ARTICLE VI

Lectures on Phrenology, by George Combe, Esq., including its application to the Present and Prospective Condition of the United States; with notes, an introductory essay, and an historical sketch. By ANDREW BOARDMAN, Recording Secretary of the Phrenological Society of New York. Published by S. Colman, No 8. Astor House, New York.

The title of the above work will convey to the reader some idea of its contents. Our principal object in noticing the work, is to com. mend it to the attention of all interested in phrenology. It is, in some respects, decidedly the best elementary book now extant on the science; and we hope it will have an extensive circulation, as it justly deserves. Mr. Boardman, the compiler, has performed valuable services for phrenology, and deserves the favourable regards of its friends generally. In the first place, he communicated very full reports of Mr. Combe's first course of lectures to the New York Whig, and then, again, of the second course, to the New Yorker; from which papers, these reports have been copied, in part or entire, into several other papers, so that by this means the claims of phrenology have been presented to the consideration of many thousands, which would not have otherwise been done. In the second place, Mr. B. has reviewed and enlarged these reports, and, having submitted them to the inspection of Mr. Combe, and received that gentleman's sanction of "their essential correctness," has now presented them to the public in a handsome duodecimo volume of 389 pages. Besides, nearly one hundred pages of the work before us is composed of original matter from his pen, and which we propose briefly to notice.

The "Essay on the Phrenological Mode of Investigation" is an able and philosophical article; and constitutes a very appropriate introduction to the work. Perhaps there is no feature of phrenology, when contrasted with other systems of mental philosophy, more peculiar in its nature, or more important in its results, than the fact that it is an inductive science. It is well known that scarcely any progress was made in the natural sciences till the seventeenth century, for the simple reason that the true mode of studying nature was unknown. The general course which philosophers then pursued, was to start some theory, speculation, or hypothesis on subjects of enquiry, and afterwards attempt to reconcile facts with their preconceived notions. Whereas, the only true mode of philosophising is first to observe and collect facts on a subject, then establish the

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description, that phrenology professes to make known only the natural capabilities or the strength of the innate elements of mind, the manifestations of which must necessarily be more or less affected by external circumstances. Some allowance should therefore be made in the present case, as Mr. F.'s opinion was given on the supposition that the individual had enjoyed good advantages for intellectual and moral improvement. And there is abundant evidence to believe from the above narrative, that if Eustache had been educated, his intellectual character would have been as equally distinguished as his moral, and that the inferences of the phrenologist, even in this respect, were not incorrect. Besides, during the examination, and while the description was taken down, the bust was so covered that he supposed it, of course, belonged to a white person, and never knew, till afterwards, that he had been examining the bust of a negro. The stress laid upon the organ of Benevolence in this analysis, as forming the leading trait of character, is in striking accordance with the observations of the Edinburgh phrenologists, as well as with the facts in the case. The description given by Mr. F. is as follows:"The intellectual and moral organs are well combined, and would have the leading influence in his character. The leading feature in his moral character, is desire to do good; Benevolence being very large, distinguishing him for good nature and humanity. Religious from his youth, he was devotional, and had great respect for superiority, and things sacred and holy. He was very firm, but always willing to oblige. A man of principle, moral sense, and strong conscientious feelings. He was very domestic, affectionate and kind, strongly attached to children, and to home and place. He was both dignified and affable. A close reasoner; could connect his thoughts, and was not vascillating in his feelings. Was energetic and forcible when necessary; yet was more distinguished for good nature than temper. Very ambitious to be good and great, distinguished for benevolence, humanity, and virtue; fondness for improvement, and a love of the arts; for a philosophical mind, and a disposition to reason on moral subjects; for evenness of character, regularity, and circumspection, and a desire to fulfil all engagements and obligations. His talents were practical, and enabled him to carry into execution his plans. He was capable of being a good linguist, and of making great advances as a scholar; not marvellous or poetical; decidedly intellectual; had uncommon forethought and research of intellect; was a great reasoner-great planner; full of designs; not deficient in powers of intrigue; can plot and plan; uncommon share of ingenuity-never at a loss for means; systematic, disposed to encourage improvement in the arts; was original and somewhat eccentric."

intimate terms with nature.' To it, chiefly, do we owe our superiority over the dark ages, for it cannot be supposed that all at once the human intellect gathered vigour, and emerged from childhood to manhood. No; it had lost its way, and become 'in wandering mazes lost,' and though vast powers were oftentimes displayed, yet as they were displayed in weaving webs of subtlety and conjecture, nothing was achieved. Like the arts of the posture master, the displays of intellectual power were wonderful, but of small profit, and, by enlightened reason, could be accounted only as 'fantastic tricks.' The inductive philosophy brought men back to the true path, and in that path advancement was not, as before, a departure from truth, but progress in it. No wonder, then, that we have surpassed our fathers, for, as Bacon well observes, 'a cripple in the right way may beat a racer in the wrong.'

To this philosophy, then, do we owe the establishment of phrenology, a science pregnant with more important influences than the revelations of Galileo, of Harvey, or of Newton; making known, as it does, the material instruments of mentality, unfolding, as it does, the moral and intellectual constitution of man, and exposing, as it does, the secret springs of thought and impulses of action; furnishing man with a middle term, which will enable him, as it were, to throw his own and external nature into one mighty syllogism, and educe human duty and human destiny.

"The day is not far distant when it will be acknowledged by all, that no doctrines were ever established on a more extensive induction of rigidly scrutinised and verified facts, than were those of Gall. The length of time which he allowed to elapse between their dawn and promulgation; his entire devotion of life and property to their investigation; the bold but truth-loving spirit; the profound, comprehensive, discriminative, and practical understanding, every where manifested in his writings, place him at the antipodes of those speculative geniuses who spend their lives in weaving webs of sophistry for the entanglement of human reason. To make this evident, to show in a manner satisfactory to all candid minds, that phrenology is a discovery, and not an invention, that its doctrines are but the crowning stones to pyramids of facts, is the object of the present essay."

Our limits will not permit us to make farther extracts, or give even an analysis of the remaining part of this essay. The next article by Mr. Boardman, presents a brief "history of the rise, progress, and present condition of phrenology." Here, we have discussed the views which various writers and anatomists have entertained respecting the functions of the brain. The discovery, progress, and reception of the truths which phrenology discloses concerning the functions of this organ are clearly and correctly given. The merits of Dr. Gall, as a discoverer and philosopher, are ably and justly vindicated. We should be pleased to notice several points in this article, but cannot at the present time, though we may have occasion to refer to them hereafter.

The lectures of Mr. Combe, occupying the chief body of the work, are presented with great accuracy and minuteness. These reports certainly contain the substance of that gentleman's lectures; and, according to our best recollection, (and we had the pleasure of hear

ing these lectures delivered twice,) they are expressed in almost tle precise words of the lecturer. The work contains valuable drawings, designed to show the location of the various organs and the physical signs of the temperaments, as well as numerous cuts, either to illustrate remarkable or deficient developements by way of contrast, or to represent particular personages, whose mental manifestation.s were in some way very striking and marked. As to the phrenological matter of these lectures, it needs ro commendation from us. It emanates from the highest living authority on the science; and it is doubtful whether matter of equal value can any where else be found within so small a compass.

But in conclusion, we must dissent from the nature and tendency of some remarks in the Appendix by Mr. Boardman. If his premises and inferences are correct, the science can never be rendered available in its practical application to the extent for which its advocates have generally claimed for it. He has here made concessions which no other phrenologist, to our knowledge, has ever made, though many opponents of the science have repeatedly brought similar charges against it. We have neither the time nor the space, at present, necessary to examine this subject, and do it justice; yet on some future occasion we may attempt to prove, both by facts and arguments, that some statements in this Appendix are erroneous in their nature, and consequently injurious to the science.

MISCELLANY.

Laws of Hereditary Descent.-Probably there is no subject in the whole range of the sciences, more important in its bearings on the welfare of mankind, than that at the head of this paragraph. As we shall have occasion to discuss it, at some length, in the future pages of the Journal, it may be proper to offer first a few facts and general principles on the subject; and perhaps we cannot do this in better and more appropriate language, than by presenting a summary of Dr. Spurzheim's views, as they appeared, some time since, in the Ladies' Magazine, which are as follows:

"Children participate in the bodily configuration and constitution of their parents, and also in their tendencies to particular manifestations of the mind, these being dependent on the individual parts of the brain.

"The qualities of the body are hereditary. There are family-faces, family likenesses, and also single parts, such as bones, muscles, hair, and skin, which are alike in parents and children. The disposition to various disorders, as to gout, scrofula, dropsy, hydrocephalus, consumption, deafness, epilepsy, apoplexy, idiotism, insanity, &c., is frequently in the inheritance of birth.

"Children born of healthy parents, and belonging to a strong stock, always bring into the world a system formed by nature to resist the causes of disease; while children of delicate, sickly parents, are overpowered by the least unfavourable circumstance.

"Longevity depends more on innate constitution, than on the skill of the physician. Is it not then astonishing that this knowledge, as a practical piece of information, is not taught and disseminated among young people? Indeed, it ought to be familiarly and generally known. Even the unthinking must perceive that the enjoyments of life are rendered impossible, when diseases make their ravages in a family; and that love for the most part ceases, when poverty takes up its abode in the house. "There are many examples on record, of certain feelings or intellectual faculties being inherent in whole families. Now if it be ascertained that the hereditary condition of the brain is the cause, there is a great additional motive to be careful in the choice of a partner in marriage. No person of sense can be indifferent about having selfish or benevolent, stupid or intelligent, children.

"But it is said that men of great talents often have children of little understanding, and that, in large families there are individuals of very different capacities.

"As long as eminent men are married to partners of inferior capacities, the qualities of the offspring must be uncertain. The condition of the mother is not valued as it ought to be, and yet it is a common observation that boys resemble their mother, and girls their father, and that men of great talents almost always descend from intelligent mothers. The physical education of both sexes deserves the greatest attention, and it is unpardonable to neglect that of girls.

"The degeneration of man is certain in families who intermarry among themselves. Uncles and wives, or first cousins, or cousins who commit this error for several generations, have no children, or their progeny is feeble in constitution of both mind and body.

"It is indeed a pity that the laws of hereditary descent are so much neglected, whilst, by attending to them, not only the condition of single families, but of whole nations, might be improved beyond imagination, in figure, stature, complexion, health, talents, and moral feelings.

"It is probable,' says Dr. Rush, 'that the qualities of body and mind in parents, which produce genius in children, may be fixed and regulated; and it is possible the time may come, when we shall be able to predict with certainty the intellectual character of children, by knowing the specific nature of the different intellectual faculties of their parents.'

"Three successive generations appear to be necessary to produce an effectual change, be it for health or disease. According to the laws of creation, therefore, it is said that 'the Lord visits those who hate him (those who do not submit to his laws) to the third and fourth generation; namely, by their hereditary dispositions.

"Such causes as produce what is called the old age of nations, deserve to be remarked. Luxury belongs to them, and its influence, if continued during several generations, weakens body and mind, not only of families, but of whole nations.

"The Greeks, as appears from their customs, philosophy, and legislation, had particularly in view the beauty and vigour of the human constitution. As we,' says Plutarch, 'are anxious to have dogs and horses from a good breed, why should we marry the daughters of bad parents?' Plato speaks against marriages between relations. He, as well as Solon and Aristotle, considered also the age at which it was best to marry. The ancient philosophers commonly fixed it between eighteen and