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To the EDITOR of the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE. SIR, YOUR readiness in inferting the Paper by Lord KIN NOUL in your last, induces me to fend the following Short Hints by his Lordship's brother, Dr. ROBERT DRUMMOND, Archbishop of York. They are mentioned by Lord KINNOUL, and contain fo much useful inftruction, that I am fure they cannot but be acceptable to most of your readers.

Edinburgh, Feb. 10, 1788.

I am, &c.

CALEDONICUS *.

SHORT HINTS GIVEN TO LORD DESKFORD, GOING TO BEGIN HIS EDUCATION AT OXFORD.

N. B. Befides the books mentioned in the body of the page, those fet down in the Notes may be of ufe.

I

SHOULD be diffident in giving my advice to a young Nobleman where my affections are concerned, for fear of drawing him into a mistaken course of study. But yet as my affections urge me ftrongly, I will hazard even my judgment, though I may fail, notwithstanding my earnest defire to be of some sort of service to a friend and a relation.

My judgment, as far as it goes with regard to a young Nobleman who is a stranger to public education, to Greek and compofition, is this: that his ambition should be carried forward towards the greater lines of public life, by fuch methods of knowledge that may fuit him, and yet enable him to appear with credit to himself and service to his country. All knowledge should be laid in principle; principle is founded on reafon and morality. Without tiring a perfon unused to application, I would fhew him a fhort, and yet profitable way, without a great deal of drynefs and trouble.

It has always appeared to me that there can be no profitable application without pleafure in reading, and that pleasure cannot arife, except the mind feels an ambition to push on to the cbject which is thus in view, and to enlarge its powers.

A system of morality need not be dry, but it is a neceffary foundation. Burlemaqui's Droit Naturel, Puffendorff's Devoirs d'Homme et de Citoyen par Barbeyrac, and the Extracts of the Socratic Philofophy from Xenophon and Platot, for the ufe of Westminster fchool, are fhort books and pleasurable. In Tully and Socrates you fee all that was valuable amongst the Academics, which indeed was the only felt that carried the efforts of reafon as far as it would then go. Of the other two

fects (for there are but three great ones), the Stoics hurt the cause of their virtue by overrating its power; and the Epicureans debased it.

To connect the system of natural religion as to theory and practice with Chriftianity, which is the perfection of morality, and that method of falvation which the Deity revealed to mankind through Chrift, that they may be affured of eternal happiness upon their fincere endeavour to fulfil his laws; to connect these, Grotius de Veritate Religionis Chriftianæ, Leland on Revelation, vol. II. and Clarke on the Attributes, particularly the Second Part, will be very useful; and on the know ledge of the Deity, Maclaurin's First Chapter of the View of Sir I. Newton's Philosophy, and Abernethy on the Attributes, which will be easier than Clarke's First Part. Thus the foundation will be laid in a just sense of the nature of God and man, of creation, providence, and redemption, and the heart and understanding will be formed upon found and ftrong principles. Without entering into theo logy the Bible may be read, and when it is read there fhould be fome Comment at hand. Patrick and Lowth on the Old, and Whitby or Hammond on the New Testament, seem to me the best to be confulted occafionally, though there is no commentator without his faults.

In reading the Scriptures a young man may start at difficulties; how they may arife you will fee in Bishop Atterbury's and Bishop Conybeare's Sermons on that fubject.

Lowth's fhort Tract fhews you the profitable reading of Scripture; for one principle ought to be laid down, and kept in your mind throughout all reading relative to reli

The Proprietors of the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE efteem themselves greatly honoured by this Correfpondent's communications, to which they will at all times pay the greatest deference. -EDITOR.

†Œuvres de Platon, par Dacier, 2 vols. Xenophon's Memoirs of Socrates, Epictetus, and Antoninus; Hutchinson's Moral Philofophy.

VOL. XIII.

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gion;

gion; that is, that the gracious defigns of God towards mankind are all conditional, never fuperfeding, but always exciting and co-operating with the endeavours of men as free and rational agents*.

The ftudy of mathematics and natural philofophy is ufeful, but the purfuit muft depend upon the turn of genius and difpofition.

With regard to compofition and stile, the best poets are entertainment for tafte and imagination; and the elegant Orations of Tully pro Arch. 2 Ligari. Mar. Marcello, and others, may be read and tranflated: and also particular parts; as the end of the First Book de Legibus; Catiline's Character in the Oration pro M. Cælio; Preface to the Orator; fome of the Epiftles; but the Orator and de Oratore should be read through. English ftile is better gotten by a few books than by variety, as the changes of our language have been great, and may deceive one who is unexperienced. Sherlock's Sermons, as well as others that have a great deal of oratory as well as matter; fome of the profe writings of Addifon and Dryden; and the nervous letters and speeches of Statefmen fince Henry the First's time (excepting the pedantic writers), will introduce right language +.

But the real formation of ftile (which is to exprefs with method, propriety, and strength, what you understand clearly and correctly) will be beft made by writing frequently compofitions on hiftorical and popular fubjects. This will be your own ftile; and if it is attended to, whenever occafion calls, with a fenfible elocution adapted to the subject and the audience, your public appearances will be honourable and successful. This fhould be your ambition. The largest line of ambition in political knowledge belongs to History. Boffuet's Universal History, and Sleidan de Quatuor Monarchiis will fhew the great out

lines. The Grecian history is best found by reading the whole, and selecting and translating the striking parts of Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon; but for want of the Greek language, it may be learned from parts of Sir Walter Raleigh's Hiftory of the World, Rollin, and the late Hiftory of Greece printed at Edinburgh, which is the abridgement of Rollin. The Roman History may be found in Rollin; but Livy, Salluft, and Tacitus fhould not be omitted, and others should be read occafionally. The connection of Ancient and Modern Hiftory, from the diffolution of the Roman Empire to the rife of the Modern Monarchies, may be seen in the first volume of Robertson's History of Charles V. which is more fuccinct than that most able performance of Giannoni's History of Naples, and more faithful and useful than Voltaire. The History of Britain will be interesting, but not of confequence, as to particulars, till the time of Henry VII. Rapin's Abridgement, with his differtation on the Laws of the Anglo-Saxons, Lord Littleton's Henry II. and Blackstone's Commentaries, will shew all that is neceffary till Henry VII. §

Then perfons and things may be more accurately confidered, and the true state of the Conftitution may be explored. Foreign Hiftory is alfo neceffary, and those parts which engage the attention will be more fully pursued, in every part of Hiftory, and indeed in every part of reading whatever. This method of reading History will fhew the general events, changes, and systems of Government, with their property and force at the respective times. In this course the motives of Legislation will appear, and the study of the different parts of the Roman, Civil, or Feudal Laws, will be more useful, by feeing their origin, their progress, and the different tinges and colours that they gave to the municipal laws of the different countries of Europe,

Beattie on Truth; Wilkins on Natural Religion; Whole Duty of Man; Scot's Chriftian Life; Pearfon on the Creed; Rotherham on Faith; Nicolfon on the Liturgy.

† Homer, Hefiod, Theocritus, Sophocles, Euripides, Horace, Virgil, Lucretius, Ovid, Terence, Juvenal, &c. Boileau, Corneille, Racine, Moliere, &c. Shakespeare, Spenfer, Milton, Waller, Cowley, Prior, &c. Barrow, Tillotson, Sharp, Clarke, Gastrell, Rogers, Addifon, Dryden, Middleton's Life of Tully, Original Letters, Parliamentary Hiftory.

Vid. the French translation by Ablancourt; Stillingfleet's Origines Sacræ; Prideaux's Connection of Old and New Teftament; Potter's Gr. Antiquities; Kennet's Roman Hiftory; Vertot's Revolutions.

Mably on the Rife and Fall of the Romans, Cæfar, Paterculus, Suetonius, Cornelius Nepos, Plutarch, Polybius, Hortus R. Hift. Puffendorf's Introduction a l'Hiftoire d'Europe, Campbel's View of the Powers of Europe, Rapin's History and Continuation, Buchanan Chron. Hift. France Mezerai, Henault's Abridgement, Abridgement of Spain, Portugal and Italy, Necker fur le Corps Germaniques, Sir W. Temple, Burnet, Woollafton and Locke, Bacon, Puffendorf, Montefquieu, Grotius, Duck de Jure Civili, Gravin, de Ortu et Progreffu, Inftitutes, Pandects, Vinnius, Heineccius, Huber, Hoppius, Voet, Zauk, &c. Erskine's Inftitutes of Scottish Law, Craig on the Feudal Law, Geographical Charts, Talent's Tables of Chronology, Maps ancient and modern, with a Syftem of Geography.

under

under the present fyftem. These laws and studies may be pursued in their proper courfe, as time, views, and inclinations may serve. That mind is the most happily formed, that is free from all narrow, contracted, and partial views; and thinks of men and things in a benevolent, impartial, and great light; and after such a pursuit of study with this extenfive contemplation and reflexion, the caufes and effects of the different forts of policy; the powers and manners of different nations in different ages; the check, progrefs, and revival of liberty; the state of Arts, Science, Commerce, Population, Colonies, &c. will be deduced in the different æras. The memory will be methodized by the

help of plain Chronology and Geography; the imagination will be fired with perfons and actions; and the mind will be empowered to fee through the whole fyftem of ages and nations, and to judge upon great lines. Candour, modesty, and caution, will be the refult of fair enquiry, if attended with fair temper; and after a due infight into the prefent fcene, a proper ambition will be animated, and directed with penetration, coolnefs, and vigour; and the man will be brought into action fully cultivated by know. ledge and experience of men and things, and will be enabled to make use of his powers for the real fervice of his country.

To the EDITOR of the EUROPEAN MAGAZINE.

SIR,

AT this time, when there appears a gene

ral endeavour amongst the free-born inhabitants of Great-Britain to abolish that infernal commerce carried on betwixt the Weft-Indies and the Coaft of Africa, which fets a price on the head of Man, and converts him into a beast of burthen; permit me, through the medium of your publication, to throw my mite into the treafury of HUMANITY. My intention is to fet in a proper point of view a circumstance on which fome writers in defence of the Slavetrade have founded much of its legality, (viz.) the mixture of an Owran-Outang with a female African; by which they think a race of animals may be produced, partaking of the nature of each. One of thefe writers fays, "May it not be fairly conjectured, that the female negroes who live wandering in the wilds of Africa, arc, there, frequently furprized and deflowered by the Owran-Outang, or other fuch brutes; that from thence they become reconciled, as other women who are more civilized EASILY are, to fimilar attacks, and continue to cohabit with them? If this be granted, the colo nifts of the Weft-Indies are inftrumental in humanizing the defcendants of the off⚫ fpring of brutes (for a generation or two will change their nature, as much as a 'negro is changed to a mulatto, mustee, or quadroon, by the intercourfe of blacks and whites)' to the honour of the human fpecies, and to the glory of the Divine Being,"

So many able naturalifts are of opinion, that fuch an intercourfe with brutes fometimes takes place, that I cannot but believe it; I likewise believe, that the female may

be impregnated by fuch a prostitution; but the production of fuch an unnatural commerce will be, as in the cafe of a mare and afs, a mule, an animal incapable of propagation. If the writer above quoted had allowed himself a moment's reflection on the fubject, he would have feen, that if a creature had been produced by the connexion of the African woman with the Owran-Outang, and vice verfa, capable of procreation, the harmony of the animal system must have been ruined. The new animal, neither brute nor human, might poffibly again mix with an animal not of its own fpecies; the confequence of which would be, the production of another new creature, partaking of the nature of both its parents, but differing effentially from one and the other; and fo on ad infinitum. Thus, might this promifcuous intercourse proceed, till the whole order of animals would be in the utmoft confufion. But the all-wife Creator of the Universe foreseeing that fuch unnatural propenfities would fometimes take place, has guarded against their effects by raising an infurmountable barrier, which is no other than rendering the offspring of fuch an intercourfe STERILE, So that it is impoffible a new race of animals fhould be produced by the mixture of a male and female of different fpecies, as in the female African and Owran-Outang.

From this, I prefume, it appears, that no fuch change can be effected in the animal defcended from the human and brute fpccies, if any are brought to the Weft-Indies, as these writers speak of. That a generation or two will change their nature as much as the negro is changed to a mulatto, &c. by the

By the legality of the Slave-trade I mean that power delegated to Man, of enslaving the animals lower in the scale than himself, and which those writers would extend to the native ́of Africa, from an idea that he has a mixture of brute blood in his body.

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-intercourfe of the whites and blacks, cannot be. The negro of Africa is a branch of the fame stock with the European, whether English or French, a Spaniard or a Portuguese : the difference in the colour of his skin, perhaps, is the effect of climate; the poornefs of his intellectual faculties may arise from the fame caufe; but ftill he is as much a human creature as the most refined European. And the strongest argument to prove this affertion is, that the product of an European and an African is an animal fruitful as its parents. The animals these writers speak of (if fuch there are) as being humanized in a few generations, exift but in themselves; and if my reasoning is admitted, they have no procreative powers; fo that the fpecies, if I may be allowed to give it that appellation, begins and ends in the fame individual animal; and the profpect of a change taking place in fuch monsters, for monfters they certainly are, fimilar to that effected by a mixture of European and African blood, is merely ideal.

But left it may be fuppofed that the affinity between the negro and the Owran-Outang is nearer than I imagine, I fhall endeavour to bring fome authorities to prove that the chaẩm betwixt the two is fo large as to render them of diftin&t species. OwranOutang is the name by which this animal is known in the Eaft-Indies. Monf. de Buffon defcribes two kinds of them, which he looks upon as a variety in the fame species; the largest he calls PONGO, and the fmall one Jocko. Linnæus is supposed to describe one of them under the name of NOCTURNAL MAN. But the fize of the animal he describes does not agree with the Pongo; and the Jocko, though it is of the fame fize as the Nocturnal Man, differs from it, fays Buffon, in every other character. affirm, adds the fame auther, from having feveral times feen it, that it not only does not exprefs itself by speaking or whistling, but even that it did not do a fingle thing but what a well-inftructed dog could do. celebrated naturalift (Buffon) even doubts the existence of the Nocturnal Man, an animal which in defcription comes very near human nature. Thofe, therefore, who have formed their notions of the Owran-Outang from Linneus's defcription, it fhould feer have been mifted; the travellers from whom he has his authorities having in all probability imperfectly described a white Negro, or CHACRELAS.

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The Pongo, or, as it is called in Guinea, the BARRIS, is probably the creature which is fuppofed fometimes to cohabit with the women of the country. He is defcribed by Battel, as being of a gigantic ftature, and of afionishing ftrength; his body, externally,

fcarce differing from that of man, except that he has no calves to his legs. He lives upon fruits, and is no ways carnivorous, The want of the mufcles which form the calves of the legs, conftitutes an effential difference from the human fpecies; as well as his living only on vegetables for man is by nature a carnivorous animal, as may be demonstrated by the ftructure of his TEETH and DIGESTIVE ORGANS. The Pongo, from this writer's account of him, does not appear to have any thing like a language, as in the animal described by Linnæus, but is to all intents a BRUTF, endowed with fome what a greater degree of instinct than his fellow-brutes. Tyfon, who has given an accurate anatomical defcription of the PIGMIE (Jocko), demonstrates a great difference between the internal structure of that animal and man, fufficient, I think, to prove them of diftinct species. And Profeffor Camper, by a diffection of the larinx, &c. of the Owran-Outang, and several other species of monkeys, has clearly demonstrated the im, poffibility of their speaking.

If we take the obfervations I have cited collectively, they amount to a pofitive proof of the Owran-Outang being very far removed from the human fpecies. In the first place, Buffon afferts that it is not capable of doing more than a well-taught dog; fecondly, it univerfally wants the GASTROCNEMII mufcles, a ftriking character in the human frame; and its teeth and organs of digestion are fuch as the granivorous animals are known alone to poffefs; and, thirdly, the demonftrations of Camper (a competent judge), which prove, that the organs in the human frame deftined to the purposes of articulation, are in this brute fo formed as to render it totally incapable of speech: I repeat, if theft obfervations are taken collectively, they abundantly prove this animal nearer allied to brutes than to man. Though the Owran-Outang is not in my opinion fufficiently allied to man to produce an intermediate fpecies, yet I believe he may be the link which connects the rational creature to the brute. From the united authority of able naturalifts, there is not a doubt but man and the Owran-Outang are of diftinct and widely-feparated fpecies. Therefore, the few folitary animals produced by this unnatural mixture, faid to have been brought to the West-Indies, and which, I believe, are incapable of procreation, afford no argument in favour of a commerce fraught with the blackeft acts of treachery, and tecrning with practices the bare relation of which makes human nature shudder.

I am, Sir, &c.
Jan. 13, 1788.

R.

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