WCP2297

[1]

Encyclopaedia Britannica

6 North Bridge

Edinburgh

28 South Bank

Regents Park

London.

13 Sept^r 1873

Dear Sir,

Accept my best thanks for your promptitude in sending the valuable article on Acclimatisation.¹ I have read it through with the greatest interest, & it seems to me an admirable outline of the subject. Of course as I am a layman my opinion is of little scientific value; but it is just the kind of paper I wished to have for the new Edition.

[2] Only one point strikes me in connexion with the last head of the subject, the acclimatisation of Man. You refer to the mixed races of Brazil & Peru as good examples of acclimatisation. But, I dare say you remember, Squier² in his work³ on Central America lays down the law that those races are inferior to the original stock. He says "The offspring of such combinations are not only generally deficient in physical constitution, in intellect, & in moral restraint, but to a degree which often contrasts unfavourably with any of the original stock." He applies the general [3] statement specially to Spanish America. "In Central & South America, & Mexico we find a people not only demoralized from the unrestrained Association of different races, but also the superior stocks becoming gradually absorbed in the lower, & their institutions disappearing under relative barbarism of which the latter are the exponents." This is no doubt an extreme & probably very inaccurate statement. Squier's book is 15 years old & most likely of its time superceeded. But whether the point is arisen indirectly to or not you will know far better than I do.

Believe me | very truly Yours | Thos. S. Baynes.⁴ [signature]

• R. Wallace Esq.

(over

[4] I will see that duplicate proofs are [illeg.] to you. I left Edinburgh early in the week, & hence the delay in answering your letter, both letter & article having been forwarded to me here.