to the Ethnological Society of London. 353 



us under a vast variety of aspects, differing from each other, 

 not only as to their external form, but also as to their moral 

 qualities and intellectual capacities. The first question which 

 presents itself to him who is entering on that extensive field 

 of observation which Ethnology affords is, Do these beings, 

 apparently so different from each other, really belong to one 

 and the same family? are they descended from one common 

 stock ? or are they to be considered as different genera and 

 species, descended from different stocks, and the result of 

 distinct and separate creations 1 Those to whose opinions 

 on the subject we may refer with the greatest confidence — 

 among whom I may more especially mention our own coun- 

 trymen, Mr Lawrence, Dr Prichard, and Dr Latham — have 

 come to the conclusion that the different human races are but 

 varieties of a single species ; and without entering into all 

 the arguments which have been adduced by these philosophers, 

 I may observe that there are many facts which seem, as it 

 were, to lie on the surface, and which are obvious to us all, 

 that may lead us to believe that this conclusion is well founded. 



Although we justly regard the intellectual faculties as of a 

 higher order than those which belong to mere animal life ; 

 although it is as to these alone that mankind " propius acce- 

 dunt ad Deos ;" yet it must be admitted that up to a certain 

 point, and within its own domain, instinct is a more unerring 

 guide than human reason. And what is but instinct which 

 leads us at once to recognise the Esquimaux, the Negro, the 

 Hottentot, as belonging to the same order of beings with 

 ourselves, with as little hesitation as the greyhound, the 

 spaniel, the mastiff, mutually recognise each other as being 

 of the same kindred ? 



Then be it observed, that, however different may be the 

 external figure, the shape of the head and limbs, there is no 

 real difference as to the more important parts of the system, 

 namely, the brain, the organs of sense, the thoracic and ab- 

 dominal viscera ; and the medical student is aware that he 

 obtains all the knowledge which he requires just as well from 

 the dissection of the Negro or the Lascar as from that of the 

 Anglo-Saxon or the Celt. Even as to the skeleton, the dif- 

 ference is more apparent than real : there is the same num- 



VOL. LV. NO. CX. — OCTOBER 1853. Z 



