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climate, of which St. Pierre, alluding to the Negro race who inhabit Africa, the hottest region of the globe, thus writes:- "Nature has covered the head of those careless and unindustrious tribes with a fleece more crisp than a tissue of wool, which effectually shelters it from the burning heat of the sun. They are so perfectly sensible of its accommodation to this purpose, that they never employ a substitute head-dress; and there is no description of mankind among whom artificial coverings, as bonnets, turbans, hats, &c. are more rare than among the Negroes. They use such as are foreign to them, merely as objects of vanity and luxury; and I do not know of any one that is peculiar to their nation. The inhabitants of the peninsula of India are as black as they; but their turbans communicate to the hair, which, but for their head-dress, would perhaps be frizzled, the facility of growing and expanding."*

But the chief physical effect produced by heat of climate, is that of relaxing the human frame, and making it less capable of exertion; and it is very remarkable, as an instance of accommodation to circumstances, that, where this unbracing effect is produced, Nature is most liberal in her distribution of esculent plants and fruits; as if it were intended, by this profusion, to compensate for the want of energy in the human constitution. Hence also a moral effect is combined with what is purely physical, the nature of which will fall to be mentioned in the following paper.

TWELFTH WEEK-SATURDAY.

MAN.-MORAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE.

THAT Some effects of a moral as well as of a physical nature are produced on the human family, by differences of climate, can scarcely be doubted, though these effects are probably less marked than has frequently been alleged. That sloth, effeminacy, and a tendency to the excessive indulgences of sense, are more remarkably characteristic

* Studies of Nature, (Hunter's Translation,) vol. ii. D. 4.

of the voluptuous regions of the tropics, than of those of sterner aspect, which verge towards the poles, is very generally admitted; and that this difference arises from causes partly physical, and partly mental, can scarcely be called in question.

It is not to be doubted, that a hot temperature of the atmosphere tends to enervate the human body; and it is possible, too, that a similar state of the climate may have some effect in exciting the passions, so far as these are of a physical nature; but if this influence were as powerful as has been alleged, it would be much more uniform and permanent than history proves it to be. The abject Greeks and Romans of the present day, how utterly unlike are they to their predecessors of the ancient world! Yet the climate of these classic regions, though there is reason to believe it has been in some respects altered by the progress of agricultural improvement in the adjoining continent, is not so different from its former state, as to make any important alteration in the physical state of the human body.

Moral effects, however, are not of so fixed and permanent a nature as physical; they depend on more numerous combinations, and circumstances of a more arbitrary nature; and it is to these, chiefly, that we are to look for the character produced in man by climate.

The effect of a warm climate in raising an exuberant supply of the necessaries of life, has already been frequently alluded to. This of itself is calculated to create a very marked difference in the human character, and may, without having recourse to any other cause, account for much of the difference which subsists between the inhabitants of these regions, and those of climates where Nature is less bountiful. Abundance gives rise to indolent and luxurious habits, while privation renders men hardy, intelligent, and adventurous. But this is a moral effect, although it arises from a physical cause. We can now understand why a nation may, at one time, be vigorous, enterprising, and enlightened, and at another sunk in sloth and barbarism, although nurtured in the same climate, and subjected to the same influences of the seasons. The

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moral causes may be changed. There may be abundance where there was formerly want, and hence a stimulus to exertion may be removed; or an oppressive despotism may have so ground the faces of the people, that they have ceased to possess the moral aspect of free-born men, while they retain all the vigor of their bodily powers. But there are other causes originating in climate, which operate no less certainly and effectually in producing a moral influence on the minds of men. Among these may be mentioned the alternations of the seasons, which differ in their intensity in different countries, and thus produce a considerable effect in forming what has been called a national character. This may be illustrated by contrasting the character of the French nation, for example, with that of their neighbors in Britain. There is, doubtless, much in this difference of character which arises from the insular locality of the one, and the continental situation of the other. It is to the diversity of condition now alluded to, that we may fairly attribute the warlike propensities of the Gallic nation, and the commercial spirit of the British; and not less, perhaps, the free institutions of the latter, which have for centuries fostered the spirit of inquiry, of enlightened enterprise, and of improvement in all the departments of life. But in comparing the character of the French nation with that of the British, there is one striking trait, which seems to depend, almost entirely, on difference of climate. I allude to the deficiency of the former in domestic habits. In Britain, the changeable climate, and the long evenings of autumn, winter, and spring, confine the inhabitants much to their homes. There they acquire habits of social intercourse, and of sober reflection. The ties of husband and wife, of parent and child, of brother and sister, are drawn closer as they surround the family fireside, and unbend their minds, or indulge their affections, or communicate mutual instruction. They study, they converse, they join in innocent amusements; and haply a higher theme occupies their attention, which raises their attachments above earthly things, and gives them the "rivet of eternity."

Habits thus formed, become permanent, and are ex

tended to all the transactions of life. The employments. of summer partake of the qualities impressed on those of the other seasons of the year; and the pleasures of home, with which so many pure and elevating-I had almost said holy-principles are associated, and on which so many valuable habits depend, have thus become part of the national character. The inhabitants build villas; they tastefully adorn their grounds; they cultivate their gardens; they surround their houses with comforts, with conveniences, with luxuries; and all these labors are only external indications of the deep-rooted love of home which has taken possession of their hearts. Hence the natives of Britain are, in comparison with those of the neighboring country, affectionate, social, contemplative; and, may I not add, what is far higher praise, virtuous and charitable, enlightened and religious?

The Scottish bard, speaking of the cultivation of the domestic virtues, in humble life, which he had so beautifully portrayed in his 'Cotter's Saturday Night,' says truly,

"From scenes like these, old Scotia's grandeur springs,
Which makes her loved at home, revered abroad ;"

and happily it is not to humble life alone, nor to the people of Scotland, that these virtues are confined. They are every where intimately associated with the employments and relaxations of the middle classes, and shed respectability and value on the character of the highest ranks in the land; "and they are the inheritance of those nations who claim a British origin.”

In France, on the other hand, and more especially in her southern provinces, the weather is much more steady and equable during all the seasons of the year, affording free opportunity for exercise in the open air. In that delightful climate the inhabitants can very generally move abroad in every part of the day; and the evenings, when the family circle might meet together for the enjoyment of domestic charities, are comparatively short. There is little time, therefore, for the formation of that character which depends on the intercourse of the family circle; and the consequence is, that for domestic comfort they are

even destitute of a word in their language. They know nothing of that simple neatness which adorns the cottage gardens and the dwellings of English farmers, nor of those elegances of domestic taste among the higher ranks which have given rise to what has emphatically been called English gardening. The houses of their peasantry, and the chateaus of their gentry, are equally devoid of that air of snugness, convenience, and accommodation, which forms so striking a feature in an English landscape. In truth, they do not cultivate that domestic intercourse which constitutes so much of the happiness of life among the English people. It is not at home, but in the sports of the field, or in the bustle of society, or in the excitements of theatrical exhibitions, that they spend their hours of relaxation. It is there that they live and breathe and receive enjoyment. The effect of all this is strongly indicated in their character. They are ingenious but frivolous, sprightly but heartless; creatures of impulse and excitement, but void of depth and sincerity; or if they apply their minds to study, they are acute and inventive, discursive or philosophical, sometimes indeed excelling in the highest departments of intellect, but seldom sober-minded, moral, and pious. It is the fault of their education, originating in an abuse of that beautiful climate which was bestowed on them for a blessing, and may yet, in better times, be employed in a manner more conformable to the high ends of human existence.*

Were we in like manner to examine the circumstances which, in other countries, give rise to national character or serve to modify it, we might probably find that the moral influence of climate forms almost every where one of its constituent elements. But enough has already been said to show the connexion which it has pleased the Creator to institute between mind and matter, even in things which, at first sight, may seem remote and uninfluential;

*[There may be something of national prejudice to be detected in these remarks, and yet they are no doubt in the main correct, and founded on evident facts. The great difference between the French and English, seems to be, that the former are an out-door, and the latter an in-door people. The people of New England show, and may they always show, their parentage by their habits.-AM. ED.]

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