Types of mankind, or, Ethnological researches, based upon the ancient monuments, paintings, sculptures, and crania of races, and upon their natural, geographical, philological and Biblical history / illustrated by selections from the inedited papers of Samuel George Morton and by additional contributions from L. Agassiz, W. Usher, and H.S. Patterson ; by J.C. Nott and Geo. R. Gliddon.

  • Nott, Josiah C. (Josiah Clark), 1804-1873.
Date:
1860
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Types of mankind, or, Ethnological researches, based upon the ancient monuments, paintings, sculptures, and crania of races, and upon their natural, geographical, philological and Biblical history / illustrated by selections from the inedited papers of Samuel George Morton and by additional contributions from L. Agassiz, W. Usher, and H.S. Patterson ; by J.C. Nott and Geo. R. Gliddon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    61/800 (page 51)
    I send you a paragraph from the Ledger which will gratify you. There is no higher praise than this. It is all the better for being so aphorismally expressed. The doctrine of the original diversity of mankind unfolds itself to me more and more with the distinctness of reve- lation. “ With kindest remembrances to Mrs. G. and your fine boy, I am, “ Ever faithfully yours, “ S. G. Morton.” These citations are sufficient for onr purpose, I apprehend, especially the laconic emphasis of the last, which may be regarded as the ethnolo- gical testament of our lamented friend. I have been thus full upon this point, because I believe it hut justice to his memory to show that he was among the very earliest to accept and give shape to the doctrine stated. As The mountain summits are gilded with the early dawn, while the plain below still sleeps in darkness, so it is the loftiest spirit among men that first receives and reflects the radiance of the coming truth. Morton has occupied that position among us, in relation to this important advance in scientific opinion. I have desired to put the evidence of it fairly upon record, and thus to claim and secure the distinction that is justly due him. Many well-meaning, hut uninformed persons have, however, raised an outcry of horror against the assertion of original human diversities, in which they have been joined by others who ought to know better. The attack is not made upon the doctrine itself, nor upon any direct logical consequence of it. The alleged grievance consists entirely in the loss of certain corollaries deducible from the opposite proposition. Thus it is asserted that our religious system and our doctrine of social and political rights, alike result from the hypothesis of human consan- guinity and common origin, and stand or fall with it. To this effect we have constantly quoted to us the high authority of Humboldt, who says, “ En maintenant 1’unite de l’espece liumaine, nous rejetons par consequence necessaire, la distinction desolante de races superieures et de races inferieures.”* In a note he again applies the term desolante to this doctrine. I have used the Erencli translation, because it is the more forcible, and because it was that read by Morton, whose felicitous commentarv upon it I am fortunately able to adduce, from a letter to Mr. Gliddon of May 30th, 1846. “ Humboldt’s word d&solante is true in sentiment and in morals—but, as you observe, it is wholly inapplicable to the physical reality. Nothing so humbles, so crushes my spirit as to look into a mad-liouse, and behold the drivelling, brutal idiocy so conspicuous in sach places; it conveys a terrific idea of the disparity of human intelligences. But there is the * Cosmos: traduit par II. Faye. Paris: 1846. I. p. 430. Also, note 42, p. 579. OttA translates by depressing in one place, and cheerless in another. Cosmos: New York 1850. I. p. 358.