The Races of Men: a fragment

Front matter

THE KACES OF MEN. istconi) (Sbitton, britjj Supjjtettwntarn fijjapttrs. [This edition differs from the first only in the supplementary chapters, which may be had separately. ~\ -* THE RACES OF MEN A PHILOSOPHICAL ENQUIRY ISTO TEIE Influence of pte clur the destinies us lations. i:Y ROBERT KNOX, M.D., LLi rrDfiR ON ANATOMT, COBKE8PONDIN& MF.alliHK OT Ttt£ IMPERIAL ICiDEMT OF WHDICIMK OF EHANCB, HONORABY UEM.HEB OP THJ( AIUNOLOG1CAL 60CI&1V OF LONDON, AND FOBEIGN ASSOCIATE 0¥ THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCLETX OS FARES, I.TC. BTC. SECOND EDITION, WITH SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTERS. "THE fflOPEB STUDY OF MANKIND IS MAN."— POPE LONDON: HENRY RENSHAW, 356, STRAND. MDCCCLXII. LONDON : SAY1LL AND EDWARDS, PRINTERS, CHAJfDOS STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

Preface

. The work I here present to tbe world has cost much thought and anxiety, the views it contains b wholly at variance with long-received doctrines, ste. typed prejudices, national delusions, and a physiology ap a cosmogony based on a fantastic myth as old at lei-s the Hebrew record. That human character, individual and national, is trace able solely to the nature of that race to which the individual or nation belongs, is a statement which I know must meet with the sternest opposition. It runs counter to nearly all the chronicles of events called histories : it overturns the* theories of statesmen, of theologians, of'philanthropists all shades — from the dreamy Essayist, whose remedy every ill that flesh is heir to, ij*- summed up in " the comi man," to the " whitened sepijd'chres of England," the ha handed, spatula-fingered Saxon utilitarian, whose plea for religion and sound morals, and philanthropy, " the profitableness thereof" — imposters all ! to such t] truths in this little work must ever be most unpalatable Nevertheless, that race in human affairs is everything, is simply a fact, the most remarkable, the most comprehensive, which philosophy has ever announced.

Race is every thing: literature, science, art — in a word, civilization, de pends on it. Each race treated of in this little work will complain of my not having done them justice ; of all others they will admit that I have spoken the truth. The placing the Slavonian and Gothic races foremost amongst men, firs* and greatest in philosophy, will much, 1 believe, astonif the men of other races ; the Saxon and Celt ; the Ital: and Sarmatian : the inordinate self-esteem of the S? PKEFACE. VI will especially shocked thereby, nor will he listen with comt'Osure to a theory which tells him, proves to him, that his ■ ace cannot domineer over the earth — cannot even exist per lanently on any continent to which he is not indigenous inot ever become native, true-born Americans — can nc old in permanency any portion of any continent but tl pne on which he first originated.

Physiologists will ( ite with me the great laws I have endeavoured to titute for the effete common-place of the schools ; ogists will think me hasty in declaring the æra of ier at an end ; theologians but here I stop ; a >ly shall not be wanting. As to the hack compilers, r course is simple : they will first deny the doctrine to true ; when this becomes clearly untenable, they will eny that it is new ; and they will finish by engrossing the whole in their next compilations, omitting carefully the name of the author. Lest my readers feel surprise at the repetition of so many of the woodcuts, I have to observe that this was "■ndered necessary by the nature of the work. These /odcuts are from drawings made expressly for this work my friend, Dr. Westmacott, an accomplished artist, in lose praise I need say nothing. They are much more * "CPaive of the true character of race than will at first jear to the careless observer. R. X. . * London, 1st July, 1S50.

PREFACE.

TO THE SECOND EDITION. This new edition differs from the first only in having attached to it a Supplement, in which many important philosophical questions are treated of, all having reference", •nore or less directly, to the great question of race. T.ondon, Jan. 1862. CONTENTS. PACE Inteoduction 1 Lect. I. History ofthe Saxon or Scandinavian Race — Introduction of the Saxon element of mind into human history — Its influence on the civilization of mankind — Do races amalgamate ? — Does a hybrid race exist P 39 II. Physiological Laws regulating Human Life — Extinction of a race — Climate of no influence over any raceof men — Antiquity of race inconsistent with the received interpretation of the Hebrew my th ... 76 III. History of the Gipsy, Copt, and Jew . . 146 IV. Ofthe Coptic, Jewish, and Phœnician Races — Mediterranean races connected with a former geological æra or period . . . 178 V. Same subject continued — Value of monumental records — Theory of progressive improvement 188 VI.

The dark Races of men — Antagonism of man to Nature's works — Antipathy of race to race 215 VII History of the Celtic Race — Geographical position of the race — Their future destiny 318 Who are the Germans P — The modern German not the classic — Mistake of Niebuhr VIII. and of Arnold CONTENTS. LECTURE , PAGE IX. The Slavonian Race — Discovered the transcendental philosophy — the greatest of all discoveries 351 X. Of the Sarmatian Race — The Russ and Pruss ; of the dominant races now on the earth 362 XI. Question of Dominancy — England ; her constitution and colonies — Nationalities — the English people sustained and partly recovered from the greatest calamity that ever befel a Tace — viz., the Norman conquest 370 XII. Some Remarks on Jewish Chronology . . 380 Concluding Lectube 395 Appendix 447 SUPPLEMENT.

Chap. I. On Human Hybridite 481 II. On some Ancient Forms of Civilization . 508 III. Africa : its Past, Present, and probable Future 532 IV. On the Present Phasis of Ethnology . . 563 Resume .... THE RACES OF MEN THE RACES OF MEN: A FRAGMENT. BY ROBERT KNOX, M.D. LECTUBEB on anatomy, AND COBBESPONDING MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE OF FBANCE. "The proper study of mankind, is man." — Pope. LONDON: HENRY RENSHAW, 356, STRAND. MDCCCL.

PREFACE.

. The " Fragment " I here present to the world has cost me much thought and anxiety, the views it contains being wholly at variance with long-received doctrines, stereotyped prejudices, national delusions, and a physiology and a cosmogony based on a fantastic myth as old at least as the Hebrew record. That human character, individual and national, is trace able solely to the nature of that race to which the individual or nation belongs, is a statement which I know must meet with the severest opposition. It runs counter to nearly all the chronicles of events called histories ; it overturns the theories of statesmen, of theologians, of philanthropists of all shades — from the dreamy Essayist whose remedy for every ill that flesh is heir to, is summed up in " the coming man," to the " whitened sepulchres of England," the hard handed, spatular-fingered Saxon utilitarian, whose best plea for religion, and sound morals, and philanthropy, is "the profitableness thereof" — impostors all ! to such the truths in this little work must ever be most unpalatable.

Nevertheless, that race in human affairs is everything, is simply a fact, the most remarkable, the most comprehensive, which philosophy has ever announced. Race is everything : literature, science, art — in a word, civilization, depends on it. Each race treated of in this little work will complain of my not having done them justice; of all others they will

PREFACE.

. admit that I have spoken the truth. The placing the Slavonian and Gothic races foremost amongst men, first and greatest in philosophy, will much, I believe, astonish the men of other races; the Saxon and Celt; the Italian and Sarmatian: the inordinate self-esteem of the Saxon will be especially shocked thereby; nor will he listen with composure to a theory which tells him, proves to him, that his race cannot domineer over the earth — cannot even exist permanently on any continent to which he is not indigenous — cannot ever become native, true-born Americans — can not hold in permanency any portion of any continent but the one on which he first originated. Physiologists will dispute with me the great laws I have endeavoured to substitute for the effete common -place of the schools ; geologists will think me hasty in declaring the æra of Cuvier at an end; theologians but here I stop; a reply shall not be wanting.

As to the hack compilers, their course is simple : they will first deny the doctrine, to be true; when this becomes clearly untenable, they will deny that it is new ; and they will finish by engrossing the whole in their next compilations, omitting carefully the name of the author. Lest my readers feel surprise at the repetition of so many of the woodcuts, I have to observe, that this was rendered necessary by the nature of ihe work. These woodcuts are from drawings made expressly for this work by my friend, Dr. Westmacott, an accomplished artist, in whose praise I need say nothing. They are much more expressive of the true character of race than will at first appear to the careless observer. R. K. London, \st July, 1850. CONTENTS. FACE Introduction 1 Lect. I History of the Saxon or Scandinavian Race — Introduction of the Saxon element of mind into human history — Its influence on the civilization of mankind — Do races amalgamate ? — Does a mixed race exist P 39 II.

Physiological Laws regulating Human Life — Extinction of a race — Climate of no influence over any race of men — Antiquity of race inconsistent with the received interpretation of the Hebrew myth ... 76 III. History of the Gipsy, Copt, and Jew . . 146 IV. Of the Coptic, Jewish, and Phœnician Races — Mediterranean races connected with a former geological æra or period . . . 1 78 V. Same subject continued — Value of monumental records — Theory of progressive improvement 188 VI. The Dark Races of Men — Antagonism of man to Nature's works — Antipathy of race to race 215 VII. History of the Celtic Race — Geographical position of thc race — Their future destiny CONTENTS. viii LECTUslB VIII. Who are the Germans? — The modern German not the classic — Mistake of Niebuhr and of Arnold 339 IX. The Slavonian Race — Discovered the transcendental philosophy — The greatest of all discoveries 351 X. Of the Sarmatian Race — The Russ and Pruss the dominant races now on the earth 362 XI.

Question of Dominancy — England ; her constitution and colonies— Nationalities — the English people sustained and partly recovered from the greatest calamity that ever befel a race — viz., the Norman conquest 370 XII. Some Remarks on Jewish Chronology . . 380 Concluding Lectuee 395 Appendix