482 Natural History in Foreign Countries. 



the value which care and labour give to any thing ; in short, who can apply 

 the theory of the value of labour metaphysically as well as physically. 



Man in the South of Germany. — It cannot be altogether foreign to 

 natural history, to notice the influence of climate, food, and political and 

 religious regulations on the human species ; and we are unwilling to leave 

 Germany without saying something on so interesting a people as the Ger- 

 mans. It will not be denied that man is subject to the same laws as other 

 animals, and that his natural or inborn character must depend principally 

 on the climate and products of the soil where he is placed. His factitious, 

 or civilised, character will as certainly depend on his education, taking that 

 word in its most extensive sense, as including parental care and example, 

 scholastic tuition, religion, and government. In warm fertile countries, 

 where nature produces every thing spontaneously, man becomes inactive, 

 and has naturally few labours and few enjoyments. In extremely cold and 

 inhospitable climates, the enjoyments of man are also few, because the 

 labour necessary to overcome natural objects is too great for his powers. 

 It would seem, therefore, that intermediate climates are more favourable 

 for human happiness than either extremes ; but whether such as are at all 

 times temperate, as those of many parts of Italy and Spain, or such as 

 are alternately temperate and severe, as those of the south of Germany and 

 the north of France, are the best, may perhaps be doubted. It appears that 

 a climate where the winters are severe, has a considerable influence on the 

 human character, by the necessity which it induces of forethought, in the 

 laying up a provision of food for winter, and the greater attention and 

 labour that are requisite in the article of clothing for that season. It is 

 certain, on the other hand, that, in climates at all times temperate, the 

 health, other circumstances being alike, must be better than in severe cli- 

 mates, where it is impaired by the artificial atmosphere of apartments during 

 the winter season ; and constant good health must necessarily have a con- 

 siderable influence on the character. Supposing, therefore, all the artificial 

 circumstances to be the same in two climates, such as that of the south of 

 Germany, and that of Italy or the central parts of France, it seems reason- 

 able to conclude that man would attain to a higher degree of perfection 

 in the latter climates than in the former. So much for our theory of the 

 influence of soil and climate on man ; and, for further details, we refer the 

 reader to Dr. Falconar's work on the subject (Bath, 4to, 1788 ?). 



Of all the artificial or accidental circumstances which influence the cha- 

 racter, personal education must be allowed to be the greatest, and, next, 

 religion and government. Manner of life, occupations, and pursuits, and 

 even amusements, have an important influence. To do more than premise 

 these matters, would be unsuitable to this Magazine ; but what has been 

 said became necessary as an introduction to what is to follow. 



Applying the above theory to the three states of Germany which we have 

 passed through, Wurtemberg, Bavaria, and Baden, the climate and soil of 

 these states seem favourable in the second degree; education, to a certain 

 extent, is there universal ; religion is, on the whole, more simple than in 

 some other countries ; and the laws and governments seem, at least, equal, 

 in constitutional merits and impartial administration, to those of any people 

 in Europe. The manner of life, or occupation, is chiefly agricultural ; which, 

 though not favourable to luxury and refinement, seems, without doubt, for 

 the great mass of the people, the happiest mode of existence. Local and 

 personal attachments are universally felt to be essential sources of happi- 

 ness ; and in no way can this feeling be gratified so easily and effectually as 

 by the possession of land. In the three countries named, the great majority 

 of the population are occupiers in perpetuity, of a portion of the soil, 

 either as absolute proprietors or as perpetual renters. This state of things 

 is far from being favourable to what is called making money ; but it is highly 

 favourable to health and contentment. It is a great deal for a poor man to 



