MAN. 53 



M ho, from time immemorial, f have lived under the 

 same parallels as the Negroes, to whom they bear 

 scarcely any resemblance, either in features or com- 

 plexion, and are olive-coloured while '-they are al- 

 most surrounded with nations of the blackest hue. 

 From these circumstances it seems, that, although the 

 climate has unquestionably the greatest influence on 

 the human complexion, the productions\of the soil 

 must in some measure contribute to those effects, 

 which are often ascribed solely to the former cause. 

 Although the difference of climate, of aliment, and 

 mode of living, unquestionably produce those vfirie- 

 ties which exist in the human race, yet it is certain, 

 that we are in a great measure ignorant of the man- 

 ner and extent in which many of those causes ope- 

 rate, and the science of physics has hitherto been un- 

 able to unravel the complication. All that we know 

 is, that a certain proportion and quality of aliment, in 

 conjunction with a certain temperature of the atmos- 

 phere, are requisite to bring the human form to per- _ 

 fection, and that it degenerates wherever nature or 

 fashion has induced defect or deviation. Various 

 circumstances also evidently shew, that these charac- 

 teristic distinctions, which mark the different races of 

 men, can have been produced only by the continue*! 

 operation of the same causes through a long series of 

 ages. 



The inhabitants, however, of most countries, espe- 

 cially of those which are flourishing in commerce, or 

 celebrated in history, are a mixture of many different 

 nations. In these, commercial or hostile intercourse 

 has in a great measure obliterated national distinctions. 

 It is among those nations that have seldom been inva- 

 ded, or visited by foreigners, and who have main- 

 tained but little intercourse with the rest of man- 

 kind, that we find these distinguishing characteristics 

 of person and manners most deeply impressed. 



Of all the colours which diversify the human 



species, white is, at least according to our standard of 



estimation, the most beautiful ; and it undoubtedly 



gives the greatest degree of expression to the coim- 



D 3 



