the Vedas, which he so ostentatiously quotes at secondhand, the Puranas, the collections of Egyptian monumental inscriptions, the Zendavesta, and to understand the documents about America by M'Culloch, he might have given a rather more rational account of the religions which he pretends to philosophise upon.
In the same unlucky chapter Mr. Buckle declares, what on his principles was inevitable, that "original distinctions of race are altogether hypothetical" (p. 36) ; in support of which view that eminent positivist Mr. Mill is very properly quoted. As we have to deal now with Mr. Buckle's false learning rather than with his false theories, we can only glance at this great absurdity. For the same race of men preserves its character, not only in every region of the world, but in every period of history, in spite of moral as well as physical influences. Were not the Semitic races everywhere and always monotheists ; whilst Japhetic nations, from Hindostan to Scandinavia, were originally pantheists or polytheists. Epic poetry, again, is distinctive ; of the Indo-Germanic race alone. The most amusing example of a nation's fidelity to the character which it obtained on its first appearance in history is afforded by France. Lasaulx has collected the judgments of the ancients upon the Gauls : "Gallia," said Cato, "duas res industriosissime persequitur, rem militarem et argute loqui." "Mobilitate et levitate animi novis imperiis studebant" (Caesar, B. G. ii. r). " Omnes fere Gallos novis rebus studere et ad bellum mobiliter celeriterque excitari" (Ibid. iii. 10). "Sunt in consiliis capiendis mobiles, et novis plerumque rebus student" (Ibid. iv. 5). "Galli quibus insitum est esse leves" (Trebellius Pollio Galien. 4). "Gens hominum inquietissima et avida semper vel faciendi principis vel imperii" (Flavius Vopiscus Saturninus, 7).[1]
- ↑ "Gaul pursues two things with immense industry, — military matters and neat speaking." "Through instability and levity of mind they were meditating the overthrow of the government." "Almost all men of Gaul are revolutionists, and are easily and quickly excited to war." "In council they are unstable, and generally revolutionary." "The French, to whom levity is natural. A most restless kind of men, always wanting to set up a king or an empire."
