42 



account for the changes of Proteus, or oblige 

 the sceptic to maintain a unity of argument ? 



Verum ubi correptum manibus vinclisque tenebis ; 

 Turn variae eludent species atque ora ferarum. 

 Fiet enim subito sus horridus, atraque tigris, 

 Squamosusque draco, &c. &c. 



Since you appear, however, on the whole to 

 resolve these diversities into varieties of the same 

 species, it is necessary for us to endeavour to 

 understand what you mean by this word. The 

 following sentence is the most intelligible which 

 I can find, as explanatory of your opinion : . 

 " Under certain circumstances, with which we 

 " are not well acquainted, a more important 

 " change of organization occurs. A new cha- 

 " racter springs up, and is propagated by gene- 

 " ration : this constitutes a variety, in the Ian- 

 * c guage of naturalists," p. 97. Truly, Sir, this 

 description savours marvellously of the occult 

 qualities of the ancients. I should be glad to 

 learn in what history of mankind you have ever 

 met with occurrences of this nature. Unless 

 you can produce something more determinate 

 and authentic, than this explanation, I am afraid 

 that the opinions of Hunter and Buffon, and 

 your friend Blumenbach, which resolve these 

 varieties of the human race into the effects of 

 climate and food, &c. are likely to remain unaf- 

 fected by your speculations. 

 Let us, however, attempt to argue the point 

 on the principles which you have here laid down. 



