PT. in. Progress and Civilisation. 143 



and perhaps anchoring in the harbour of New York, 

 or in the Thames. Having the European examples 

 constantly before their eyes, they never seem to have 

 made the slightest advance in this or in any other 

 European art. The only exception to this rule of 

 Eastern immobility seems to be found among the 

 Japanese, who of late years have both built and 

 navigated steam vessels entirely by their own native 

 artificers and engineers. The Japanese are supposed, 

 however, to belong to the Polynesian family. 



If we pass in review the long catalogue of inven- 

 tions, discoveries, and additions to the knowledge 

 and power of Man during the last five hundred years, 

 and which may be said to have exalted his position 

 and to have given him such immense command in 

 the material world, we shall find that not one of 

 them can be traced to an Asiatic origin. They are 

 all the offspring of the higher intellect and genius of 

 the European nations. I know no more convincing 

 proof of the inferiority of the Asiatic mind than this 

 fact. Even with all the example of Europe before 

 them, they have never been able to tread in our 

 footsteps or to follow in the paths which have led us 

 to so high an eminence. 



As a general rule, the features of character which 



