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for man, ought not to he allowed to go unchallenged, as though that argument 
had necessarily been proved. The question of the different races of mankind 
is one which I think might very appropriately occupy the attention of such 
a society as this. It is one which has been exceedingly well discussed in 
France, where much and patient research has led to certain conclusions with 
regard to the differences between species and races ; and if you will permit 
me, I will put before you what has been said by one of the leading French 
naturalists — M. Quatrefages. He states : — 
“ The species is the collective amount of individuals more or less resembling 
each other, which are descended, or can be looked upon as descended, from 
one primitive pair by an uninterrupted and natural succession of families. 
“ The variety is an individual, or a collection of individuals belonging to 
the same sexual generation, which is distinguished from other representatives 
of the same species by one or more exceptional characteristics. 
“ The race is the totality of individuals belonging to a single species having . 
received, and transmitting by way of generation, the characters of a primitive 
variety. 
“ Thus the species is the point of departure. In the midst of the individuals 
which compose the species appears the variety, and when the characters of 
the variety become hereditary they form a race. These are thn relations 
which for all naturalists reign between these three terms, and which it is 
necessary to have constantly before the mind in the study of the questions 
which occupy us,” 
From hence- it follows that the notion of resemblance, which is very much 
attenuated in the species, becomes of absolute importance in the race. 
The union of individuals of different species is very rarely productive. It 
is quite otherwise with the union of individuals of the same species, but of 
different races. Here, however opposed the morphological characters may 
be, the union is easy, and always fruitful, and they transmit to their de= 
scendants the reproductive faculties which they themselves possess. These 
facts are admitted by Darwin, although opposed to his doctrines. It 
would, of course, follow that the human species is but one, because all 
the races are thus fruitful ; and it would also follow that varieties having 
sprung up, perhaps suddenly, may become distinct races. This is proved 
most completely as regards both plants and animals. The question of time 
is not a matter . to be considered as regards the formation of a variety : it 
may occur suddenly, and may then be transmitted so as to form a race ; and 
races so produced, according to the view of M. Quatrefages, may go on 
propagating themselves. I do not wish to take up the time of the meeting 
on a point going beyond the question that has brought us together, but I 
have thought it right to direct attention to an argument which certainly 
ought not to pass without challenge — namely, that the different races of 
mankind necessarily prove anything as to the length of time man has 
occupied a place on the globe. 
Rev. Josiah Miller. — I should like to offer a few remarks in addition to 
those to which I have already listened with so much pleasure. It struck me 
in hearing the paper which has been read to us, that, although it is an 
