Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/287

continually on a long Succeſſion of Generations. At preſent, that the Nations ſcattered over the Face of the Earth are better united by Trade, Travelling, and Conqueſt, and their Manners and Cuſtoms grow every Day more and more like each other in Conſequence of a more frequent Intercourſe, certain national Differences are greatly diminiſhed. For Example, it is plain that the French are no longer thoſe large, fair haired and fair ſkinned Bodies deſcribed by Latin Hiſtorians, though Time, aſſiſted by the Mixture of Franks and Normans equally fair, ſhould, one would imagine, have reſtored what the Climate, by the frequent Viſits of the Romans, might have loſt of its Influence over the natural Conſtitution and Complexion of the Inhabitants. All theſe Obſervations on the Varieties, which a thouſand Cauſes can produce and have in fact produced in the Human Species, make me doubt if ſeveral Animals, which Travellers have taken for Beaſts, for Want of examining them properly, on account of ſome Difference they obſerved in their exterior Configuration, or merely becauſe theſe Animals did not ſpeak, were not in fact true Men, (though in a ſavage State,)