The present work, beside giving new views of the theory of beauty, and of its application to the arts, presents an analysis and classification of beauty in woman. A subsequent work will apply the principles here established to intermarriages and crossings among mankind, and will explain their results in relation to the happiness of individuals, and to the beauty and the freedom from insanity of their offspring. A final work will examine the relations of woman in society, will expose the extravagant hypothesis of writers on this subject who have been ignorant of anthropology, and will describe the reforms which the common interests of mankind demand in this respect. It is now to be seen, whether a branch of science which is strictly founded on anatomy and physiology--one which entangles the reader in no mystical and delusive hypothesis, and presents to him only indisputable facts--one which is applicable to the subject most universally and deeply interesting to mankind, the critical judgment of female beauty, as founded on necessary functions--and one which unravels the greater difficulties which that subject presents--may not excite and permanently command a great degree of public interest. A preliminary view of the importance of this subject is given in the first chapter; the urgency of its discussion, in relation to the interests of decency and morality, is established in the second; and some useful cautions as to youth are offered in the third. In regard to the importance of the subject, I may, even here, avail myself of the highest authorities. THOMAS MORE, speaking of the people of his commonwealth, says: "They do greatly wonder at the folly of all other nations, which, in _buying a colt_ (whereas, a little money is in hazard), be so chary and circumspect, that, though he be almost all bare, yet they will not buy him, unless the saddle and all the harness be taken off--lest, under those coverings, be hid some gall or sore. And yet, in _choosing a wife_, which shall be either pleasure or displeasure to them all their life after, they be so reckless, that, all the residue of the woman's body being covered with clothes, they esteem her scarcely by one hand-breadth (for they can see no more but her face), and so to join her to them, not without great jeopardy of evil agreeing together--if anything in her body afterward should chance to offend and mislike them."[1] FRANCIS BACON is of similar opinion. Happily, the advancement of anthropological science in modern times, may, as is here shown, be so applied as to render quite unnecessary the _objectionable methods_ proposed by both these philosophers, in order to carry their doctrines into practice.