as well as good sense; and humanity has no small fhare in their formation. Some persons, as well as nations, are naturally humane, lively, and polite; others as naturally phlegmatic, dull, and brutish: A disparity of manners is the consequence.

The temper very often is formed by the climate. The ancient Athenians were naturally of the former character; the Thebans of the latter, even to a proverb; a good deal owing to the difference of the Attic and Beotian air. And do not, at this day, the Dutch, who inhabit a similar climate with the latter, rank under a like description?

There is reason to believe that the predominant vivacity of the French, and even of the modern Greeks, depends much on the serenity and moderately warm temperature of the air and climate.

The phlegm of the Germans, and other northern nations, their neighbours, as well as that of the Americans, may proceed from their having lived for ages in the gloomy fhelter of woods, amidst hardships, dangers, penury, and the prefsure of an uncleared atmospliere.

The English, from the Saxons, inherit a portion of the German phlegm, though joined to brighter and superior parts. Opennefs and honesty are their peculiar characteristics. They are likewise bold and enterprizing; ingenious, persevering, and successful in the arts, almost beyond example.

Their perseverance they derive from the Germans; their fire and spirit, from the Normans and Celts: A happy mixture! compared to the French or Spaniards, their natural rivals in arts and arms. They

are superior to the former in fire and spirit, without levity or frivolity; and to the latter in depth and solidity, without sullen and overbearing solemnity; though they certainly are not exempted from a great degree of national pride.

It is, moreover, observable, that the English pofsefs a sensibility of nerves that is peculiarly affected by the weather. Hence they are apt to be melancholic and low spirited. This has been often said; but it seems not peculiar to them. The Scots are frequently affected in much the same manner; and it may be owing, in both nations, partly to the inconstancy of their atmosphere, their insular situation, and particular exposure to the dreary easterly winds; and not a little to their intemperance, and too free indulgence in the luxuries of the bottle and of the table.

The Irish are lively, pafsionate, quarrelsome; exceed in talk; and speak by far too much either for deep thought or just reflection. They are, however, alert, strong, and active. The peculiar oddity called Iricisms in conversation, is to be accounted for by the above general character, from which there are many individual exceptions.

Their air, as well as their food, the former foggy from the marshes, the latter consisting chiefly of potatoes, a heavy nutriment, may both contribute to produce such effects: And many of them die of apoplexies, ('tis probable,) from the same cause.

The luxury and indolence of the southern nations of Asia and Africa, most undoubtedly, are to be ascribed to the luxuriance of the soil, and the difsipa

July 43 ting and relaxing temperature of the climate. The weakness of their mental powers, and violence of their pafsions, as well as the uniform despotism or anarchy of their governments, which have always remained the same, must proceed from such natural causes, as no art, no length of time, no revolution for the better, can ever overcome.

The difsipation produced by the climate, manifests. itself not only in the extensive plains of Asia, but in the numerous little isles seated in the bosom of the pacific ocean; not only in the haram of the Mahometan, but among the simple and rude inhabitants of Otaheite; whose amorous queen, Oberea, disdained not, though otherwise of gentle and modest manners, to solicit with eagerness the embraces of our different southern navigators.

Low cunning is another characteristic of these southern nations; and it proceeds from their weaknefs and pusillanimity. This mean quality prevails almost universally in the warmer regions; but especially among the Moors of Africa; along the coast of China; the peninsula of Malacca; and in many of the Indian islands.

Let us now come home to ourselves; and inquire what is the reason, that, even in the different counties of Scotland, a marked diversity of temper and manners, seems in general to prevail.

The inhabitants of the south of Scotland are remarked to be of slower speech, as well as action, than those of the north; and this, independent of all education. The Highlanders are certainly more quick, more inquisitive, more social, and hospitable, than

our people in the Lowlands. They are at the same time more proud, pafsionate, and resentful.

The former being descended from the Celts, while the latter owe their origin more to the Saxons and Danes, seems to afsign some cause for the above diversity.

Through the counties of Inverness, Banff, Aberdeen, and the Mearns, the natives speak generally with a quick accent, and in a fharp tone, exprefsive of their temper, which is alert and active. As you advance southward, the drawling tone begins at Montrose and Brechin. At Coupar of Angus it becomes more perceptible; and here the people are in general more soft and simple in their manners than their northerly brethren. They seem in some measure to partake of that calmness and serenity of temper, so congenial to the soil and climate; and which are here fenced from the stormy blasts of the north, by the shelter of the Grampian hills, and that enormous mafs of high towering mountains that rise above one another to the north and north-west, and guard the south entry into the Highlands.

In some counties, and even in some parts of the same county, a more rough or rustic manner prevails than in others. The natives of Glasgow and Lanerk fhires are remarkable for an uncouthness of speech, and manners peculiar to themselves. In Aberdeenshire, notwithstanding the general politenefs about Huntly and the Strath of Bogie, the vulgar manner is peculiarly rough and unpolished; and even the women afsume a hoydening air, and loud tone of voice, that are often disgusting to a stranger.

In two neighbouring Highland counties, too, there is as great a difference in temper and genius, as is observable between the most distant provinces. The natives of Sutherland are much praised as a sober, peaceable, and well-behaved people; those of Caithnefs, on the contrary, are said to be rough, disobliging and quarrelsome; but this is meant of the lower ranks; for the better sort, and those of higher birth, are observed to be well-bred, hospitable, and soft in their manners.

It is, indeed, impofsible to describe the numberlefs varieties of human temper and genius; and in smaller groups of mankind, although the differences. are generally distinct and well marked, yet they often run into one another with such imperceptible gradations, at other times cross each other so oddly, that it is much more difficult to afsign the reason for such diversities, than in large states, kingdoms, or empires.

It is well known that the Georgian and Circassian women, have been long famous for their extraordinary beauty. Why fhould one particular spot produce such crops of handsome women, as yearly store the seraglios and glut the appetite of the Grand Signior?

In like manner in Scotland, the Cathenésian women are blest by nature with distinguished charms, both of person and spirit. Some of them I have seen with the most captivating graces. Though placed at the extremity of our island, in a country barren and marshy, surrounded with rude mountains. and a stormy ocean, yet, in their manners, these nor