That the progressive development and improvement of the human species in morals and intellect, are laws of human nature, the equivalent of the series of creations antecedent to Man.

That the differences in the races of men cannot be accounted for by climate, mode of living, or any natural causes now in operation, or which have been in operation within the period of history.

That they cannot be accounted for by accidental, or congenital varieties springing up in the human family.

That there is no analogy between man and animals which can assist us to classify man, or to understand his history.

That the principles of zoology, if applied to man in the same manner they are applied to animals, establish specific differences among men.

That the Anatomical and Physiological differences of the races of men establish specific differences.

That the Psychical attributes of man, in every point of view in which they can be considered, constitute specific differences.

That the history and condition of women in the different races establish specific differences.

And lastly-That the natural law of sexual love, by which the races have been kept distinct from time immemorial, establish a distinction of species.

It must be evident to the reflecting mind, from the above enumeration, that the space to be travelled over is vast, and the objects to be exhibited rich and varied. Although specific differences appear, on the face of the statement, to be objects of primary

importance, they are, in fact, subordinate to the general Psychical, Sexual, Anatomical, and Physiological, History of Man, from the earliest to the latest period. We enter on the subject with diffidence ; but not without the hope of placing it in such a light, that some more gifted men may be induced to do it justice.

CHAPTER II.

THE INVESTIGATION OF THE NATURAL HISTORY OF MAN IN REGARD TO ONE, OR MANY SPECIES, IS NOT FORBIDDEN BY SCRIPTURE.

WHEN the Church of Rome usurped the authority of keeping the consciences of men, and also usurped civil power to enforce her claim over the Christian world, she could easily suppress philosophical speculations which she thought heretical in doctrine, or adverse to her own principles or power. Happily her day has passed. The only restraints now imposed upon men, in the fullest and freest discussion of any subject, are public opinion, and conscience. We have no hesitation in saying that the revolution, which, humanly speaking, placed the safe keeping of religion in these last, instead of the Pope, has made a more secure deposit for the true interest of the Church, as well as for the best interests of man. In all that a man does, whether as an investigator of any of the sciences, or in the more humble pursuits of private life, he is responsible to these tribunals; but if he should aim at influencing public opinion, he should feel a higher responsibility, in proportion to the importance of the subject, than if his opinions and conduct were limited to his own social circle.

The investigation of the Natural History of Man has, at all times, been a subject of contention between theologians and most of the philosophers who have embarked in it. Nor has it been without good reason that, even in this our liberal day, the clergy have taken up arms against the heterodoxy of many learned men, whose theories of the origin of man are directly opposed to religion. Their theories were not dangerous, though they created alarm, and are now referred to as absurdities of learned, not as plausible theories of ingenious men. Such, we predict, will be the fate of all theories, however ingenious or plausible, opposed to the sacred volume; because it is impossible that any natural facts can contradict the Holy Scriptures, as they are truths of nature, derived from the same All-wise being whose words and works are, and must always be, rigidly and strictly harmonious.

The Bible was not given for scientific instruction. Many of the natural facts it contains, illustrating moral truths, are familiar images of the period; which, to be understood, and appreciated, the reader must transport himself to the scenery and circumstances depicted. But the creation,-the condition of the ante-diluvian world, the Deluge,-the preservation of Noah and family, the original settlement of Shinar, as the centre of human distribution, after the flood,—the one speech, and one language, until the dispersion of men from the valley of Shinar,-are truths which do not now depend solely upon the Mosaic history. They have been most surprisingly illustrated by the progress of scientific knowledge. Thus it has hap

pened that several of the sciences, Astronomy, Chemistry, Geology, and Ethnology, in particular, from which danger was apprehended, have become its most able collateral supporters. From the progress already made in illustrating the truths of Scripture, by the aid of natural science, we may predict the coming of the day, when most of its dark and mysterious passages will be fully explained by the lights of science; and many of the sectarian divisions of Christians be destroyed by the progress of knowledge.

We would not engage in an investigation of the natural history of man, if we thought the subject so closely restricted by Revelation, that the arguments against a unity of the species, must necessarily be arguments against the Scripture. Not to make a parade of a higher veneration for religious truths than is necessary, we hold any man guilty of the highest crime against society, who should attempt to abstract the only cement which binds it together for good, by destroying religious obligations.

Nearly all the authors who have lately written on this subject, have adopted the opinion that all men are of one species. Some have not been avowedly influenced by religious motives for such opinion, however much they may have been influenced by the popular, prevailing sentiment in its favor; while, with others, an honest zeal, in support of Christianity, is the avowed motive to their speculations. "If any person should inquire" says President Smith, Essay, p. 5, "why a writer who has so many other duties to fulfil, more immediately relating to the sa