Professor Allen then proceeded with his lecture, and from the eloquence and learning which he displayed in dealing with the subject appeared to take the audience completely by surprise. He took a Scriptural view of the origin of the Ethiopians, Egyptians, and other races of ancient Africa, arguing that they were descended from the four sons of Ham; and showed from classic authority the high civilisation to which they had attained when Greece was yet barbarous, and before Rome arose. Herodotus had spoken of the Ethiopians as remarkable for their stature, longevity, and physical beauty; and although in the eyes of the white man they were not remarkable for the latter quality at present, the influence of adverse circumstances and of centuries of oppression should be taken into account. There was scarcely a race, he showed, on the face of the earth, which had not declined in intellectual power and physical beauty under the same influences, and in the mediæval ages, when Englishmen were sold as slaves, they were described by their purchasers, the Irishmen and Romans, as ugly and stupid. The lecturer then dwelt more particularly upon the leading characteristics of the African race, their religious tendency, and the predominance of the moral over the intellectual in their character—the affeetionateness of their disposition, their love of humour, &c. He gave many weighty hits at Anglo-Saxon civilisation, which told well with the audience, who appeared very much delighted. He was listened to with deep attention, and loudly applauded.
