to the Ethnological Society of London. 357 



whom the affairs of nations are entrusted, has this error 

 been committed. Even within the narrow limits of our own 

 island, there are two races having each of them their pecu- 

 liar character. But the British empire extends over the whole 

 globe. It comes in contact with the descendants of the 

 French in Canada ; with the Red Indians of America ; with 

 the Negroes of Sierra Leone and Jamaica ; with the Caffres 

 and Hottentots of South Africa ; with the manly, warlike, and 

 intelligent inhabitants of New Zealand ; with the rude Abo- 

 rigines of Australia; with the Malays, the Hindoos, the 

 Mussulmans, the Parsees, the Chinese in the East — races 

 differing widely from ourselves, and not less widely from each 

 other. Surely much advantage would arise, and many mis- 

 takes might be avoided, if those who have the superinten- 

 dence and direction of the numerous colonies and depen- 

 dencies of the British crown would condescend to qualify 

 themselves for the task which they have undertaken by study- 

 ing the peculiarities of these various races, and by seeking 

 that information on these subjects which Ethnology affords. 

 This Society is yet in its infancy. But those who have 

 attended its meetings will bear testimony to the value of the 

 written communications which have been made to it during 

 the present Session, and of the discussions to which these 

 communications have led. Seeing how much has been al- 

 ready accomplished, and the zeal which exists among its 

 members, I am, I conceive, not too sanguine in my expecta- 

 tions, when I anticipate that the Ethnological Society will 

 from year to year advance in reputation and usefulness ; and 

 that the time is not far off when its labours, and the objects 

 which it has in view, being justly appreciated by the public, 

 it will be ranked among the most important Scientific Insti- 

 tutions of the age. 



