'46 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



deed, it is one which especially commends itself to the science and 

 literature of this country, since it is intimately connected with our 

 history and politics. Unfortunately, however, the subject of races 

 is one which involves questions as to their origin and characteristics 

 which can scarcely be discussed at the present time with that dispas- 

 sionate logic and strictness of induction which is necessary to the 

 establishment of truth. Still, much can be done in the way of col- 

 lecting and recording facts which may serve as the basis of future in- 

 vestigation. Some of these, such as those relative to the Indians, are 

 rapidly passing into oblivion; and others, which regard the negro, 

 require to be disentangled from much prejudice and misrepresenta- 

 tion. The peculiarities of these races should be critically examined 

 and truthfully recorded; to do this is a duty we owe to science and 

 humanity. 



One of the most important clues we have to guide us in the laby- 

 rinth of ethnological research is language; and this is essentially the 

 case with regard to the aboriginal races of this continent. The re- 

 mains of their implements, and even their earthworks, may, in a 

 considerable degree, be referred to the common wants and instincts of 

 humanity, as in the use of the bow and arrow; but their language affords 

 indications of affiliation or diversity not otherwise attainable. It has 

 therefore been considered an important object to devise a system of 

 general characters which would express to philologists in every part 

 of the world identity of sounds. Unfortunately, however, though 

 much labor has been expended on attempts to construct such 

 a system, none has yet been presented which is entirely sat- 

 isfactory, or has been generally adopted. Indeed, either from trans- 

 mitted peculiarities or acquired habits, commencing with the instinct- 

 ive use of the mother tongue, men of different languages apparently 

 become incapable of accurately discriminating particular vocal sounds 

 with which early usage has not familiarized them, and on this account 

 a system of characters as a general alphabet which will give universal 

 satisfaction is scarcely to be hoped for. We must therefore be con- 

 tent, at least for the present, to represent the sounds of the remains 

 of the language of the red men of our continent in such characters as 

 shall best serve to preserve their general features, with a view to fu- 

 ture comparison and discussion. Such an alphabet has been adopted 

 on the recommendation of Professor Whitney, of Yale College, and 

 Mr. George Gibbs, of this city, to whom the subject was referred. 

 It is accompanied by a vocabulary to be filled up with the equivalent 

 words of the dialect under consideration, expressed in common letters, 



