206 Biographical Sketch of Dr Prichard. 



into the investigation on physiological grounds, have, for the 

 most part, maintained the opinion, that there exist in mankind 

 several distinct species. A considerable and very I'espectable 

 class of foreign writers, at the head of whom we reckon Buf- 

 fon and Blumenbach, have given their suffrages on the con- 

 trary side of this question, and have entered more diffusely 

 into the proof of the doctrine they advocate. 



" My attention was strongly excited to this inquiry many 

 years ago, by happening to hear the truth of the Mosaic re- 

 cords implicated in it, and denied, on the alleged impossibi- 

 lity of reconciling the history contained in them with the phe- 

 nomena of nature, and particularly with the diversified cha- 

 racters of the several races of men. The arguments of those 

 who assert that these races constitute distinct species ap- 

 peared to me at first irresistible, and I found no satisfactory 

 proof in the vague and conjectural reasonings by which the 

 opposite opinion has generally been defended. I was at last 

 convinced that most of the theories current concerning the 

 effects of climate and other modifying causes are in great part 

 hypothetical, and irreconcilable with facts that cannot be dis- 

 puted. 



****** 



" In the course of this essay I have maintained the opinion, 

 that all mankind constitute but one race, or proceed from a 

 single family, but I am far from wishing to interest any re- 

 ligious predilections in favour of my conclusions. On the 

 contrary, I am ready to admit, and shall be glad to believe, 

 if it can be made to appear, that the truth of the Scriptures 

 is not involved in the decision of this question. I have made 

 no reference to the vv^ritings of Moses, except with relation 

 to events concerning which the authority of those most an- 

 cient records may be received as common historical testimony ; 

 being aware that, one class of persons would refuse to admit 

 any such appeal, and that others would rather wish to see 

 the points in dispute established on distinct and independent 

 grounds." 



In this work Dr Prichard set forth the differences of 

 colour, hair, stature, and form, and examined the value of each 

 as an evidence of difference of race ; and inferred from the 

 occurrence of these and similar differences, where identity of 



