142 



EARLY HISTORY OF MANKIND. 



Here the upright lines, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, may represent the 



comparative height and grade of organization of both the 

 five sub-kingdoms, and the five classes of each of the3e ; 

 5 being the vertebrata in the one case, and the mammalia 

 m the other. The difference between the height of the 

 line 1 and the line 5 gives an idea of the difference of 

 being the head type of the aves (corvidse,) and the head 

 type of the mammalia (bimana ;) a, b, c, d, 5, again, re- 

 present the five groups of the first order of the mammalia ; 

 «, being the organic structure of the highest simia, and 5, 

 that of man. A set of tangent lines of this kind may yet 

 prove one of the most satisfactory means of ascertaining 

 the height and breadth of the psychology of our species. 



It may be asked — Is the existing human race the only 

 species designed to occupy the grade to which it is here re- 

 ferred ? Such a question evidently ought not to be an- 

 swered rashly ; and I shall therefore confine myself to the 

 admission that, judging by analogy, we might expect to 

 see several varieties of the being, homo. There is no 

 other family approaching to this in importance, which 

 presents but one species. The corvidie, our parallel in 

 aves, consist of several distinct genera and sub-genera. It 

 is startling to find such an appearance of imperfection in 

 the circle to which man belongs, and the ideas which rise 

 in consequence are not less startling. Is our race but the* 

 initial of the grand crowning type ? Are there yet to be 

 species superior to us in organization, purer in feeling, 

 more powerful in device and act, and who shall take a rule 

 over us ? There is in this nothing improbable on other 

 grounds. The present race, rude and impulsive as it is, 

 is perhaps the best adapted to the present state of things 

 in the world : but the external world goes through slow 

 and gradual changes, which may leave it in time a much 

 serener field of existence. There may then be occasion 

 for a nobler type of humanity, which shall complete the 

 geological circle on this planet, and realize some^jf the 

 dreams of the purest spirits of the present race. 



EARLY HISTORY OF MANKIND. 



The human race is known to consist of different nations 

 displaying considerable differences of external form and 



