bnt it hy no means decidps win ther red, and, their eyes blue." Negroes have been intro-
the gl.be was peopled by one or several original stocks. , duced into the new world for upwards of three cr ntu-
Ti e i^tartling nature of this question on the first "os, where, despite of a new clime and different habits,
view of the subject must induce us to consider the cir- j 'hey still retain the diameter of their race; md the
cumstance of these five distinct varieties arising from Jews who have not intermarried out of their nation,
one stock as mirncnlous; but when we compare them : have preserved Heir features for nineteen cepturiea.
with the corresponding difference in animals, we can ! Not only do we observe the peculiarities of physical
easily come to the conclusion that the various races of ^ conformation resisting the destructive or degenerating
human beings are only to be regarded us varb ties of a hand of time, but certain imperfections in iheir facul.
single species, without supposing the intervention of ''es have been <qually permanent in certain tribes. Jt
any sup'-rnaturnl agency. ! is a curious fact lhat the Mamelukes, who h»ve r*cid-
The sceptic Voltaire. • bo evinced more wit than ' ed in E?-vPl ,,,r "Pward:i' «'fivp hundred and fifiv ye8ra,
lenrnino- in his endeavours to invalidate scriptural tra- : hnve ■*•** Pprpetuated their subsisting issue. Volney
dition by ridicule, thus expresses himself; "II n'est '^'s rved. that there does not exist one single f«n..ly of
permts qu'a un nveugle de douter que bs blnncs, les ,l,Pni ,n the F*.cond penerati.-n ; all their children per-
ttegrea, les albinos, les Hottentots, les Lapons, les Chi- ls,,m£ ,n thc Vrst 0r .PC0"(' SCf "t- '' he 88rr,e ob-
n is, les Americans, soient des races entitlement dif- ■ nervation applies to Ihe Turks, who can only secure
ferentes;" but had this philosopher been better versed   ,he continuance of their families by marrying native
women, an union which the Mamelukes* disdained.
This singularity, remarked by Volney, has been 6ince
confirmed by late travellers.
It will be f und that the progress of domestication
the  natural  result  of civilized   improvement,   tends
more materially to operate a wonderful change in the
in zo >logy and physiology, he would not have made so
groundless an assertion. " Analogical and direct facts,"
says Dr. Elliot-on. " lead  to tl e conclusion that none
of the differenees among mankind are so great as to
require  the belief of their oiiginality."    A Contrary
opinion, however, should not be stigmatised by bigotry,
for Locke has justlv obseived that only matters ahov
human  reason are the proper subjects of revelation ; I ■ "e "eaa UI l"e "omesuc pigomers as much from that
and Bacon has also maintained that religious and phi-  of tIie wi,(1 one as t,ie ^egre from the Caucasian.   At
losophical  inquires should be kept separate, and not   Padua, it has been observed that fowls have a cranium
pompouslv united.    Dr. Bostork, th n  whom no man   Prorated by numerous holes, and hollowed out like a
could  be less sceptical, plninlv admits we do not find 'shell.    In  some  countries, nay districts,  cattle   and
that the writer of the book of Genesis lays claim to  6neeP hnve or havc n,)t horns; and in other instances
any suDernatural source of information with respect to  sheep have so many of ihem as to have acquired the
natural phenomena, while the whole tenor of his work  gj*!* iP01^0!™!'^^^'1™™?* continuing to
)V?g animal conformation, than any other supposed agpney.
)n . The head ofthe domestic pig differs as much from that
)h\-  °f 'he wild one as the Negro from the Caucasian.   At
seems to show that on such topics he adopted the opin¬
ions which were current among his contemporaries.
The causes of the difference of our speebs have
been the subject of as great a discrepance in opinion.
All the Greek and Roman historians have attrihuted it
to the influence of climate; and amongst the moderns,
inhabit the place that bore them, undergo little or*no
change, and their fossil remains and skeletons are sim¬
ilar to the present species; but nothing can form a
stronger coutrast to this specific uniformity than ihe
numerous varieties to be found in those races that have
been crossed in breed und domesticated by man.    We
. ..      --------              ...             -                    M_, non; wnne tnose oi uaroary, i-gypt. Arabia, and Pn-
phibvophers have entertained a contrary opinion.  >o gj    ^       experienced greater degeneration. We dnile
lotibt, the influence of climate may ma.er.ally affect £ rf        J            ,e ^ Q{«                • J£J*2
colour, stature  hair, features, and even the moral and -   _.a.!s*actor.ly ascertained whither the* IS!
intellectual  character: but it must be considered  as >                __             , p'                Cuvier, in hia dd./eTt
inadequate to act unot, conformation     The prevalence re,earchf_8i has ^iSed that our ox_n do not 2S
of light colours in the animals of polar regions is we 1 urug of ^ rf                  «°    fen_X
knovvn : the arctic fox. the white bear, the snow-bunt- .   ^j^          rf E                   stTum'e TT.h J
ing, are striking instances of this  pecul.artty;   but foresrs ()f L^huania, and on  the CarSSiw\m£
these cicums.ances are purely superficial.    The skulls Caucasi!in cha,ns; but he is of opiLn  f?om X ^
of these individuals are similar to   hose of the Euro- Bmination of fossil remain8, that gfc    "he cornel am.
peans; nay ,t is well knovvn that light races are found ATQmeA       the species has been de troved hi _S
among dark  nations, and many protected parts of the the cauaee Sf theee changen^™_t1DlS ^
body are bl -cker than those which -e.exposed.    Bu; opera(e by ^^ ^ ^^ »f •*£££»*
to produce offsprings more or less dissimilar in colour,
chanan tells us, that the Jews in Cochin are divided
into white and black classes, though born under the
same parallel; the white Jews having been known
there for upwards of one thousand seven hundred
years. Dr. Shaw and Bruce describe a race of fair
people, near Mount Aurasius in Africa, with red hair
and blue eyes, and who are according to tradition, de¬
form, and disposition.
Dr. Prichard observes, that the negro slaves of the
third and fourth generation differ materially from the
natives of Africa. ' v
In opposition to this doctrine, which admits this
scended from the Vandals. VVe find the red Peruvian, wonderful degeneration under the plastic influence of
the brown Malay, and the white Abyssinian in the domestication, it has been 6hown that, as far as we
very zones peopled by jet-black races.   This influence know, the lapse of ages has not produced any change