In fine, whenever it is not evident that such practices can benefit mankind and increase our means of reducing the sum of human misery—it is a barbarous and criminal abuse of that power which the Creator has given us over the inferior grades of animated beings; and it is deeply to be lamented that no legislative measures can be adopted to restrain it, if it cannot be altogether prohibited. At any rate, professors alone should be allowed the “indulgence,” but in no instance should such pseudo-scientific practices become a public exhibition or a student’s pastime. Brought up in early life, amidst all the complicated horrors of a revolution, I have been sadly convinced that the contagion of CRUELTY is much more doubtless and active than that of PESTILENCE!
THE END.
WHITING, BEAUFORT HOUSE STRAND.
Footnotes:
[1] During these ten years the following works appeared:
Montesquieu—Esprit des Lois, 1748.
—— Défense de l’Esprit des Lois, 1750.
Rousseau—Discours sur l’Influence des Sciences et des Lettres, 1750.
—— Discours sur l’Inégalité des Conditions, 1754.
Voltaire—Essai sur les Mœurs et l’Esprit des nations, 1757.
Condillac—Essai sur l’Origine des Connaissances Humaines, 1746.
—— Traité des Sensations, 1754.
Helvétius—De l’Esprit, 1758.
[2] The Homo diluvii testis, the skeleton of which was described by Scheuchzer, was considered by Cuvier to have belonged to a species of Salamander.
[3] For the further illustration of this curious subject, Dr. Eliotson’s valuable notes on Blumenbach may be consulted to advantage.
[4] The dream of Ertucules seems to have been connected with similar phantasies. “I dreamed, venerable sir,” said he to Edebales, “that the brightness of the moon did proceed from your bosom, and thence afterwards did pass into mine: when it was thither come, there sprung up a tree from my umbilic, which overshadowed at once many nations, mountains, and valleys. From the root of this tree there issued waters sufficient to irrigate vines and gardens; and then both my dream and my sleep forsook me.” Edebales after some pause thus answered: “There will be born unto you, my good friend, a son whose name shall be Osman; he shall wage many wars, and shall acquire victory and glory; and my daughter must be married to your son Osman, and she is the brightness which you saw come from my bosom into yours, and from both sprung up the tree.”—Lips. Marsil.