class="left10">Philadelphia, Nov. 1, 1855.

CONTENTS.

• ANALYTICAL INTRODUCTION.
  

  The discussion of the moral and intellectual diversity of races totally independent of the question of unity or plurality of origin—Leading propositions of this volume, with illustrations and comments.

• CHAPTER I.
  POLITICAL CATASTROPHES.
  

  Perishable condition of all human societies—Ancient ideas concerning this phenomenon—Modern theories 105

• CHAPTER II.
  ALLEGED CAUSES OF POLITICAL CATASTROPHES EXAMINED.
  

  Fanaticism—Aztec Empire of Mexico.—Luxury—Modern European States as luxurious as the ancient.—Corruption of morals—The standard of morality fluctuates in the various periods of a nation's history: example, France—Is no higher in youthful communities than in old ones—Morality of Paris.—Irreligion—Never spreads through all ranks of a nation—Greece and Rome—Tenacity of Paganism 114

• CHAPTER III.
  INFLUENCE OF GOVERNMENT UPON THE LONGEVITY OF NATIONS.
  

  Misgovernment defined—Athens, China, Spain, Germany, Italy, etc.—Is not in itself a sufficient cause for the ruin of nations. 138

• CHAPTER IV.
  DEFINITION OF THE WORD DEGENERACY—ITS CAUSE.
  

  Skeleton history of a nation—Origin of castes, nobility, etc.—Vitality of nations not necessarily extinguished by conquest—China, Hindostan—Permanency of their peculiar civilizations. 146

• CHAPTER V.
  THE MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL DIVERSITY OF RACES IS NOT THE RESULT OF POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.
  

  Antipathy of races—Results of their mixture—The scientific axiom of the absolute equality of men, but an extension of the political—Its fallacy—Universal belief in unequal endowment of races—The moral and intellectual diversity of races not attributable to institutions—Indigenous institutions are the expression of popular sentiments; when foreign and imported, they never prosper—Illustrations: England and France—Roman Empire—European Colonies—Sandwich Islands—St. Domingo—Jesuit missions in Paraguay 172

• CHAPTER VI.
  THIS DIVERSITY IS NOT THE RESULT OF GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION.
  

  America—Ancient empires—Phenicians and Romans—Jews—Greece and Rome—Commercial cities of Europe—Isthmus of Darien 201

• CHAPTER VII.
  INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIANITY UPON MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL DIVERSITY OF RACES.
  

  The term Christian civilization examined—Reasons for rejecting it—Intellectual diversity no hindrance to the universal diffusion of Christianity—Civilizing influence of Christian religion by elevating and purifying the morals, etc.; but does not remove intellectual disparities—Various instances—Cherokees—Difference between imitation and comprehension of civilized life 215

• INTRODUCTORY NOTE
  TO
  CHAPTERS VIII. AND IX.
  

  Rapid survey of the populations comprised under the appellation "Teutonic"—Their present ethnological area, and leading characteristics—Fondness for the sea displayed by the Teutonic tribes of Northwestern Europe, and perceptible in their descendants 234

• CHAPTER VIII.
  CIVILIZATION.
  

  Mr. Guizot's and Mr. W. von Humboldt's definitions examined. Its elements 246

• CHAPTER