Americana" will be referred to, by enlightened anthropologists, in proof and illustration of the truth and importance of the discoveries of Gall. But to come into closer contact with our subject. That the organic structure of the human body, in its aggregate capacity, is composed of a number of subordinate structures, is known to every one. And to the anatomist and physiologist it is known, that, of these subordinates, the nervous structure, including the brain and spinal cord, holds the highest rank. Though several of the others are as essential to its existence and the efficiency of its condition, as it is to theirs, it is notwithstanding so far the master tissue, as to control the others, and so far predominant in its general influence, as to give to man his native supremacy and fitness for empire, and place him at the head of the animal creation. In all the other structures which enter into his organism, the more perfect of the inferior animals are the equals of man, and in some of them his superiors. In the character of his nervous tissue alone he is pre-eminent. And, in full acknowledgment and demonstration of that pre-eminence, the phrenologist pronounces and proves the brain, which is but a portion of the nervous tissue, to be the organ of the mind-to be that instrument, or rather array of instruments, (for it is strikingly multiplex in its structure as well as in its functions,) by which alone the mind executes its purposes, and manifests its power. Nor, however different may have been the case, but a few years ago, does any physiologist now, who is worthy of the title, venture to question the truth of this position. Such then is the foundation, (the supremacy we mean of the nervous tissue,) on which phrenology rests; and on the same foundation rests essentially the work we are examining; and from that consideration arise, in an eminent degree, its interest and value. Wherefore? The answer is plain, and easily rendered. It is the difference in the size, form, and general character of the brain, the great nervous centre, which constitutes the leading and most important differences between the several races and varieties of the human family. And to that source does our author virtually ascribe them. True, he refers also to the distinctions created between men by difference in size of body, complexion, hair, features, and personal configuration. These however, he justly considers as but minor points in the production of dissimilitudes. For that difference, which, being itself the chief one, imparts a broad and abiding distinction of constitution and character, he looks not to the blood-vessels, muscles, or bones, nor yet to the viscera of the abdomen or thorax, (though they also are important elements) but to the volume, form, and condition of the brain, as manifested by the size and configuration of the head. Hence the title of his book-" CRANIA AMERICANA "—tantamount, in its import, to CEREBRA AMERICANA. But in collecting his materials for the volume before us, Dr. Morton did not confine his draughts to the aboriginal tribes and nations of America. Far from it. He framed and filled them under the influence of a more catholic spirit, and with less restricted views, and addressed them to sources much more extended, and more abundant in means. Conformably to this arrangement, he commences his work with an Introductory Essay on the Varieties of the Human Species," in which he has manifested, for an American writer engaged in the active and arduous duties of a profession peculiarly burdened by toils and interruptions, an amount of reading and application, labor and research, exceedingly unusual, if not unprecedented, and rarely equalled, and perhaps never exceeded on any given subject, and under similar circum 66 stances, by a writer of any country. He has judiciously done what every author should feel himself bound to do, from respect toward himself, as well as toward the public-gone to his work with a proud ambition, and a determined resolution to attain and master all the knowledge accessible to him, in relation to the subject he is preparing to handle. By no other mode of proceeding can an author, be his talents and general attainments what they may, do full justice to himself or his theme, or produce a work worthy in all respects of public favor. It is not unimportant to remark, and recommend to remembrance (because it may tend to the prevention of cavils and censures, as respects the "Essay" we are examining,) that the expression, "Varieties of the Human Species," virtually involves a belief, if it does not amount to an avowal of it, in the Mosaic doctrine of the unity of man. GREAT Our author, with the habitual correctness of judgment which characterizes him, has adopted that division of the COMMUNITY OF MAN, which, though not perhaps perfect, we are inclined to think the best, because it is liable to fewest objections. The division is nearly the same with that supported, if not originally devised, by Professor Blumenbach, and classes mankind under five races; the Caucasian; the Mongolian; the Malay; the American; and the Ethiopian. These races our author himself divides into twenty-two families, in the following order: "I. THE CAUCASIAN RACE. 1. The Caucasian Family. 2. The Germanic Family. 3. The Celtic Family. 6. The Nilotic Family. 7. The Indostanic Family. "II. THE MONGOLIAN RACE 8. The Mongul-Tartar Family. 9. The Turkish Family. 10. The Chinese Family. 11. The Indo-Chinese Family. 12. The Polar Family. "III. THE MALAY RACE. 13. The Malay Family. 14. The Polynesian Family. "IV. THE AMERICAN RACE. 15. The American Family. 16. The Toltecan Family. V.-THE ETHIOPIAN RACE. 17. The Negro Family. 22. The Alforian Family." Such is our author's division of man into races and families; and of the distinguishing and characteristic traits of each division, he gives us a brief but graphical description. On his details however it is not our present purpose to dwell; because neither our time nor our space permits us to do so. Notices of his results are all we must attempt. And even they must be limited and few. We could not make them full and circumstantial, without writing an entire treatise, instead of an article for a periodical work. Nor would it be possible for us to endue with either much interest or usefulness, any thing we could say of our author's details respecting man in Europe, Asia, Africa, or Polynesia. The reason is plain. His work neither contains, nor was designed to contain any drawings of the "Crania" of the "races" and "families" which form the population of those parts of the globe. We have therefore no source of instruction, phrenological or philosophical, either to enlighten ourselves, or to enable us to enlighten others, on the subject of their intellect, morals, fitness for civilization, or general native character and developments. All we have of information respecting them is historical or narrative, or some limited description of person and countenance. And we need hardly say, that from such premises no substantial or instructive inferences can be drawn, as respects either their intellectual or moral endowments, or their prevailing propensities—nothing in fact to throw any clear and satisfactory light on the constitution of their minds. As respects the American race and families however the case is different. Of them our author has laid before us correct delineations of the "Crania," tantamount to delineations of the brains themselves, which necessarily corresponded to the crania, of about fifty different tribes, varieties, or nations. And those skulls thus represented to us, when correctly interpreted, speak the language of nature and truth, as regards the mental endowments of the tribes and individuals to whom they belonged. Are we asked, on what particular mental attributes of their owners those figures of skulls are calculated to throw light? We reply, on every attribute, provided they are thoroughly understood; but more especially on every leading attribute, fitted for the elevation or depression of a people, by giving them more or less of animal propensity, and of general mental power and character. They disclose, for example, the comparative amount of native intellect possessed by those |