than their life. Yet we may confidently boast, that the majority of the female sex, in this happy island, cultivate literature, and esteem it for its own sake, and not for a vain and frivolous reputation; and keep their esteem for virtue, their contempt for vice, their sensibility for friendship, and their affection entire for their families, uncontaminated by all such disgraceful examples.

I

ESSAY V.

ON THE FORMATION OF NATIONAL CHARACTERS FROM PHYSICAL CAUSES.

AMONG philosophical and speculative men, few subjects have been thought more worthy of examination than that one, of how far the climates of different countries affect their forms of government. Those theories, which ascribe the habits of government entirely to the influences of climate and situation, appear to us as absurd and extravagant as any which can be traced in the Republic of Plato, or the Utopia of Sir Thomas More. We shall, therefore, content ourselves with taking a summary view of them, without entering into a refutation of the radically erroneous reasonings of those who deny the operation altogether of moral causes upon the spirit and intelligence of the great mass of a nation.

That the northern inhabitants of the globe are more inclined to laborious exertions than those who are exposed to the vertical rays of the sun, is a position which appears undeniable to us; but where the air is

most temperate, and the soil rich and inviting, that there we should certainly find a lively fancy and ardour of soul, the fairest shoots of eloquence, and an extreme delicacy of taste, is a conclusion which we are not warranted to make, either from a past or present view of the history of mankind: nor can it be laid down as a principle, without very considerable modification, that undaunted resolution, and the most solid improvement in the study of science, are to be regarded as the peculiar properties of the inhabitants of a cold region.

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It must be obvious to every one, that excessive heat is not calculated to render the body patient of fatigue. In the torrid zone, where the fruits of the earth spring almost spontaneously, the disposition to sloth may be indulged without any danger of wanting the necessaries of life: on the contrary, those who dwell in cold countries must labour, or else be exposed to the miseries of famine. In this manner, we can account for the southern Asiatic displaying, in general, less vigour and strength of body than the northern European. It is however asserted, by Montesquieu and other philosophers, that the qualities of the air and climate affect, in a powerful degree, the conduct and characters of nations. According to them, we

are to believe, that great heat, by relaxing the fibres, and by extending the surface of the skin where the action of the nerves is chiefly performed, excites an uncommon sensibility to all external subjects; consequently, an exquisite imagination, taste, sensibility, and vivacity, are to be peculiar to those latitudes where the fig and the vine, the tamarind and the pine-apple, grow in the greatest natural perfection; while those, on the other hand, who live in cold climates, are said to acquire a cast of mind and temper of an opposite complexion.

But to us, no position seems more deficient in solidity than that, Ingenia hominum ubique locorum situs format*. We profess to think, that the intellectual operations of the mind are no more dependant upon the difference of heat and cold, of moisture or dry-. ness, than that ferocity and cruelty are the necessary consequences of devouring a large quantity of animal food+ for, entertaining the opinion that genius, in

* See Quintus Curtius, Lib. viii. cap. ix.

"Il est certain," says Rousseau, "que les grands mangeurs de viande sont en general cruels et feroces plus que les autres hommes. Cette observation est de tous les lieux, et de touts les tems. La barbare Angloise est connue. See Emile, Tom. I. p. 274. But the unsubstantial diet which the French are famed for using, has produced effects, unfortunately, too well calculated to refute the justness of that obser

all its multifarious forms, is the product of every country, the following reasons, we conceive, may be satisfactorily urged.

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If it be true, that the qualities of air and soil usurp a decided influence over the temperament and understanding of a people, it will necessarily follow, that those people, whose situation with respect to climate is similar, should be found counterparts to each other in their manners, dispositions, or pursuits: but what resemblance, we should like to know, can be traced between the reserve and melancholy of the Dane, and the loquacity and sprightliness of the Swede, so justly styled the Frenchman of the north? And, in the contiguous governments of China and Japan, who will undertake to prove any similarity between the habits and principles of these two people? The distance from Athens to Sparta, or Thebes, was not so great, that many hours were consumed, even by lazy travellers, before they reached those places; yet, in spite of the intimate connection which existed, at

vation. Our countryman, Sir William Temple, in his account of the United Provinces, has fallen almost into the same error, by remarking, that all fierce and bold animals are carnivorous. Vol. I. p. 166.-But Mr. Hume, in his admirable Essay upon National Characters, points out, with his usual acuteness, the Swedes, as a striking exception to this general observation. Vol. I. p. 210.