VARIETIES OF MANKIND. 457 



servable in the Erees (nobles) throughout the other islands, is 

 found also here (Owyhee). Those whom we saw, were, without 

 exception, perfectly well formed ; whereas the lower sort, besides 

 their general inferiority, are subject to all the variety of make and 

 figure that is seen in the populace of other countries." * 



Climate, however, has not been shewn to have no effect : but 

 its power, being in itself not very considerable, cannot be strongly 

 manifested when opposed. In fact, a diminution of the sun's 

 influence does dispose to the production of light varieties : the 

 inhabitants of hilly situations are, ceteris paribus, fairer than the 

 people below, and persons of the same tribe and degree of civi- 

 lisation lighter in the northern parts of Europe and Asia than 

 those in the more southern ; whiteness, too, is very common in 

 the north among animals which nearer the equator are variously 

 coloured ; a pair of brown mice kept in a dark place are said to 

 generate a white offspring. 



Perfection, in other words, the highest compatible point of 

 utility or agreeableness, or of both, is nature's universal aim in 

 her productions, but it is in general obtained slowly, and the 

 more so in proportion to the excellence or degree of the qualities 

 to be perfected. Animals and vegetables have to pass one period 

 before they burst into birth, and another before their full powers 

 and proportions are reached ; and man, whose perfections are 

 very excellent, arrives at his acme very late. 



It is in this respect with species as with individuals, — their 

 improvement is gradual. 



In conformity with such observations, some suppose that all 

 mankind were once so far below the excellence of which they 

 are susceptible, — that this was to be acquired so slowly, that the 

 Caucasian variety once did not exist. They support this opinion 

 by the remark of Mr. Hunter,— that the changes of colour in 



* If the kingdom of Hayti continues, some highly interesting physiological 

 questions will he determined i — We shall know what cultivation the African race 

 is capable of, and what influence civilisation has upon the system. 



