Climate on Plants and Animals. 121 



broad river, they flow in one channel ; the speech of different 

 races, which are widely separated, relate to subjects of the 

 same kind; their belief in existence after death, of rewards 

 and punishments, and all the strong castes of mind, move in 

 one channel, and are harmonious in all their leading cha- 

 racteristics. Being destined to dwell on the earth for a 

 season, it w T as fit and proper that he should, for that end, be 

 furnished with what may be termed an animal nature ; this 

 nature belongs to the body, which is sustained, like that of 

 animals, by food taken into the body, and air taken into the 

 lungs, — a transient habitation for an immortal mind. The 

 end required an apparatus adapted to the circumstances of 

 his existence, and to the surrounding medium ; but to make 

 that apparatus the all-important part of his nature, to draw 

 his characters from that, so transient, while mind, speech, 

 articulate language, moral and intellectual attributes, re- 

 ligious sentiments, all of which are common to the races, 

 does Man great injustice, and is an outrage upon his nature. 

 This uniformity of sentiment is proved by an intercourse 

 with all the tribes of men. If there were two or more 

 species, we have a right to infer that this uniformity would 

 exist. Of all the species which live, or have lived, is there 

 any like it in the whole range of created beings, that two 

 different species have intellects alike, or an ability to com- 

 municate purposes and intentions ? If there are no cases of 

 an analogous kind, it is plain that this uniformity of mental 

 and moral views and feelings, and which are manifested in 

 the same modes, should be taken as proof of the unity of the 

 stock from which the races have sprung. 



This subject is noticed cursorily, because it is one which 

 is exciting a great interest ; it is one of great importance, and 

 it should be placed upon the right ground ; and it is hoped 

 that better and more correct views of classification should 

 be embraced than those which have hitherto prevailed, and 

 if Man is to be placed at all in a zoological classification, his 

 characteristics should be drawn from his more essential at- 

 tributes, — his intellectual and moral nature. If this view is 

 correct, then, our inquiries will be directed to those powers 

 as they exist in the various tribes of men. Climate, when 



