cavity greatly developed, in comparison to the organs of sense and cerebral cavity, indicates the pre-eminence of voluntary power, and a diminished degree of sensation and intellect.

In order to ascertain the magnitude of these organs in the living body, the process is simple: that of the organs of sense is obvious to every observer; so is that of the cerebrum; and that of the cerebellum is easily ascertained, as, in all the superior animals, it begins precisely opposite the place where the face terminates, that is, opposite the articulation of the lower jaw, which is immediately before the ear, and extends to the spine which projects from the occiput.— In both the last cases, allowance is to be made for varieties in the thickness of the cranium, which are rarely very remarkable.

Thus, we possess the means of ascertaining the degrees of the three simple powers, sensation, mental operation and volition, in man and all the superior animals, in whatever proportion they may be combined.

Moreover, wherever these organs are elevated, there their functions are brilliant or intense; wherever they are wide, there they are stable and permanent. Thus, the elevated cerebrum indicates genius and imagination; the broad one, the more mathematical talent: when the cerebrum is longest anteriorly, there preception and observation excel; and when it is longest posteriorly, there reflection and passion excel: when the cerebrum is elevated before and depressed behind, there the perceptions are brilliant or intense, the reflections less so; and when it is depressed before and elevated behind, then the perceptions are less, the reflections more intense: when the cerebrum is broad before and narrow behind, then the perceptions are more permanent, the reflections less so; and when it is narrow before and broad behind, then the perceptions are less permanent, the reflections more so.

For a further illustration of these criteria of intellect, see Plate V. representing an exquisitely formed cranium from the Decades of Blumenbach. The skull is that of a young Georgian female, who fell into the hands of Russians at the siege of Oczakoff: dying at Moskow, the head, as distinguished for beauty, was sent by Professor Hiltebrandt to Blumenbach. A sketch of it has been chosen here for the illustration of the preceding principles... The inscriptions on the plate itself, if examined along with the preceding paragraph, render this doctrine perfectly simple.

Now, the various combinations of these various degrees of sensation, mental operation and volition, give origin to all the passions and habits of life; so that these passions and habits by no means require distinct organs, as Gall has supposed: they are compound in their nature, and result from the combination of these various degrees of these simple powers.

With regard, however, to the system of Gall*, it is worthy of notice that, unscientific and empirical though it be, yet, in a few instances, he has approached to the truth. Thus, in placing the absurd organs of vanity, loftiness and theosophy, on the top of the head, he has either empirically or accidentally approached the simple truth, that imagination depends on the developement of the cerebrum in height; in placing the equally absurd organ of courage on each side the head above the ear, he has approached the simple truth, that permanence or firmness of function, depends on the developement of the cerebrum in breadth; in placing a variety of petty organs, of number, place, things, persons, words &c. on the forehead, he has either empirically or accidentally approached the simple truth, that preception and observation depend on the developement of the anterior portion of the cerebrum; in placing the organ of parental and filial

* See an Account of his doctrine in the APPENDIX, No. III.

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PART THIRD.

love on the back of the head, he has also approached simple truth, that reflection and passion depend on the velopement of the posterior portion of the cerebrum; a in placing the organ of sexual love in the cerebellum, exemplifying this by the greater magnitude of this part, a the greater vigour of this function in the bull, &c. he h likewise approached the simple truth, that muscular power of all kinds, depends on the developement of the cerebel lum. Gall, however, has not only erred, even with regai to these organs, by mistaking their nature and limiting the sites, but he has still more egregiously erred throughout, in assigning a multitude of simple and distinct organs, for functions, which owe their existence to a combination of

thers.

In order, then, to ascertain the frequent existence of any passion, or habit of mind, the search for minute and distinct organs must be abandoned; but, it is only necessary to as certain the existence of the signs of those degrees of the simple powers, which are requisite to constitute the pas sion or habit, than which, according to the preceding principles, nothing is more easy.

PHYSIOGNOMICAL DETAILS, AS FOUNDED ON THE PRECEDING PHYSIOLOGY.

"When we say that a countenance is noble, or magnanimous, or heroic, or gentle, or feeling, or melancholy, we convey at once to every hearer, a belief of some degree of sublimity or beauty; but no one ever asks us to describe the form of the features which compose it."

Alison's Essays, Vol. II. page 270.

HAVING thus established the first principles of physiognomy, founded, as they ought to be, on a comparative view of the three great organs of sensation, mental operation and volition, we now, assisted by the same guide, proceed to its minuter details.

The minute details of physiognomy are not to be found in any investigation, either of the superior, or posterior part of the head, as Gall has absurdly attempted. The reasons of this are obvious. First, the superior and posterior part of the head, present only one or two organs uniformly constructed, except with regard to the great and more general deviations which have been already explained; and consequently no minute forms are to be discerned on them, super

E

ficially examined. Secondly, the whole superficies of these organs is covered by the skull, somewhat irregular in its thickness, so as to render it difficult to calculate what may be the minute conformation of the subjacent parts. Thirdly, the skull covering these organs is itself covered with hair, so that any examination of them is thus rendered still more difficult. Fourthly, the dress of most nations presents an additional obstacle.

Nature, however, seems admirably to have preserved one of the great mental organs, open for our inspection. The face, containing the organs of sense, presents every possible advantage for the purpose of physiognomical examination. First, it exhibits many organs, each of which may be separately and distinctly examined. These organs, it will be found, present, if we may use the term, a kind of analysis of sensation or, in other words, while in some of the inferior animals, one and the same organ (as the horn of the snail) receives every kind of impression, and is sensible to light, to sound, to odour, to taste and to touch; in man, transparent lenses transmit the rays of light; tense mebranes receive the concussions of sound; a convoluted organ receives the impressions of the odours which are wafted through the nose, in the air which we respire; the moist papillæ of the tongue receive the impressions of taste; and the delicately conformed and highly sensible tips of the fingers receive those of touch. Secondly, in the face, the soft parts, or rather the organs of sense, are quite superficial, and not separated from our view by osseous matter. Thirdly, little or no hair; and, in general, no mode of dressing covers these organs.

These reasons for preferring the face, for the purpose of physiognomical observation, are precisely the counterpart of those which prevent the examination of the superior and posterior part of the head.