118 Natural History). 



wig/ and Soemering/' of Germany; and by Pro- 

 fessor Pallas, of Russia. To which may be ad- 

 ded the great anatomical discoveries and improve- 

 ments, by the Monros, Camper, the Hunters, 

 Daubenton, Bourgelat, and many others. 



It will not be improper here to take notice of 

 some of the writings of Sir William Jones, as 

 calculated to throw much light on the natural 

 history of man, through the medium of inquiries 

 concerning language, habits, religion, 8cc. The 

 various and valuable instruction which the discern- 

 ing student of this branch of science may derive 

 from those writings, is too obvious to require ex- 

 planation. The general philosophy of man has 

 been considered, in a different view, in the cele- 

 brated but erroneous publications of Hartley 

 and Helvetius. A late work on the Physical 

 History of Maiiy by Meiners, of Germany, and 

 another, entitled Outlines of the History of Ma7i, 

 by Herder, of the same country, are considered, 

 "by many, as furnishing much new and important 

 instruction on this subject.* And, finally, the nu- 

 merous voyagers and travellers with which modern 

 times have abounded, have contributed greatly to 

 enlarge our knowledge of the human character and 

 powers, and have brought to light many facts 

 toward the formation of a satisfactory system on 

 this subject. 



In the natural history oi Quadrupeds, the amount 

 of improvement, during the last century, was 

 very great. All the distinguished systematic wri- 

 ters before mentioned, have rendered extensive and 



tt Plan of a Natural History of the Human Species delineated, &c. 1 796. 



V) Essay on the Difference betiveen the Conformation of the European and the 

 fJegro, &c. 



X Meiners' work I have never seen, and amnot well acquainted with 

 Its character; with that of Herder I^have some acquaintance, and am 

 very far from believing that it merits the high character which many have 

 given it. 



