In chapter eight, Dr. Vimont describes the brain of the human subject, and of quadrupeds and birds, in the most important anatomical points of view. Without pretending to repeat, or even to give a summary of his description, it will be sufficient to indicate an important inference, deduced from the vast collection of facts which he had observed, and which, by the way, is in harmony with those laid down by many distinguished physiologists, in addition to Gall and Spurzheim. It is, says Dr. Vimont, a general law of nature, that the more extended and complex the functional acts, the more complicated are the parts designated for their performance. The brain is an example of the truth of this proposition. Man, of all animals, has a brain of the most complicated structure; then, in the order enumerated, are quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, fishes, and insects.

(To be continued.)

ARTICLE V.

REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH AND Character of dr. spurzhEIM.*

Far may we search before we find

Such kindly heart, such noble mind."-SCOTT.

The disappointment of human hopes is a trite theme, and the obituary record of an oft-told tale. But there is something startling, almost appalling, in the death of Dr. Spurzheim-something to make the most unreflecting pause, and think, and feel! Just as he had entered on his labours in our country, a new field, where he was ardent in his expectations of doing great things for the cause of truth and human improvement, he has been called upon to give up his trust, to resign the spirit which seemed as if it had not felt one breath of decay steal over its clay tenement. And who can calculate the loss to society when such a mighty mind, devoted to doing good, is removed from our earth?

It is only when feeling a perfect trust and confidence in the ways of our heavenly Father, that we can be reconciled to his providence when removing those who are labouring to make the world better and

• This article is copied from No. 12, Vol. V, of the "Ladies' Magazine and Literary Gazette," published at Boston, December, 1832. It is, perhaps, sufficient praise to state that these reflections, so just and appropriate, emanated from the pen of Mrs. Sarah J. Hale.

happier. But all who had the high privilege of hearing Dr. Spurzheim lecture, will recollect how often and how fervently he urged the duty of entire submission to the Divine laws. It seemed his constant aim to impress on his audience the necessity and the happiness of cultivating this humble spirit-of saying, in reference to all events and circumstances, "Father, thy will be done."

His own death is an event which most deeply tries the faith of his friends. Why he should have been taken away, when so able and so ardent to perform his part, and when with such long observation and severe study he had matured a system which promises so much for science and education, and which he only, of all living men, seemed capable of explaining and enforcing, is to our short-sighted ken incomprehensible. The mind almost refuses to believe that one so 's best energies should be dead.

Dead, dead! when there is on our earth
Such waste of worthless breath!
There should have gone ten thousand lives
To ransom him from death!-

Ay, twice ten thousand might have gone,
Nor caused the blank that's left by one."

Short biographical sketches of Dr. Spurzheim, and notices of his sickness, death, and the funeral honours paid him by our lamenting citizens, have appeared in many of our papers.

We have seen no description, however, which has done justice to the character of Dr. Spurzheim. Great men are too often rated only by the standard of mind. The brilliancy of genius, without reference to the manner in which it is displayed, is worshipped. Dr. Spurzheim was great in goodness as well as talent. It was this combination of philanthropy and philosophy, rendered active by the enthusiastic temperament of genius, and effective and useful by a judgment so quick and discriminating that it seemed almost like the spirit of prophecy, which gave him his immeasurable superiority. There needs no surer proof of this superiority, than the influence he had obtained during the little time he resided among us. He had been in Boston but about ten weeks, and in that short space he had literally "gained the hearts of the people." Those who saw and heard him, and in that number is comprised our best and most eminent people, gave him not merely their admiration, but their esteem, reverence, and love. They felt he was a friend of the human race, and that in honouring him, they honoured the noblest of human virtues-benevolence.

Dr. Spurzheim was a phrenologist; that is, he devoted himself to the study of the human mind as it is manifested in the affective and

intellectual faculties of man. In the pursuit and establishment of his theory, he was actuated by the noblest and purest motives. He sought to improve our systems of education, as the sure and only means of perfecting the character of the human race. The principles for which he contended seemed to him all-important. They involved the knowledge of human nature, and the art of education; and he laboured, and as we may say, died, in the cause of phrenology; for all agree that it was his over-exertion and zealous desire to benefit others which caused him to neglect himself, and thus gave to his disease the fatal ascendency over his constitution which terminated his life. The best and most heartfelt tribute, then, which we can render to his memory, will be to examine carefully and cordially the principles he held thus dear and sacred. This can be done, for he has left works which embody his peculiar sentiments, and which will soon be published in this city.

There are reasons which should make my own sex revere his character and be zealous in studying his doctrines. He was the friend of woman. He entertained exalted views of the great benefits which would result to society and the world, from the influence of female intellect, judiciously cultivated and rightly directed. And it was to be an intellectual and moral help meet for man that he would have her trained.

In a conversation with the editor of this magazine, respecting female education and the best mode of introducing improvement into our systems, he remarked :

"Excepting Christianity, phrenology will do more to elevate woman than any other system has ever done. It gives her a participation in the labours of mind. She must understand its principles, and practise them in the nursery. And her influence it is which must mould the minds of her children, and thus improve the world." "If," continued he, "I possess any excellence of character, I owe it all to my early training. In the first place, my mother gave me a good physical education-then she cultivated my moral feelings, and she taught me to think. I owe every thing to my mother!"

Those only who have seen his face when suddenly kindling with the enthusiasm of intellect and benevolence, and the smile that broke over his features, which seemed the gush of heart, soul, and mind, in the cause he was advocating, can understand the expression of countenance that accompanied these words-"I owe every thing to my mother." The effect on my own feelings will never be forgotten. Here was this great and good man, before whom our best and wisest men were proud to come for instruction, laying all his honours on the altar of filial piety, and ascribing all his excellences to the influence

of his mother. What a triumph for woman, and what a responsibility such influence should impose on our sex!

In thus highly appreciating the character of woman, Dr. Spurzheim is entitled to her confidence, so far as the examination of his principles of education, and the particular manner he has suggested for the improvement of society, is concerned. He wished no one to adopt these principles without scrutiny. He asked to be trusted for his own purity of purpose and honesty of assertion; the belief in phrenology, he always insisted, could only be justified by personal observation and study.

To his writings, therefore, and the exertions of our citizens who are earnest to promote the cause of human improvement, we must now be indebted for instruction in this new science. We shall hear his voice no more. The charm of ease, simplicity, and attractiveness, his manner could impart to subjects the most abstruse, difficult, and dry, is dispelled; but truth, he always insisted, would prevail; and if the principles he inculcated were true, what a great responsibility rests on the people of Boston and Cambridge! They only, of all our waiting nation, have been privileged to hear the teachings of Dr. Spurzheim. They know his generous purposes, his exalted views; and it is for them to build his monument-not with perishing marble merely, but by disseminating the truths of his philosophy, and encouraging the practice of that universal benevolence which made such a prominent feature in his system. In this work ladies can surely do something.

Dear Sir,

ARTICLE VI.

CASE OF SUICIDE.

To the Editor of the American Phrenological Journal.

London, October 18th, 1839.

Allow me to call the attention of your readers to a singular phrenological coincidence, presented in relation to the extraordinary suicide which has recently taken place in this city.

I allude to the case of Margaret Moyes, the young woman who threw herself from the monument in September last, the particulars of which have doubtless appeared in the American newspapers. I am not aware that any examination of her head took place after the event, and, indeed, I presume that, from the injury which the back

part of the skull sustained, an examination would have been almost impracticable; but it is quite evident, from the testimony of the witnesses interrogated before the coroner, that the organ of Selfesteem was in a state of the greatest excitement, and that a morbid action of this sentiment was the proximate cause of the act of selfdestruction. This will be sufficiently shown by the selection of a few scattered sentences from the evidence of the witness who was best acquainted with the deceased and her family.

"Mr. Moyes has a large family of daughters growing up, and lately the necessity has been seen of some of them going from home to get their living."

"The determination of some of the daughters, and among others the deceased, being sent out to situations, was come to a month or six weeks ago."

66

Margaret was the first for whom a situation was to be found." "It is difficult to say whether the dejected state of her mind proceeded from the illness of her parent, or from the prospect of going out to earn a livelihood."

"It was intended to give her a situation in a confectioner's shop." "On the subject of going out to a situation being mentioned to her, I heard her say I take it to heart; I cannot get over the feeling— and yet I'm aware it is the right course.'

And the following is from her sister's evidence :-
:-

"The idea of going out into the world to get her living preyed upon her mind."*

It was also shown by the evidence, that she was not impelled to the peculiar mode of her death by the circumstance of casually passing the monument at the time when the thought of suicide had occurred to her mind, but that she deliberately left her home and walked to that structure, which was at a distance of several miles from her father's house. The mode of her death, therefore, was evidently a matter of choice and consideration-the result of some prevailing impulse of her mind which could not be overruled, and which urged her to ascend to, and plunge from, some tremendous height. Bearing these facts in mind, the following remarks on the functions of the organ of Self-esteem, extracted from Mr. Combe's System of Phrenology, are worthy of the most attentive consideration.

The Spectator newspaper, one of the most philosophical productions of the London press, under date 13th October, publishes an article which has been suggested by the prevalence of suicide in this country with a view of tracing its causes, and quotes the above evidence as illustrative of the effect of a morbid self. esteem.