On the Cretim of the Vallais, 263 



A few of them are to be found on each fide, 

 and at each extremity, but they then gradually 

 difappear. Caft in the fame mould with the 



reft of mankind, they have, moft certainly, its 



form ; but one looks in vain for 



" The human face divine," 



illumined with fenfibility, and lighted up with 

 the ray of underftanding. Phyfiognomifts have 

 pretended to difcover a trait of the inward cha- 

 rader, written on almoft every countenance, that 

 befpeaks the paffions each individual is warmed 

 with. One proof may at leaft be added to their 

 fyftem, without adopting it in its fulleft extent ; 

 for, with the Cretin, the vacuum is diftindly 

 vifible. Every mental faculty appears be- 

 numbed, and the dreadful torpor is unequivo- 

 cally exprefled. It muft be admitted, however, 

 that there are diftindions in the fcale of fenfe,' 

 and different gradations amongft them, from 

 total darknefs to intellecftual twilight, and the 

 dim dawn of underftanding. Some have a fort 

 of voice, but the deaf and dumb are very nu- 

 merous ; and there are multitudes who are even 

 mere animal machines, and devoid of almoft 

 every fenfation. In point of ftature, four feet and 

 a half is the ftandard they reach in general, 

 and it is feldom exceeded more than a few 

 inches. Their countenances are pale, wan, and 

 livid; and, exclufive of other external marks of 

 S 4 imbecility. 



