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On the Unity of the Hnman Species. By M. Marcel DE 



Serres. 



When we follow the progress of the sciences, and compare 

 them with the facts contained in the most ancient of existing 

 books, presented by religion to the respect of nations, we 

 are struck with their uniform agreement with all this Book 

 teaches us. It seems as if God permitted man to make dis- 

 coveries, and bring his knowledge to perfection, only for the 

 purpose of confirming the truth of the Sacred Writings. The 

 observation of natui'al phenomena, moreover, cannot lead us 

 to conclusions opposed to the faith. The truth requires the 

 most brilliant lights to be shed upon it, in order that it may 

 shine with all its lustre ; it cannot, accordingly, reject them, 

 as they are calculated to render it more obvio.us to every eye. 



Among the facts recorded in the Bible, thei*e is one con- 

 nected with the foundations of our belief, which has not yet 

 been demonstrated in a manner sufficient to solve the doubts 

 it has produced in certain minds, — I refer to the unity of the 

 human species. This delicate question of natural philosophy 

 has, at all periods, occupied the attention, not only of savants 

 properly so called, but also of philosophers, historians, and 

 philologists. 



The solution of this question appeared, to some authors, 

 so clear, and so contrary to the accounts given in Scripture, 

 that Voltaire has not hesitated to assert, that none but one 

 that was blind could admit that the Whites, the Negroes, 

 the Chinese, the Hottentots, the Laplanders, the Americans, 

 and, finally. Albinos, are men of tlie same species, and have 

 a common origin. 



It is true that all persons of candour now know with how 

 little consideration, and, it may even be added, with what a 

 degi'ee of ignorance, this otherwise eminent man judged of 

 questions of the most momentous and eternal importance. 

 Not less than a century, however, has been necessai-y to 

 overturn and destroy all the systems and assertions which 

 Voltaire and the philosophers of his day had accumulated 

 against religion, and pai'ticularly against the Sacred Writings. 

 Thanks to its all-powerful influence, aided by the progi'ess of 



