The reason of this is, that the former, in time, become not a little conformed to those with whom they have most frequent and intimate communication; and natives of either country, who unite and mix with the other, diffuse their distinguishing peculiarities wherever they form connections.

It is worthy of particular remark, that persons of superior education, rank, or fortune, do not exhibit their peculiar national character so strongly marked, as do those of the lower orders of the people. This is true, not only of nations generally, but of individuals of the same nation. Mind is of no country, properly speaking. Intellect speaks an universal language, and diffuses its influence nearly alike over the character of the Russian, the Spaniard, the German, and the Englishman. Wherever the advantages of a superior education are blended with the strong powers of native talent, and are cherished by the same ardent love of truth and virtue, national distinctions become, in a great degree, lost. Hence then, physio

nomy, ever faithful to the genuine disposition of the soul, assimilates, in a great degree, with its kindred forms: thus lessening, if not destroying, the visible signs, or essential indications, of national character.

So also men of superior rank and fortune, by acquaintance with foreigners at home, or a residence among them abroad, acquire much of their manner and deportment; and manner and deportment cannot assume the least degree of peculiarity, without a corresponding indication of its most distinguishing traits in the physionomy.

There are Frenchmen in this country, who emigrated here at the commencement of the French Revolution, and, when they first came amongst us, possessed the marked and distinct characteristics of their nation; but

who, by a residence in England for upwards of twenty years, have, in a manner, acquired what may be called nearly a complete English physionomy.

On the other hand, there are many Englishmen now resident in France, who have involuntarily abjured their native physionomy; and with the manners and deportment of Frenchmen, have also acquired the countenances and features of Frenchmen.

The lower orders of mankind, as they are called, not having the same opportunities of education and intercourse; but continually conversing and associating with those who resemble themselves, preserve, in its full power, the original and popular character of their country.

This fact respecting national distinction of features and manners, is, I think, so obvious, that but little more need be said on the subject. Compare a negro and an Englishman; a native of Lapland and an Italian; a Frenchman and an inhabitant of Terra del Fuego :-examine their forms, countenances, characters, and minds, and the difference will be easily seen : but it would require a very copious and ela

borate dissertation to examine into all the varieties that might be named; neither is it easy to procure authentic portraits from remote nations sufficiently correct from which to form a judgment.

This subject, however, of what may, perhaps, be called geographical physionomy, is too curious and interesting to be passed over very hastily. I will, therefore, avail myself of this point as an argument in favour of my position, that Physiognomy is indeed a science; and endeavour to point out a few instances of its accuracy.

Geographers and others distinguish several varieties in the human species.

LAPLANDERS, and other persons, who inhabit the northern parts of the globe, whether Europeans or Americans, have generally broad faces; broken and sunken noses; the iris yellow-brown, inclined to black; the eye-brows

* Blumenbach, and his copyists, have noticed five distinct varieties of human features.-EDITOR.

drawn back towards the temples; high cheeks, large mouths, thick lips, and black hair. Their heads are so large as to contain full one-fifth of their whole figure. The major part are about four feet high; tall persons among them about four and a half. The sexes are scarcely to be distinguished by their general appear

ance.

The TARTARS are a variety whose faces are large, and wrinkled, even in youth. Their noses are thick and short; their cheeks high; the lower parts of their faces narrow; their chins long and prominent; their eye-brows very thick; their skin olive; and their figures of answerable dimensions.

The CHINESE have small eyes, and large eye-lids; small noses, and, as it were, broken; seven or eight bristles of a beard on each lip, and scarcely any on the chin. The women use every art to make their eyes appear little; and when, in addition to small eyes, they possess a broken nose, long, broad, and hanging ears, they suppose themselves perfect beauties.