188 On Elucidating the Natural History of Man 



Truly, in this department of science, for one well established 

 truth we find nearly ten assertions which are purely hypothetical, 

 and often directly contradictory. Even since the remarkable 

 labours of M. Bory de Saint Vincent, and of many other an- 

 thropologists, those very questions which have been so often dis- 

 cussed, viz. Whether one or several types exist in the human 

 race ; and what are its principal varieties, — these questions, we 

 say, with which all others are connected, and are subordinat- 

 ed in the most necessary and closest manner, are not yet solved, 

 or at least not at all in a satisfactory manner. In fact, if you open 

 the books on the subject, and subtract those which only copy 

 Blumenbach and Cuvier, if you reckon only original works, then 

 you will find precisely as many solutions of the chief problems 

 involved, as there are authors ; and when there is such contra- 

 riety of sentiment, it is but too manifest that truth does not pe 

 vade the science; for it always supplies agreement, simplicity, 

 and conviction, so soon as its demonstration is complete and 

 satisfactory, and almost always fFords this threefold cha- 

 racter. 



A fresh examination, therefore, of nearly all the questions in- 

 volved in the natural liistory of man, and an almost complete 

 revision of the science of anthropology, is imperiously required 

 by its present condition ; and these are the only terms on which 

 its future progress can be expedited. This immense labour, 

 the complete success of which is scarcely possible at present, and 

 which is far beyond my feeble power, is not what I purpose to 

 undertake in this treatise, but something which is much more 

 special in its object, and much less extensive in its plan. Once 

 more to review, and subject to a fresh examination several ques- 

 tions which have already been discussed by anthropologists, 

 the satisfactory solution of which may be advanced by the 

 help of the new resources of the science ; — to introduce into their 

 discussion some data which have hitherto been neglected ; — and, 

 finally, proceeding upon this additional foundation, to substitute 

 in a variety of particulars demonstrated conclusions for hy- 

 pothetical opinions, and sometimes probable results for simple 

 conjectures ; such are the objects I shall endeavour to accomplish 

 in that work of which this memoir forms the first part. 



The elements which are usually employed for the determina- 



