MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL QUALITIES. 411 



fernal torments inflicted on tlieir captives, and the horrible 

 practice of cannibalism, fill the friend of humanity by turns 

 with pity, indignation, and horror. 



With the deep shades of this dismal picture, some 

 brighter spots are mingled, which it is a pleasing task to 

 select and particularize. 



The inferiority of the dark to the white races is much 

 more general and strongly marked in the powers of know- 

 ledge and reflection, the intellectual faculties — using that 

 expression in its most comprehensive sense — than in moral 

 feelings and dispositions. Many of the former, although 

 little civilized, display an openness of heart, a friendly and 

 generous disposition, the greatest hospitality, and an observ- 

 ance of the point of honour according to their own notions, 

 from which nations more advanced in knowledge might 

 often take a lesson with advantage. 



Many of the Negroes possess a natural goodness of heart 

 and warmth of affection : even the slave-dealers are ac- 

 quainted with their differences in character 5 and fix their 

 prices, not merely according to the bodily powers, but in 

 proportion to the docility and good dispositions of their com- 

 modity, judging of tliese by the quarter from whence tlicy 

 are procured. 



Although the Americans appeared so stupid to the Spa- 

 niards, that they were with some difficulty convinced of their 

 being men and capable of becoming Christians (for which 

 purpose a papal bull was necessary) ; and although this de- 

 ficiency of intellect is still attested by the more candid and 

 impartial reports of modern travellers ; the empires of 

 Mexico and Peru shew that some tribes, at least, were capa- 

 ble of higher destinies, and of considerable advancement in 

 civilization. They were united under a regular government; 

 they practised agriculture, and the other necessary arts of 

 life 5 and were not entirely destitute of those which have 

 some title to the name of elegant *. History and romance 



* The vissionary notions of De Paauw ( Recherches Philos. sur les Ame- 

 ricains)^ and Buffon (Hist. Naturelle ; Homme) concerning the imperfec- 

 tion and feebleness of animal life in America, too lightly adopted in many 



