INTRODUCTORY. 29 



development of new nationalities, languages, and 

 religions, and lead to more satisfactory results in 

 ethnology and history. Under a chronology of six 

 or seven thousand years the rise and progress of the 

 human race, with all its varieties, families, and 

 nationalities — with all its languages, customs, and 

 religions, seem impossible, perplexing, and confusing : 

 under a wider range of time, the whole evolution 

 becomes natural, comprehensible, and in accorda,nce 

 with what is now taking place around us. On these 

 grounds, even if on no other, the subject would be 

 worthy of research, and the results entitled to a fair 

 and candid consideration. 



We have said in accordance with what is now taking 

 place around us ; for, be it observed, there would be 

 an end to all reasoniag regarding either past or future 

 if we did not believe in the general harmony, the ev6n 

 uniformity and permanence of the methods of creation. 

 This belief is aU essential to our inquiry j it Hes, in 

 fact, at the foundation of all satisfactory reasoning 

 respecting the appointments of the universe, and 

 without it we cannot proceed a single step in security. 

 "It is true," says a recent writer,* "that this view of 

 the government of the universe does not accord with 

 the feelings of those who desire to have their atten- 

 tion directed in a definite manner to the repeated and 

 * Physical Oeogrwphy, ty Professor Ansted, pp. 442-3 ; 1867. 



