PREFACE.

THE following work was commenced during a very slow convalescence from a severe indisposition, more for occupation and recreation, than in the expectation of giving my speculations to the public, except through the pages of some of the current periodicals. It was, therefore, written in the plural number; a method which would not have been adopted, if I had originally designed it to appear in its present form. The original design was only to write a review of the principles and reasonings of the two eminent works of Lawrence and Prichard; but my protracted indisposition, and consequent long confinement, gave me both leisure and inclination to pursue the subject, and to make it what it is-" An Investigation of the Theories of the Natural History of Man, by Lawrence, Prichard, and others, founded upon Animal Analogies—And an Outline of a new Natural History of Man, founded upon History, Anatomy, Physiology, and Human Analogies."

I had no theory to advocate when I commenced; but being dissatisfied with the theories and inconclusive reasoning of the eminent authors above mentioned, I thought I might do some good to my fellow men by showing that the Natural History of Man had not yet been written. The theory I have ventured to present to the public, grew with the progress of my labor. It may be said, therefore, to be a natural theory, which presented itself without being sought after; and it may also be said to be the joint offspring of Lawrence and Prichard, although it bears no resemblance to either. parent,-a "congenital variety," which may, possibly, propagate its kind, and become permanent.

The immense advantages I have derived from the labors of these two gentlemen especially, will be apparent to the reader. They have been chiefly of the negative kind; but were not the less valuable on that account.

I owe an apology to the scientific reader for not, in every instance, giving the authorities from which I have drawn many of the facts and arguments used in the course of my work. It was impossible; my library is too small. Confined to my room during the whole time I have been engaged in my work, in an agricultural district very scantily supplied with scientific books; too much indisposed, for two-thirds of the time, to read or write, I found it to be impossible, without delay, trouble, and expense, to procure the necessary authors. I have, therefore, freely quoted the authors in my possession, and was obliged to depend on memory for others, which I did not quote, lest I might misrepresent them.

The scarcity of books has been a serious grievance to me, in the progress of my labor. The great variety, and immense importance of the topics to be discussed in the Natural History of Man, according to my view of it, required a very large and select, instead of a very small, though select, family library. It may be, however, that the scarcity of books has been the reason that so many new views have been presented on the subjects discussed; which might have been withheld if I had had an opportunity to refresh my memory by a re-perusal of the authors. The public may be benefited by having a number of new ideas furnished to the intellectual stock on hand; while the author may suffer by not having placed them in a proper light for his own credit and advantage. Wants, however, are not always disadvantages, though they must be inconveniences. They throw a man upon his resources. if he has any; and have produced the most powerful exertions of human nature, both for good and evil. How they have operated on the author, the intelligent reader must decide.

I have ventured to differ from authorities, in several important instances, which have generally been regarded as standards. I offer no apology for it. If I have contradicted them without sufficient reasons to justify me, I am well aware that I cannot expect, nor do I hope, to be sustained; and, if my reasons are sufficient, no name can stand so high, in the republic of letters, as to carry away the judgment of the public against truth.

It will be observed that, throughout my work, I have avoided the use of technical terms, wherever they could be avoided without prejudice to the sense of the subject. In this I have consulted the taste of the general more than of the scientific reader. It must

be admitted that all the works hitherto published on the Natural History of Man, have been sealed books to the general reader, arising as well from the method of treating the subject, as from abounding in technicalities, which the initiated only could understand, and which the general reader would not be at the labor of deciphering. The subject is too deeply interesting to be made so exclusive. The best interests of mankind are involved in its details ; and, if properly treated, cannot fail to interest every man, either from a desire for knowledge, or from motives of curiosity, or benevolence. I do not pretend to have so treated it; but I hope I may be excused for believing that I have clothed the subject in a more appropriate, and therefore a more pleasing garb, than have my predecessors.