32 Scientific Reviews. 



It appears to us, that, though history may possibly, in many ini 

 stances, receive no contradiction from the physiological characters 

 of the races of which it treats, no certain results can be expected 

 in the study of the distribution of man, from the physical peculiari- 

 ties which the varieties may be found to present. History will as- 

 sist the researches of the naturalist, but the historian may indulge 

 but little hope of mutual aid. 



But our countryman, Mr. Edwards, is of a different opinion ; 

 and, in the form of a letter to M. Amedee Thierry, author of the 

 History of the Gauls, he has produced a most interesting and inge- 

 nious little volume in support of his views. And if Mr. Edwards, 

 under the guidance of the historical facts detailed by M. de Thierry, 

 fancies that he can distinguish^ in France, two types, or sub- varie- 

 ties of men, possessing peculiarities of complexion and countenance 

 which may be supposed to have belonged to the Gauls and the 

 Cymri, it is a pleasant corroboration of our previous knowledge ; 

 but if he had not been able to observe them, the history of that 

 country would have rested on a basis equally secure. 



We do not, however, believe that, by means of our present kn'ow- 

 ledge, the original types can be distinguished in the population of 

 mixed nations ; and upon this question the value of physiological 

 characters, as illustrative of history, entirely depends. It would 

 first- be necessary to show that the physical characters of a race are 

 constant for ages, and not altered by change of climate, by inter- 

 marriages with other tribes, or by the progress of civilization and 

 other causes, before we assume a power of discovering the early in- 

 habitants of a district, amidst the striking confusion of types which 

 pervades the population of most European countries. If the cha- 

 racters of the organization become adapted to the climate to which 

 love of spoil, or hope of superior agricultural advantages, or a wild 

 religious enthusiasm, has led the erratic steps of a restless or over- 

 populated tribe, we cannot expect to trace the relation with the in- 

 habitants of the countries which they have abandoned. And, in 

 the case of examining the inhabitants of two districts under the 

 influence of similar climate and circumstances, we might fall into 

 the error of supposing that a connection had once existed between 

 them. 



Mr. Edwards, seeing the necessity of these preliminary consider- 

 ations, examines, in a cursory manner, each of the causes which 

 might be supposed to have had an influential power over the cha- 

 racters of races. 



The diflerences of temperature and light between the equator 

 and the poles, have, from the apparent relation of the distribution 

 with the colour of the human race, generally been supposed to be 

 the main agents in producing the varieties of tint. And if capable 

 of originally producing them, it was a reasonable conclusion that 

 they would continue to possess the power of altering these charac- 

 ters. Black seems to be the prevailing colour of warm climates, 

 whilst white is equally general in cold regions ; and most of the inr^ 



