LETTER XXI. ON THE PECULIARITIES OF THE HUMAN BODY, WHICH XXI. THE Bones, muscles, blood, arteries, veins, nerves, LETTER and brain of the human frame-its breathing, digestive, nutritive and circulating systems- its sensorial organs, and its moveable legs-its desire and need of food-and its sensual appetites and passions -are all similar or nearly so to those of most quadrupeds; and are shared by us in common, more or less, with all animated nature. In these we are like other animals, and they are like us-In these resemblances we are so nearly related, that if we were to be judged by a superficial view of our bodily structure alone, the Brute and the Man would be thought to differ more in figure than in nature, and might seem to be in more fraternal kinship than is usually admitted. And yet if more closely compared, the human Body is found to have some peculiarities, which, even exclusive of its unequalled Soul, attach to Man a decided and permanent distinction and superiority, which no order of animals can rival, imitate or acquire. Of these it will be sufficient to particularize four differences, which are quite enough to confer on our species the power of subduing, transcending, LETTER and governing every other class and kingdom of terrestrial nature. XXI. The first is the Os Sublime-the erect structure, which both Ovid and Cicero remarked and panegyrized. All other Animals are so framed in their bodily construction as not to possess this beauty and this advantage. They are made to be always prone, with the exception of the Simia tribe, and a few others; and some of these cannot raise themselves on their hind feet without pain, awkwardness, and inefficiency for any continuance. continuance. And tho the Ape and Baboon class have more power of supporting an erect posture, yet they cannot do it with the facility, activity, strength, energy and natural ability of Man, and do not appear to derive any benefit from it over their fellow brutes. But in the human race, this erect stature is the foundation of their dominion and superiority over all the rest of the Animal World. The second peculiarity is the bony, muscular and ligamentary structure of the human legs and feet; which give to our body in its erect posture, a solidity of support, united with an agility, facility and variety of movement that no other animal possesses, in equal applicability or effective power. By his legs and feet, Man is fitted for every kind of motion, except that of flying; and tho some Quadrupeds excel him in temporary speed, none can vie with him in his universality and diversity of locomotion, nor in his 1 Pronaque cum spectant animalia cætera terram, Jussit; et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus.' Met. L. 1. v. 84. Cicero's eloquent allusion to this distinction in Man, occurs in his moral Officia,' addressed to his son Marcus. power of continuing it. A Man cannot outrun a Horse for a limited distance, but in a protracted journey will frequently walk him down." 2 power- The third, and chief distinguishing superiority which I shall notice, is the human arm, with its hand and fingers. This is indeed the sceptre of his his instrument of domination-his all-conquering and all-transcending mechanism. It has all the potentiality of an enchanter's rod, and has achieved those wonders of human art, strength and ingenuity, which the magicians of our imagination might toil in vain to surpass. We have not the Eagle's talons or the Lion's claws at the end of our fingers; but we can arm them with swords, guns, and bayonets, far more terrible. All that we admire and dread, and use in mechanism and manufacture-in art, war, luxury, labour, and comfort-is the produce of the human hand. Anatomy will explain to you the minute and scientific formation and arrangement of our bones, and their articulations in this limb; and of the muscles and ligaments which move them, in such instantaneous obedience to our thought and will. 2 Birds, and Monkeys and some other Quadrupeds, make considerable use of their toes; but not more than mankind might equal, if they chose to put these flexible and obedient members of their feet into daily use. This appears not only in those maimed persons who have learnt to write and sew with their toes, but also in the general practice of the Hindoo nation at the present day. Mr. Ward, who narrates what he saw among them, says that the toes 'in India are second-hand fingers. They are called the feet-fingers in Bengalee. In his own house, a Hindoo makes use of them to fasten the clog to his feet by means of a button, which slips between the two middle toes. The tailor twists his thread with them; the cook holds his knife with his toes, while he cuts fish and vegetables; the joiner and weaver could not do without them. Almost every native has twenty different uses for his toes.' Ward's View of Hindoos, v. 1. p. 187. LETTER XXI. XXI. LETTER The distribution and diffusion of their appropriated nerves, are also not less remarkable and curious; by which we not only have the readiest exertion of a powerful force and activity, but also of a delicate sensitivity, to which, even the Ape's most resembling fore hand or paw has no pretension or similarity. These three advantages give all the bodily efficiency which Man's transcending soul requires. Without that informing spirit, little comparative benefit would be attained from them; as that, without these, would be also ineffective; but both united in the combination which occurs in the human race, Man is the irresistible sovereign of the Globe he inhabits; and in all ages of his existence has attained, asserted, and preserved his predominance—as he was framed and intended and empowered to do by the General Creator. The fourth great dissimilarity which may be remarked, and which is more immediately connected with our intellect, our sympathies, and our sensibilities, is the beautiful and delicate skin of the human body. Hasty and splenetic men have inveighed against Providence, for sending us into the world so naked of all covering-so destitute of natural clothing-so exposed to all injuries and sufferings of temperature and wet-while other animals have feathered, woolly, hairy, horny, shelly, or leathery outsides. Grumbling imbecility! Would any such querulous declaimers exchange their admirable skin, for the hide of a beast, the scales of a Crocodile, or the feathers of a Turkey? Could any mind that sees, feels, or reasons, desire to have the physiognomy of a Horse, an Eagle, a Lion, or an Elephant, instead of the human face divine-instead of its lovely complexion, XXI. its eloquent features, its attractive delicacy, and its LETTER impressive dignity? But, independent of all beauty, and of all that delights the eye, the taste, and the touch, in the human skin, who would relinquish the mental advantages which we derive from its exquisite nervous sensitivity? We could not have a large portion of our sensations and ideas without it. It is the peculiar sensibility of the ends and inside of our fingers, and of our palm, which provides us with an important part of our most useful knowlege. The connexion is unceasing between our mind and its delicate skin. A fine nervous expansion, proceeding from the brain, is purposely spread over the outside of our bodies, immediately under the last cuticle. That our intellect may have the benefit of this universal sensitivity, it is materially associated with our moral feelings and with our best sympathies. No small portion of the tenderness of our nature, and of our compassionate benevolencies, are related to it. With the hide of a Rhinoceros, or the wool of a Sheep, or the shaggy coat of a Bear, we should not possess the feelings of a human heart, nor the intellectual sensibility of a cultivated mind. A comparative stupidity, hardness of nature, insensibility, roughness, cruelty, or savage humour, would characterize us in such a transformation, as corresponding qualities accompany other creatures, according as their outside habiliment differs from our beautiful exterior.3 3 Since the Second edition of this Work, I have read Mr. Flint's Observations on the AMERICAN INDIANS; whom, he says, he had inspected in their North, Middle and Southern tribes, for ten years. They present a strong illustration of the ideas expressed in the text, of the moral effect of the delicacy of the human skin. 'They have not the same acute and tender sensibilities with the other races of men. They seem callous to every passion, but rage. -In |