Viewing page 83 of 130

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

260
White, the too great elevation of the calves, or, as he more technically speaks, of the gastrocnemii muscles.  And we perceive, in this country, that the one defect is diminished in proportion as the other is corrected.--To the untoward structure of their limbs, this author attributes a peculiar awkwardness in their gait, which he reckons likewise among their characteristic and specific distinctions.--I agree with him that this awkwardness, and apparent labor in walking, arises in part from their figure which is unfavorable to ease and grace of movement. But it is, perhaps not less to be imputed to their occupations, and to the total want of example, and of care to form their habits in childhood. How commonly do we see the ploughman display the habits of the ploughed field in his ordinary gait. Black domestics among us, in general, walk with as much proprietary as our white servants, and black chamber maids, in particular, imitate with great address, the genteel air and manner of their mistresses.
Another criterion by which Mr. White would mark the distinction of race between the African and European consists in the length of the fore arm, which is said to be greater in the former than in the latter.--He could not, perhaps, have pitched upon

261
a criterion more uncertain than the proportion which this member bears to others in the corporeal system, and to the height of the whole person. The admeasurements which he acknowledges, and which were made by himself, or his friends, differ so considerably from one another in their proportions, as to be sufficient, one would think to have weakened his confidence in his own rule. Let us take the measures exhibited by him in his discourses, stating the height of the person in one column, and the length of the ulna in another.

[[3 columned table]]
|   | Height of person. Feet. Inches. | Length of ulna. Inches. |
The first is of a female measured by Mr. White, | 5 8 1-2 | 10|
The second of a man by Mr. Ward, | 5 8 | 9 7-8 |
The third a female by Mr. Crozier, | 5 3 1-8 | 10 |
The fourth a male by Mr. Foxley, | 5 1 3-4 | 10 |
The statue of the Venus de Medicis, framed according to the standard of perfect beauty conceived by the ancient art-