0?i the peopling of America. 209 



" Tliere seems therefore to I>e, in the combination of elements, 

 and other physical causes, in this new world, something- that is 

 opposed to the amplification of animated nature. There are 

 some obstacles to tlie development and perhaps to the formation 

 of great germ.s. 



" Although the savao:e of America is nearl}- of the same sta- 

 ture with men in the otlier continent, this is not a sufficient ex- 

 ception to the general contraction of animated nature through 



that whole continent. The American savage has no hair, 



no beard, no aniour for his female. Though nimbler than the 

 European, because he is more accustomed to running, his 

 fstrength is not so great. His sensations are less acute, but he 

 is at the same time more timid and cowardly. Me is witliuut 

 vivacity or enterprise *." 



" America gives birth to no creature of such bulk as to he 

 compared with the elephant or rhinoceros, nor that etpials the 

 Jion or tiger in strength and ferocity. The same qualities, in 

 the climate of America, wliich stinted the growth and enfeebled 

 the spirit of its native animals, have proved pernicious to such 

 as have migrated into it voluntarily, from the old continent, or 

 have been transported hither by the Europeans. 



" Most of the domestic animals with which the Europeans 

 stored the provinces when they settled there, have degenerated 

 with respect to bulk and quality, in a country whose tempera- 

 ture and soil seem to be less favourable to the strength and per- 

 fection of animal creationf." 



The whole of this description is poetical and imaginary; for 

 it has no foundation in nature. It is not from any vice in the 

 climate, nor tire want of proper food, but from the happy state 

 of our country, from the general case with which men have sup- 

 ported thcnjselves in America, that domestic animals have been 

 supposed to degenerate. Nothing less than necessity has ever 

 produced diligence in any kingdom or state. The man who has 

 little to do, acquires habits of idleness, and he does less. In 

 Ivirope, where the means of living are difficult, pasturage scarce 

 and forage dear, the farmer is restrained in the number of his 

 cuttle ; for this reason the cattle he keeps are attended with 

 great care. They are duly housed and fed ; the largest and 

 best are preserved for breed, and every thing is done by which 

 the size may be increased, and the value enhanced of th.e few 

 he Ivas for sale. The forest, in America, supj)lied the stock with 

 pasture during the summer, and during the winter, in some of 

 the colonies, when they were first settled. In the northern co- 

 lonies, the cattle were fed in winter, but they were seldom 



* Buffun. I Dr. Robertson's History of America. 



Vol. 48. No. 221. SefA. \b\(\. 6 h(.u ed. 



