Polynesian., 1844-09-14

UfdWnV parts VI JUL IHdltS dId ItHlulCSs
which they prepared for their horrid repasts.
II, in the neighbourhood of the commercial
and literary o of Glasgow, a race of can
nibals has really existed, W. may cOntem-
plate, in the period of Scottish history,
the opposite extremes of savage and civilized
life. Such reflections tend to enlarge the
circle Of our ideas, and to encourage the
pleasing hope that New Zealand may pro-
duce, in some future age, the Hume of the
Southern hemisphere Such were the words
of prophetic genius seventy years ago; but
what would the historian have said If he had
lived to the present time, and seen within
that short period 50 vast a change in human
affairs, that the event which he then regard
ed as so improbable is already accomplished,
and the descendants of the cannibals Of Cal
edonia are setting forth from the shores of
the Clyde, to convey to the cannibals of New
Zealand the wonders of European art and
the blessings of Christian civilization !
These marvellous changes do indeed enlarge
the circle of our ideas, for they carry us
back to p%rimeval days, and the first separa-
ton Of the different races of mankind upon
earth. For what said the Most High in that
suspicious moment when the dove brought
back the olive-branch to a guilty and expir-
ing world, and the robe of beams was wo-
ven in the sky which first spoke peace to
man'-'God shall increase Japhet, and he
shall dwell in the tents Of Shem, and Canaan
shall be his servant God has multiplied
Japhet, and well and nobly has the race of
that son of Noah performed its destiny.
After conquering in the Roman legions' the
ancient world-after humanizing the barba-
rism Of antiquity by the power of law, the
'Audaz Japeti genus has transmitted to
modern times the glorious inheritance of
European freedom. After having conquer
cd in the British navy the empire of the seas,
It has extended to the utmost verge ofthe earth
the influence of humaniZed manners, and be-
Queathed to future ages the far more glOri-
Gus inheritance Of British colonization. But
mark the difference in the action of the des-
pendants Of Japhet-the European race
upon the fortunes Of mankind, from the infu-
ence of that religion to which the Roman
Empire was the mighty pioneer. The le-
giOns conquered only by the sword; fire and
bloodshed attended their steps; they gave
peace only by establishing a solitude. But
our colonists set out with the olive branch,
not the sword in their hand; with the cross,
not the eagle on their banners; they bring
no war and devastation, but peace and civil
lzation around their steps; and the track of
their chariot wheels is followed, not by the
sighs of a captive, but the blessings of a rem
ovated world. He shall DWELL says the
prophecy, in the tents of Shem.' Till these
times, that prophecy has not been accom-
plished; the descendants of Shem-the Ash
attic racc-still hold the fairest portion of the
earth, and the march of civilization, like the
poth nFth, o,,,> hoo h:tI-u< h.. L. "
TO West. From the plains Of Shinar to the
isles of Grcecc-from the isles of Greece to
the hills of Rome-froln the hills of Rome
to the shores Of Britain-from the shores of
Britain to the wilds of America, the progress
Of civilization has been steadily in one direc-
ton, and 1t has never reverted to the land
Of its birth. Is, then, this progress destined
to be perpetual Is the tide of civilization
to roll only to the foot of the Rocky noun
tains, and is the sun of knowledge to set at
last in the waves Of the Pacific No: the
mighty day of four thousand years is draw
ing to its close; the sun of humanity has
performed its destined course; but long ere
its setting rays are extinguished in the west,
its ascending beams have g%littered on the
isles of the eastern seas. We stand on the
verge of the great Revolution of Time-the
descendants of Japhet are about to dwell in
the tents of Standardization is returning
to the land of its birth, and another day and
another race are beginning to dawn upon the
human species. Already our arms in India
have given herald of its approach, and spread
into the heart of Asia the ~terrors of the Eng
lish name, and the business of their rule,
And now we see the race of Japhct setting
forth to people the isles of the East, and the
seeds OF another Europe and a second Eng
land sown in the regions of the sun. But
mark the words of the prophecy: He shall