i;6 A REMARKABLE ANTICIPATION OF 



authors by whom the whole subject has been brought 

 into the light of day, and the attention of every intel- 

 lectual man and woman has been compelled. 



The limits of space oblige me immediately to proceed, 

 after this too brief introduction, with a detailed statement 

 of Prichard's arguments and conclusions, which will be 

 found to justify, in the fullest manner, all that I have 

 said in his praise. 



It has already been said that the arguments referred 

 to are found in the Researches into the Physical History 

 of Mankind.^ They are included in the seven sections 

 of the first chapter of Book ix (p. 525), which is entitled 

 a General Survey of tfie Causes which have Produced 

 Varieties in . the Human Species, with Remarks on the 

 Origin of Nations and on the Diversity of Languages. 

 The first chapter treats Of the Causes which have given 

 rise to Varieties in the Human Species, In the first 

 Section of the first chapter the author admits that it is 

 fruitless to seek for a complete explanation of the causes 

 which have produced the varieties which are witnessed 

 in the human species. ' The origin of the varieties in 

 the breed is enveloped in the same obscurity which 

 still hangs over every question relating to the theory 

 of propagation.' 



The opinion that the different shades of colour met 

 with in various races are caused by climatic changes and 

 by varying intensity in the rays of the sun, is then con- 

 sidered, and a great many ancient and modern exponents 

 of this view are quoted. After reproducing a long 

 passage from Buffon, the hypotheses of the Rev. Dr. S. S. 

 Smith of New Jersey are described. These deal not 

 only with the 'gradation in the complexion, nearly in 

 proportion to the latitude. . . .' but also with the influence 

 which heat exerts upon the secretion of bile. In con- 

 sequence of heat ' the bile ... is augmented. . . . This 

 liquor tinges the complexion. . . .' ' Bile, exposed to the 

 sun and air, is known to change its colour to black 

 black is, therefore, the tropical hue.' This latter and 

 the very similar views of Blumenbach are, however, 

 1 Vol. ii, London, 2nd edition, 1826. 



