him: so that his having feen Jefus might have been after his interview with Herod.' Upon this reprefentation of things we beg leave to remark, that, to announce the approach of the Meffiah appears to have been the principal defign and proper commiffion of John the Baptift. This great event he urged as a motive to repentance, Is it not surprising, that he should not urge it upon Herod? The application of the foldiers and publicans to him was in confequence of his exhorting to repentance, because the kingdom of heaven was at hand. That John had no connection or interview with Herod after he had feen Jefus, is a conjecture void of foundation. We fhould judge from the hiftory that John had more interviews with Herod than one, and that his imprisonment was the immediate confequence of his taking the liberty to reprove Herod for his marriage with Herodias. Dr. Priestley has fuggefted feveral particulars refpecting the improbability of our Saviour's cleanfing the Temple twice; and has juftly obferved that the boldness of this action is hardly confiftent with that caution and reserve, with which Dr. Newcome rightly supposes he conducted himself in the beginning of his public miniftry. In the conclufion of his letter, the Doctor expreffes his hope that he shall foon have the pleasure of hearing from his Lordship again. Accordingly the Bishop has published a reply to this fecond letter; of which we fhall lay an account before our Readers with all convenient expedition. ART. IV. Remarks on the Influence of Climate, Situation, Nature of Country, Population, Nature of Food, and Way of Life, on the Dif pofitions and Temper, Manners and Behaviour, Intellects, Laws and Cuftoms, Form of Government, and Religion of Mankind. By William Falconer, M. D. F. R. S. 4to. 18 s. Boards. Dilly. 1781. TH HERE are fome problems which, from their nature and extent, appear at first view to lie beyond the reach of the human faculties. Perhaps that which the Author of this work attempts to folve, may be pronounced to be of this kind. There are fuch boundless varieties in temper, manners, capacity, cuftoms, laws, forms of government, and modes of religion among mankind, and fuch a combination of causes operates to produce thefe varieties, that it seems an undertaking too vaft for any individual, fully to explain in what manner, and determine in what degree, thefe effects are to be afcribed, to climate, the fi tuation and nature of a country, population, the nature of food, and way of life. Some light, however, may undoubtedly be caft upon these fubjects by an attentive obfervation of numerous facts, induf C 3 triously triously collected and properly arranged: and this is all that Dr. Falconer profeffes to have attempted. He gives out his work to the public, not as a complete difcuffion of the fubject, but as a collection of fuch obfervations as occurred to him in confidering it.' In treating of the firft fubject, climate, he confiders the effects of a warm, a cold, and a temperate climate, with respect to the feveral particulars above enumerated. In this detail, we frequently find his opinions well fupported by facts; but fometimes they appear to rest upon little more than bare conjecture; and at other times, the application of facts to his purpose seems far-fetched and unfatisfactory. And indeed it was impoffible it fhould be otherwife, in a work in which a very extenfive plan is first laid down, in fupport of which authorities are afterwards to be industriously collected from every quarter. Out of the great variety of materials which are brought together in this part of the work, we shall select what our Author has faid concern ing the effects of a warm climate on manners: SECT. I. General flate of morals in different climates. In point of morality in general, it is, I believe, agreed, that the manners of cold climates far exceed thofe of warm; in the late ter, the paffions are naturally very strong, and likewife kept in a perpetual flate of irritation from the high degree of fenfibility that prevails, which caufes a great multiplication of crimes, by multiplying the objects of temptation. Many defires and paffions arife there, from caufes that would either never occur in a cold climate, or be easily refifted; but in a warm one, the paffion or inclination is ftronger, and the power of restraint lefs. In cold climates, the defires are but few, in comparifon, and not often of a very immoral kind; and thole repreffed with lefs difficulty, as they are feldom very violent. In temperate climates, the paffions are in a middle ftate, and generally inconftant in their nature; fufficiently ftrong, however, to furnish motives for action, though not fo powerful as to admit of no restraint from confiderations of prudence, juftice, or religion. But it will be proper to treat this matter more in detail. SECT. II. Effects of the fenfibility inspired by a bot climate on the morals. The qualities of a people, in this refpect, are derived, in a great measure, from the difpofition; the confideration of which, will enable us to account, in fome degree, for the differences of their moral character. The people then of a hot climate, poffeffing great fenfibility, are liable to all its effects on their actions and behaviour. SECT. III Emotions of paffion. Hence the inhabitants of hot climates are difpofed to be quarrelfome, paflionate, litigious, and revengeful. They are, as it has been before obferved, cruel from the fame caufe. In fome rare in ftances, indeed, where a great degree of fenfibility has been united with great abilities and goodnefs of heart, the happiest effects have * Amm, Marcellin. lib. xxvi. cap. 6. Cleghorn's Introduction to his Account of Minorca, Addifon's Travels, Account of Naples. Du Halde's Hiftory of China. bee been produced. The charactsr of the celebrated Marquis Beccaria in Italy is an inftance. SECT. IV. Pride. • Pride alfo appears to be a vice of hot climates, derived from the fame fource. This we fee in almost every people in such a fituation. Numberless inftance of this are to be found in the circumftances at tending the eastern monarchs. Herodotus tells us, that the Perfians edeem themfelves much more worthy in every thing than the rest of men; and others to participate of virtue only in proportion to their nearness of fituation, always accounting thofe the wort and the most base who inhabit farthest from them." The term of barbarian was formerly beftowe, even by the Greeks and Romans, on all nations except their own: and what is more remarkable, and which thews how deep this idea was rooted, no leis a man than Aristotle imbibed a prejudice of this kind fo ftrongly, as to lay it down in his works †, that his countrymen were originally formed by nature to be fuperior, and command the rest of mankind. The map of the world in China, was a fquare plate, the grea er part of which was occupied by the provinces of this vaft empire, leaving on its skirts a few obfcure corners, into which the wretched remains of mankind were fuppofed to be d iven. If you have not the knowledge of our books, or the ufe of our letters, faid the learned Chinese to the European miffionary, what literature or what fcience can you have? The pride of the Spaniards in Europe has also been long known.-I have taken thefe inftances of national pride from improved and polifhed nations, that it might not be afcribed to ignorance, which, independently of climate, produces the fame effects. Thus the Ruffians, when in a barbarous ftate, called all other people by the name of Nemei, or dumb nations; and held them in a proportionable share of contempt. But when improvements prevailed among them, this difpofition vanished; and at prefent, foreigners are no where better received or refpected than in Ruffia. As the heat of the climate diminishes, as in France, this pride is changed into vanity. This I take to be owing to a decrease of the fenfibility: where this is very great, every man has, or pretends to bave, fuch an idea of his own importance, as to ftand in no need of the applaufe of others; but when the feelings are not fo quick, this felf-ettimation is not fufficient, and the praife of others becomes requifite, and forms the object of defire. Strabo defcribes the vanity of the French nation, and its effects on their conduct, in terms that exactly fuit their prefent character. They have, fays that writer, added to their ignorance and ferocity, a great degree of arrogance and fully, and affectation of ornament. They wear golden chains about their necks, and bracelets about their arms and wrists; and thofe who are in honourable stations, wear garments dyed and variegated with gold. In confequence of this levity of difpofition, they are, when fuperior in war, extremely infolent and overbearing; but when defeated, ftupid and helplefs. Strabon. lib. iv. Thus the Frenchman afpires with eagerness after what the Spaniard would elleem a derogation. Lib. 1. On Rhetoric. C 4 Du Halde, vol. i. p. 95. SECT. V. Gallantry and intrigue. From the fame fenfibility arifes the excefs of those paffions that are connected with love. Thus intrigue and debauchery with women, are well known to be carried to a high degree in warm climates, Even marriage is held but as a flight bar, and often confidered, where the women are at liberty, rather as a pretence for greater freedom of behaviour, than as a restraint. SECT. VI. Jealousy. From the fame caufe arifes jealouly, which in fuch a country, efpecially where pride predominates, is carried to a great height. The glory of ancient defcent and great family are fenfibly injured by infidelity of this kind, and therefore against fuch dishonour the guard is ftrict. But in France, where vanity prevails, and the paffion of of love is not quite fo powerful, jealoufy has little place. Were a fine woman to be confined there, as formerly in Spain, or in the East, her hufband would lofe the gratification of his vanity, in being known to poflefs a woman endowed with fuch qualities. The admiration paid to her, is to him a fource of pleasure, and enhances his confequence by the refpect paid to him on her account. SECT. VII. Cowardice. ⚫ Cowardice too, as before has been remarked, is owing in a great measure to the fenfibility of the people, and is one of the vices of hot climates. It may appear ftrange, to rank timidity, which may be fuppofed not to be in our power to prevent, in the lift of crimes. It is, however, in fome circumftances undoubtedly criminal, and was efteemed as fuch by the ancient + Germans, who punished it with death, inflicted in the moft ignominious manner. SECT. VIII. Sufpicion. Sufpicion, too, which almost naturally attends a great degree of fenfibility, joined to timidity of difpofition, is obferved very frequently in hot climates. The profligacy of manners in fuch fituations, contributes greatly to encourage fuch a temper of mind, every one fuppofing his neighbour under little if any reftraint from prin ciples of morality. SECT. IX. Fraud and knavery. It is likewife remarked, that in hot climates there is much less probity and honefty in the common dealings of life; the prefent object is there fo much attended to, that fcarcely any confideration is paid to future confequences, as there is but little reflection. Every one, therefore, is anxious to make what advantage he can of the prefent moment; and no regard is paid to the difcredit or lofs that may enfue, SECT. X. Perfidy and inconftancy. The levity likewife of the people of warm climates, which is ultimately derived from their fenfibility, is productive of feveral vices. Thus they are remarkable for their perfidy and inconftancy, even to a proverb. Livy fays, that the people of Africa are inconstant in Vide the Life of Petrarch, and the Lives of the Troubadours, elegantly tranf lated by Mrs. Dobfon: where it appears, that addreffes of love to married women were as common at that time, in France and Italy, as at prefent, ↑ Livii, lib. iii. § 5. Lib. xxxvi, § 17. Taciti Germania. their expectations, and faithlefs in their difpofitions. A fimilar character of them is given by Virgil † and Cicero ; to which Salluft § adds, that they were not to be kept in order by either hope or || fear. A fimilar character of the Syrians and Afiatic Greeks, is given in another place by Livy ¶, and confirmed by + Vopifcus. It might, perhaps, be imagined, as indeed Mr. Montefquieu has done, that this character of the people of Africa was exaggerated by the Roman hiftorians, from the hereditary antipathy between that people and the Carthaginians; and that it was victory alone that caused the proverb to be the Punic, rather than the Roman faith. This I believe to be in some measure true; but it is certain also, that the Phoenicians had a character of this kind ascribed to them, long before the Roman period. Homer, who we have no reason to think lay under any temptation to give them a worse character than they merited **, fpeaks of them in fimilar terms. The crooked and intriguing politics of Italy have, as well as thofe of Carthage, formerly been notorious through the whole course of modern hiftory; nor were they different in former periods. The Romans ++ were scarcely lefs perfidious and dishonourable than thofe whom they reproached with thofe vices; and it was as much owing to their deep and infidious 11 policy, as to their arms, that they acquired the fovereignty of the world. But in what manner fhall we account for the punctilious honour of the Spaniards, who live in the fame latitude with the Italians, and nearly in the fame manner; and who have, in all ages, been famous for their honefty? Juftin mentions their fidelity in keeping whatever was intrusted to their care; they have frequently fuffered death rather than reveal a fecret. They have ftill the fame fidelity for which they were formerly diftinguished. All the nations who trade to Cadiz, traft their fortunes to the Spaniards, and have never yet repented it. A notable inftance of this quality in that people occurred not many years fince, when the filver which was returned from America by their plate fleet, was debased by one of the Governors, by which the European traders, who fent goods to South America, + Virgil Æneid, lib. i. Carthaginenfes fraudulenti et mendaces. Cicero. Salluft Bell. Jugurth. de Numidia loquens.-Modern writers give the fame account of them. "The craft and deceit of these people are equally great and inexplicable. To lie for the fake of falfhood, and to over-reach in matters of no moment, are paradoxes peculiar to the Arabians." Adventures in the Courfe of a Voyage up the Red Sea, &c. by Eyles Irwin, Efq; 4to 1780, p. 54. See alfo Shaw's Travels to the Levant and Barbary, where a fimilar character is given of them. Ingratitude and treachery, fays Le Brun, are fo common among the Perfians, that children make no fcruple to cut off the ears, flit the nose, and cut the throat of their parents, if the King requires it, in order to procure what places or fortune they died poffeffed of. Le Brun's Travels, vol. iv. p. 143, 4to ed. 1725. Hic Syri & Afiatici Græci funt; leviffima genera hominum. Livii, lib. xxxv. Rarum eft ut fidem fervent Syri ; imo difficile. Aurelian. Vopifci. ++ The fimilarity of the ancient Romans to the modern Italians, has been remarked by Mr. Ferguson, in his most ingenious and elegant, as well as learned, Effay on Civil Society, 1 Montefquieu, Grandeur and Decline of the Roman Empire, chap. vi. 6 would |