, 1860-03-19
f9tess 4 Trfhttttr.


Nature 0ppo1InG tho Progress Of Man,
The following passages from Mr.. Buckle's
History Of Civilization indicate IN glowing CO.
lors (ssys the Providence Journol) The obstacles
which the prcd'gaEty Of Nature may oppose to
the progress Of nun:
Brazil, which is nearly az large rs the whole
OF Europe, is covered With vegetation Of in
credible profusiou. Indeed, so rauk and luxu
rant il the growth that Nature seeu,s to riot III
tae very wautonness Of power. A great part Of
this immense country is flied with dense and
tangled forests, whose noble trees, hlossomipr
in unrirul!ed beauty, and exquisite with thou
sand hnes, throw out their produce in endless
prodigality. On their summit are nerched birds
Of gorgeous plu1noge, which Ecs,lc in their dark
and lofty recesses. Below, their base md trunks
are crowned with hrusllwood, creeping plants.
iunumcrable parasites, all sssarming with life.
There, too, ars myriads Of insects Of every va
ricty; reptiles of strauge and singular form;
serpepts und lizards, spotted with deadly beau
!y; all of which find means Of existence in this
Vast workshop aud repository Of Nature And,
that nothing may be wanting to this land OF
marvels, tile forests are skirted by enormous
meadows, Which, reekiog with heat and moist
ure, supply nourishmens to countless herds Of
wild cattle, that browse and fatten on the herb
form Of life, are the chosen abode Of the sub
tlcst and most fsrocious animals, which prey on
each other. but which it might almost see,i no
human powtr can hope 70 e1tirpate.
"But au.id this pousp and splendor of Nature
no place is le t for nun. He is reduced 10 in.
Significance By the majesty with which lie is
ru: rounded. The forces TINT oppose him are 60,
formidable TINT he las never been uble to make
head against them, neyer been able to rally
against their accumulated pressure The whole
Of lruz'l, notwithstanding its immense apparent
advantages, has always remained entirely M
civilized; its Inhabitants wandering saya.es, in
couapetsnt to resist those obstacles which the
very bounty Of nature has put in their way. In
their country the physical causes arc so active.
and do their work on q scale of such unriya11ed
magnitude, that it has hitherto been found i'm.
Ted actiou- The progress ofagricu!tu1e is stop.
ped by impassable fol ests and the harrests are
destroyed By innunerxhle insects. The noun
talns are too high to scale, the rivers too wide
to bridge; every thing is contrired to repress
the human mind, aud Keep back its rising am
hitions.
It's thus That the energies of na'ure hare
hanpered the spirit Of man. And the mind,
cowcd by the unequal struggle, has not only
been unable to advance. but without fureigu aid
it would have undoubtedly receded. Brazil, tho
country where, u all others. physical resources
are most powerful. where buth vegetables and
animals are most abundant, where the soil is
watercl by the noblest rivers, and the coast
studded by tho finest tatbors-this immense
territory. which is more than twelve times the
size Of France. contains population not er-
ceeding six millions Of people. Professor An
stead adds to this lis testimony to the effect that
the native Indians seem irrcdecmable, and sunk
III the most wrctcEed barlarism; and that here
appears nu prospect whatever Of my improve.
ment in the district, since man can lind no spot
Oh which to commence lis operations"