C A U S E S
OF V A R I E
T I E S .
R E M A R K S o n t it e
S E C T I O N P|
On the C auses q f the D ifference in the R aces o f
M en in the South Se a s , their Or ig in and M ig r a t io n s .
Inde Venus varia product t forte figuras :
Majorumque refert voltus, vocefque comafqtte* L u c r e t iu s ..
T T A V I N G Rated the differences o f colour, fize, habit, form
o f body, and turn o f mind, as obferved in the various,
nations o f the South Sea, it remains to affign the moil probable
and the moil reafonable caufes o f thefe remarkable differences o f
the two races. This would be an eafy talk, by having recourfe to
holy writ only, and from thence laying it down as a fundamental
pofition, that all mankind are defcended from one couple; for it:
muft then follow that all are o f one fpecies.: and that all varieties-
are only accidental. But in this age o f refinement and infidelity,,
feme modern writers ufe every poffible means to invalidate the
authority o f 'revealed religion, and though they employ the ferip-
ture, when they endeavour to fupport their own unphilofophic
opinions, they never admit arguments taken from thence in others
and i f we look around we find fo general a tendency in all ranks o f
men towards faying and writing new and uncommon things, that
I the
H U M A N S P E C I E S .
the generality o f literary produ&ions teem with the moil: eccentric c a u s e s
and monftrous opinions. IS ’‘ ‘- 'i - - <• e t i t s . '
- - - - - - Velut agri fomnia, •vmue
Finguntur fpecies. ' ‘ H o r a t i u s .
Some therefore divide mankind according to it's colours into various
fpecies; others, inftead o f being contented with bringing all
men under one kindred, choofe to extend the human fpecies even
to ouran-outangs, a kind o f well known apes from the Eaft-In—
dies.* This certainly enlarges the fubjeft, and renders the dif-
cuffion more intricate, and the arguments more varied and difficult.
I'eould eafily appeal to common fenfe, and to reafdrt as the great
charatfteriftic, exclufive privileges o f mankind, which are not found
in any o f the quadrupeds, though fome of them are miffeprefented
as being rational in an eminent degree y I could from the very help-
lefs and defencelefs ftate o f children, when they are firft born, from
the long duration o f that ftate, from the want of infti-nflr, or connate
faculty o f defending themfelves again external injuries,' 'Or o f finding
and choofing falubrions food, &c. & c . infer, that man was:
originally intended for a being living in fociety, who fhould be
taken care of and educated by others, and who has therefore received
the
* The author of the Origin ami Progrefs o f Language, v. i. p. 289, fays: The ouran-
outangs are proved to be of our fpecies by marks o f humanity, that I think, are inconteftable;
and likewife g. 175.