56 Transactions of the 



and graduations, as those of man. We know that in certain 

 emotions of the mind the blood rises to the face and produces 

 blushing, and that in others the countenance turns pale. In our 

 climate the natural colour of the face of a man in good health is 

 white, with a lively red suffused on the cheeks. Paleness of the 

 countenance is always a suspicious symptom. The colour which 

 is shaded with black is a sign of melancholy, and constant and 

 universal redness is a proof that the blood is carried with too 

 much impetuosity to the brain. A livid colour is a morbid and 

 dangerous symptom, and that which has a tint of yellow is a sign 

 of jaundice. The colour of the skin is frequently altered by want of 

 sleep and nourishment, and by diseases. But, notwithstanding the 

 general similitude of countenance in nations and families, there is 

 a wonderful diversity of features. No one, however, is at a loss 

 to recollect the person to whom he intends to speak, provided he 

 has once fully seen him. One man has liveliness and gaiety 

 painted in his countenance, and by the cheerfulness of his appear- 

 ance announces beforehand the character which he is to support 

 in society. The tears which bedew the cheeks of another man 

 excite compassion, even in the most unfeeling heart. Thus, in 

 the face of man are represented the types or symptoms of his 

 moral and physical affections — love, envy, pride, tears, terror, 

 astonishment, anger, horror, sleep, fear, sorrow, compassion, and 

 what is more, even death, and numbers of others of less import- 

 ance. When the mind is at ease, all the features of the face are 

 in a state of profound tranquillity, and by their proportion, 

 harmony, and union, point out serenity of the thoughts ; but 

 when the soul is greatly agitated, the human soul becomes a living 

 canvas, upon which the passions are painted with equal delicacy 

 and energy, and every emotion of the soul is expressed by some 

 features, and every action by some mark. It is in the eyes that 

 the soul is pictured in the strongest colours, and also with the 

 nicest shades. 



At his birth man is the most feeble of all animals ; he cannot 

 subsist, even for a short period, except by the care of his parents, 

 which be has occasion for during a much longer period than any 

 other animal. It is chiefly by the features of the countenance, 

 and the colour of the skin, that the different varieties of the 

 human species are distinguished. Every zone is more or less 

 marked by its distinctive colour. The black prevails under the 

 equator, and the dark copper colour under the tropics. From 

 the Tropic of Cancer to the 70° of north latitude may be suc- 

 cessively discerned the olive, the brown, the fair, and the sanguine 

 complexion ; and of each of these there are several tints and 

 shades. Does not this uniformity of effect indicate an influence 



