Rqfinesque's Atlantic Journal 



513 



we shall merely say, that of zoology there is nothing which has 

 not been published before. The geological portion shows an en^ 

 tire ignorance of even the outlines of the science. The tabular 

 view of the American generic languages, and original nations, is 

 drawn from that insane mass called The Annals of Kentucky, 

 The article entitled The Atlantic JS'ations of America, is upon a 

 par with it. He gives tables of words of different languages, to 

 show their affinity, where not the slightest analogy between the 

 words can be traced by any effort of philological refinement. It 

 is enough to unsettle a weak mind to examine the crazy asser- 

 tions he is constantly making, and which he puts forth with the 

 greatest confidence. 



The professor's " History of China before the Flood," is a mor- 

 ceau every way worthy of himself. His facts and reasonings 

 are in perfect harmony with the figures and perspective on the 

 old porcelain of the celestial empire, these last standing in the 

 same relation to nature that the first do to history. We give 

 the following inimitable extract from page 25 of the Atlantic 

 Journal. From the four concluding words, we suspect it forms 

 part of an edict which the Son of Heaven has addressed to the 

 professor. 



" The state of mankind before the flood of Ynti (or Noah, which agrees in time 

 with the seventy computation) is represented as happy. China, called Tien-hia 

 or Celestial Region, (universe) was ruled by benevolent monarchs, who took no- 

 thing and gave much ; all the world submitted to their virtues and good laws. They 

 wore no crown, but long hair ; never made war and put no one to death. Har- 

 mony even reigned between men and animals ; men lived on roots, fruits and cattle ; 

 they did not follow hunting, property was in common, and universal concord pre- 

 vailed. They did not therefore deserve the punishment of total destruction by a 

 flood. 



" This interesting and important part of the early history of mankind, is not yet 

 inserted in the would-be universal histories of the western Barbarians, as the Chi- 

 • nese call us. Our compilers for ages appear intent on destroying the little 

 remnant of ancient historical knowledge as yet extant. Let it be revived /" 



We think we can now perceive the reason why Mr. Rafines- 

 que's authority as a naturalist has been hitherto considered so 

 unsatisfactory. Those who accuse others of encroaching upon 

 their rights, are especially bound to act with uprightness them- 

 selves. Mr. Rafinesque will admit, that if, upon a previous oc- 

 casion, we were not slow to vindicate his claims to justice, we 

 ought to be equally prompt in asserting the rights of men of 



Vol. I.— 65 



