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. offer no apology for it. If I have contradicted them without suffi cient 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 with out prejudice to the sense of the subject. In this I have consulte the taste of the general more than of the scientific reader. It mus 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. ANALYTICAL CONTENTS. Page, The Natural History of Man a desideratum. All definitions and systems artificial. Man always described as an animal, not as a Psychical Being. He has slowly advanced in zoological classification, without advantage. De- velopists gained the fruits of victory, although defeated. The Natural History of Man too important a subject to be measured by animal and vegetable analo- gies. Man the only analogue for Man. Comparative Anatomy and Craniology are too narrow for foundations of this History. Heeren's view of the subject. His questions in regard to color are important only because it is the visible evidence of a difference of organization. Dr. Lord's Fœtal theory not used, and why. Josephus' distribution of the Patriarchs not followed. Analogy is the foundation of all histories of Man hitherto. A natural truth can stand by itself without artificial props. The History of Man demands greater attention to his Psychical than Physical nature. The peculiar sexual relations of the different races of Men have been hitherto disregarded. They are too impor- tant to be neglected. The taste for Sexual Beauty in the different races is founded on an important natural law. An enumeration of the topics to be dis- cussed. Specific differences of the several races are subordinate in importance to the general Psychical, Sexual, Anatomical, and Physiological History of The Church of Rome usurped authority over the consciences and intellects of Men. Her day is passed. Public opinion and Conscience supply her place. could modify by his word as well as create. Another view of the subject. Cuvier's nomenclature. Blumenbach's. Dr. Prichard's. Division of the Class Mammalia. Zoological character of Man. Reasons for new nomencla- THE distribution of Vegetables and Animals over the Earth is not analogous to the distribution of the human species, and therefore such distribution will not assist our investigations in relation to Man. . . The importance of Vegetables. Habitats of Vegetables and Animals. Causes which influence them. Vegetables possess the power of chemical assimila- tion, which animals do not. Theories of distribution. One Centre. Several Centres. Spontaneous productions. Plants in Europe, Asia, Africa, New Holland, and America. America contains nearly one half of the phaneroga- mous plants of the world. Of the two last theories unimportant to our sub- ject which is adopted. The earth arrayed at once in perfection and beauty. The agencies of vegetable distribution. Example in Buenos Ayres. Potato. Canada thistle. Geographic distribution of Animals marked by strong lines. Identity of species rare in different Continents. Examples. Field's descrip- tion of New Holland. Peculiar Fauna which distinguish Asia, Africa, New Holland, Europe, and America. Swainson on the Birds of Europe. Peculiar physical arrangement of America. No Deserts. Magnificent display of Crea- tive power. Humming Bird. Mocking Bird. Quadrupeds. Remarks. Dis tribution of Man from one Centre. Proofs. Vegetables and Animals are not analogues of Man. Constitutional adaptation of Man for migration, different from vegetables and animals. Omnivorous, naked, ingenious, courageous, and migratory, Man alone accommodates himself to all circumstances. Extract from |