414 Notices respecting New Books, 



neated, their affinities in many instances established, and philologists 

 have done something towards a solution of the subtle question of 

 their unity of origin. The general intellectual movement of the age, 

 the buoyant delight with which the philosopher ever explores the 

 more unbeaten tracks, and the interest with which the imagination 

 lingers about those regions of inquiry where facts merge in specula- 

 tion, may in some degree account for the rapid advancement of the 

 science. Man, too, is at length beginning to feel that the natural 

 history of his species constitutes an object of research, which, whilst 

 it more immediately concerns him, involves questions of equal in- 

 terest with any that can be agitated in other departments of science. 



Unwearied energy, a cautious critical spirit of investigation, and 

 extensive philological research, entitle Dr. Latham to the highest 

 rank among modern ethnologists. None have done so much to fill 

 the void created by the death of Dr. Prichard. Within the short 

 period of a year no less than three works have emanated from his 

 pen. Of these, the first constitutes a tolerably comprehensive text- 

 book of the science, and will prove of infinite service to the ethno- 

 logical student. Of the other two, whose titles head the present 

 notice, the one is rather practical in purpose and character, the other 

 deals with some of the more abstruse and intricate questions which 

 everywhere beset the inquirer in this department of science. Each 

 work is arranged in the form of lectures, delivered, one series at 

 Manchester, the other at Liverpool ; additions having been made by 

 the author prior to publication. 



' Man and his Migrations,' though published the last, is anterior 

 in point of subject matter, and first merits consideration. The first 

 three lectures are devoted to a general review of the progress of 

 ethnology, the several branches of the subject, their relative value, 

 and the proper mode and order of investigation. Its history is 

 traced up from the imperfect notices of ancient writers, to the period, 

 scarce half a century back, when principally through the labours of 

 Blumenbach, it first assumed the aspect and fair proportions of a 

 science. A just tribute is paid to the researches of Dr. Prichard, 

 who first associated the philological and zoological series of inquiries, 

 and whose work will ever be invaluable as an encyclopaedia of facts 

 for the student. In reference to the influence of climate upon race, 

 our author notices an hypothesis of Dr. Knox, that no race can 

 maintain a permanent footing in any country for which it was not 

 originally destined. In support of the hypothesis. Dr. Knox ad- 

 duces the American Anglo-Saxons, whose existence in the NewWorld 

 he considers to depend on the continual infusion of fresh blood from 

 the father-land. Notwithstanding this constant renovation, he be- 

 lieves that they are gradually degenerating ; a notion, we fancy, 

 which our relatives on the other side of the water will be scarcely 

 inclined to adopt. Dr. Latham hazards no opinion on the matter, 

 and merely observes that " it is forcibly and confidently expressed." 

 We however doubt altogether the truth of the assertion. The fre- 

 quent migrations from this country are chiefly to settlements in the 

 interior ; and there is no reason for supposing that the families in- 



