OF THE THEORIES OF THE NATURAL HISTORY OF MAN, BY LAWRENCE PRICHARD, AND OTHERS. FOUNDED UPON ANIMAL ANALOGIES: AND AN OUTLINE OF A NEW NATURAL HISTORY OF MAN, FOUNDED UPON HISTORY, ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, AND HUMAN ANALOGIES. BY WILLIAM FREDERICK VAN AMRINGE. New York: PUBLISHED BY BAKER & SCRIBNER, 145 Nassau Street and 46 Park Row. 1848. GN 23 V217 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1948, BY WILLIAM FREDERICK VAN AMRINGE, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern S. W. BENEDICT, Printer, 16 Spruce Street. DEDICATION. TO MRS. SUSAN BUDD AND MISS ELIZABETH OBORNE VAN AMRINGE. MY DEAR WIFE AND DAUGHter, It is one evidence of the love of science and literature by the people, that a distinguished patron is no longer necessary to introduce an author to the public. He is, therefore, at liberty to fawn upon the great, or pay respect to private virtues, without the hope of reward for his sycophaney, or of loss for obeying his inclinations. But there is a propriety in the dedication of this work to you, exclusive of the affection which has always subsisted between us. It is not only that it has been chiefly by your instrumentality, under Providence, that I have been spared to compose this work; nor is it because you are the only two beings who have watched the progress of my labor, and have known and approved of my views, that I dedicate it to you. It is for something more selfish; a determination that, as we have lived together so happily through all the vicissitudes of private life, you shall accompany me in all my changes the sharers of my good or bad fortune as an author, as well as in my customary pursuits. You know how sincerely, I am, Yours affectionately, W. F. VAN AMRINGE. MONTGOMERY, Orange County, } 423182 PREFACE. THE following work was commenced during a very slow convalescence from a severe indisposition, more for occupation and recreation, than in the expectation of giving my speculations to the public, except through the pages of some of the current periodicals. It was, therefore, written in the plural number; a method which would not have been adopted, if I had originally designed it to appear in its present form. The original design was only to write a review of the principles and reasonings of the two eminent works of Lawrence and Prichard; but my protracted indisposition, and consequent long confinement, gave me both leisure and inclination to pursue the subject, and to make it what it is—“ An Investigation of the Theories of the Natural History of Man, by Lawrence, Prichard, and others, founded upon Animal Analogies-And an Outline of a new Natural History of Man, founded upon History, Anatomy, Physiology, and Human Analogies." I had no theory to advocate when I commenced; but being dissatisfied with the theories and inconclusive reasoning of the eminent authors above mentioned, I thought I might do some good to my fellow men by showing that the Natural History of Man had not yet been written. The theory I have ventured to present to the public, grew with the progress of my labor. It may be said, therefore, to be a natural theory, which presented itself without being sought after; and it may also be said to be the joint offspring of Lawrence and Prichard, although it bears no resemblance to either parent, a "congenital variety," which may, possibly, propagate its kind, and become permanent. The immense advantages I have derived from the labors of these two gentlemen especially, will be apparent to the reader. They have been chiefly of the negative kind; but were not the less valuable on that account. |