Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

pressions in Scripture seeming to favour his argument, are scattered to the winds before the overwhelming force of principle and of precept wherewith the Sacred Volume teems, which stand opposed to the abuse of the faculties desiring praise and power, which condemn self-exultation, and inculcate humility. Even when the Christian's progress is figuratively called a race, its prize is essentially that very moral excellence which excludes selfishness, and, without jostling, or hindering, or pulling back, or getting down our fellowcompetitors on the way, may be won by ALL who run for it.*

In one part of his work, and one only, the author puts a question to the votaries of our science. We were amused with the question, and gratified by his own judicious though not complete answer to it. When drawing a just and obvious distinction between the being learned and the being "apt to teach," between knowing much and successfully communicating knowledge to the young, Mr. Wood says, "We know not whether to this faculty Phrenologists "have assigned any peculiar region of the brain, but we are

persuaded that it is a talent of a peculiar kind, which even "long practice does not always confer." Dr Spurzheim almost uses these latter words. We answer, that every human faculty, every mental quality, is and can only be manifested through the medium of some region of the brain; and that Phrenology can point to the region of the brain, or rather regions, (for, like most accomplishments, it is the result of a combination of faculties,) of this most important of any, aptness to teach; which Mr Wood is perfectly right in conclud

Nothing is more promising in the system of early moral training in the infant schools than an approximation to these views of social in opposition to selfish feelings. There is no place-taking in these happy and zealous seminaries; and when the firstlings of the flock about to be assembled in Edinburgh shall come to Mr Wood's more advanced school, he will be agreeably surprised to find how easily those stimuli, which he at present thinks proffered in mercy, may be dispensed with. We look forward to the pleasure of applying, in a future Number, the phrenological test to Mr Wilderspin's infant school system, and we know that it will stand it well.

[ocr errors]

ing to be an innate talent, as Phrenology has farther demonstrated all talents to be. Of the combination of faculties in question, the author has, with much sagacity, hit upon some of the elements himself, we would have almost said, but for the equivoque, without the aid of the brain. 1st, The master, says Mr Wood, must rule by love, and secure the affections of his pupils. This, we say, he can only do by Benevolence and the most untiring. Love of Children, 2d, He must condescend to place himself in the pupil's situation, and feel his difficulties. Phrenologicè, his Self-esteem must be under due regulation, and must not have been pampered and inflated by scholastic ascendencies and distinctions. 3d, He must have tact to choose times, seasons, and circumstances, the best to impress his pupils in their various conditions. This savoir faire Phrenology has found connected with Intellect, Imitation, and Secretiveness. Secretiveness gives the power of concealing all that would mar the intended effect, and thereby bestows increased expression and interest on what is communicated. This, unknown to himself, is Mr Wood's chief secret; and if the organ is small in him, that part of Phrenology would be in danger. Of this, however, there is no risk; phrenological pathognomists, who have seen him in actu et æstu docendi, concur in declaring, that it is impossible to imagine the natural language of the faculty in activity more unequivocally manifested. Although Mr W. stops here, Phrenology conducts us farther, and shows us that the combination for aptness to teach is yet richer. 4th, Language, as a faculty, is necessary to adapt expressions nicely to meaning and to the capacity of the learner; 5th, A well-regulated Wonder, to give increased interest to the communication of a knowledge of the works of the Creator; 6th, Hope for cheerfulness, and, 7th, Ideality for refinement; 8th, Veneration for religious impressiveness, and, 9th, Conscientiousness for the most unswerving justice, candour, and impartiality. Now, Phrenologists do assign, or, more correctly, find assigned by the Creator of man, well-marked regions of the brain for each

of these elements of that invaluable talent called aptness to teach; and more, they can point out, before he is even tried, the teacher who is gifted with it. Such men cannot be too highly prized and respected. Nothing argues worse for the staple of school-education than the fact, that its professors hold a humble grade in public estimation. It is a tacit vilification of the common curriculum, that its conductors are ridiculed as pedagogues and dominies,-that theirs is a situation to rise from instead of, as that of the instructor of youth ought to be, to rise to. Many have been the sneers at Mr Wood's self-degradation, as it has been called, to the despised rank of a schoolmaster. He has nobly despised that ignorant prejudice of an imperfectly-educated but self-satis fied public, and is already towering above his detractors, the stronger in his moral attitude that he has so triumphantly fought his way to that respect which, sooner or later, truth and sense and public spirit must assuredly command. But it is just in such men that we most deplore a share of that common prejudice and misdirected feeling, the reproach of the present age, which reject without adequate examination the truths of Phrenology;—that instrument of practical power in all human concerns,that science which has thrown a flood of light on the previously dark subject of the human mind, and is yet destined to elevate every system and purify every institution which has to deal with Human Nature,

Since this article was in types, we have been assured by an expe rienced teacher, that he daily deplores the effect of place-taking on many tempers under his charge; but, under the present system, knows not what to substitute for it. He added, that we had not stated the evils too strongly.

Another, only the other day, declared to his pupils, that he was so much disgusted with their envyings and tears, that he must abolish places and medals altogether!

NOTE.-On some of the views of the foregoing paper, which was read to the Phrenological Society by Mr Simpson, there was in the Society some difference of opinion. As it is now published to promote discussion, the wE is to be considered as not editorial.-EDITOR.

ARTICLE XII.

REMARKS ON THE CEREBRAL DEVELOPMENT OF

JOSEPH PUGH, HUNG FOR MURDER.

[merged small][ocr errors]

SIR,-The first cast I shall call your attention to is that of Joseph Pugh, who was hung as a principal in one of the most atrocious murders that ever disgraced this country. Before offering any remarks on his unfortunate organization, I shall give you a brief sketch of his history, and the leading circumstances connected with the crime for which he suffered, from the London Magazine, written by a barrister who was in the court":

It seems that, in the neighbourhood of Market Drayton, on the borders of Shropshire and Staffordshire, there exists a very dreadfully-depraved set of people, and that a gang to the amount, as is said, of from fifty to sixty people is confederated for general purposes of plunder. This, I take, is a little exaggerated; but that it is true to a considerable degree I fully believe; namely, that the nucleus of this gang, consisting of several persons, was most closely knit by the ties of relationship, of connexion, and of neighbourhood, as well as of guilt; and the general depravity of the district enabled them, as occasion required, to add to their numbers to almost any extent. One of these persons, by name Thomas Ellson, was last year taken up for stealing potatoes; and, whilst in jail for that charge, an accusation of sheepstealing was brought against him. The chief evidence upon which this latter charge, a capital one, depended, was that of a man, who had occasionally joined in the proceedings of the gang, named John Harrison. It became, therefore, the

not.

object of the friends of Ellson to get this man out of the way. Old Cox, Ellson's father-in-law, determined to poison him, but could not procure it. Ann Harris, the mother of Ellson, who had married a second husband of the name of Harris, requested a neighbour to buy her sixpence worth of arsenic," to poison that fellow Harrison;" but being remonstrated with, she went away, promising that she would

Poison having failed, it was determined to have recourse to more direct means ; accordingly Ann Harris and old Cox subscribed fifty shillings each to hire Cox's two sons and a young fellow of the name of Pugh to put Harrison to death. Harrison lodged in the house of Pugh's father, and, it is said, occupied the same bed with him. On the night of the murder, Pugh, to use his own expression, “ 'ticed Harriď son out of the house to go and steal some bacon.” At a spot previously agreed upon they met the two younger Coxes, and, proceeding to a remote place, Pugh seized Harrison by the throat, while young John Cox took hold of his legs, and, throwing him down, they thus strangled him ; meanwhile Robert Cox was digging the grave !

The wretched man thus disposed of, every thing remained perfectly quiet and unsuspected. It was generally supposed he had gone out of the way to avoid Ellson's trial; after the latter was acquitted, no suspicion was excited by the non-return of Harrison, and the murder was discovered by the means of Ellson himself. As soon as this fellow came out of gaol, the Coxes, Pugh, and his mother, at various times, told him of what had taken place, vaunting to him how they had saved him, (that if it had not been for them he would not be there;) and the next day, when he was at his mother's, Robert Cox came thither, and said to her with oaths and abuse, “ If thee doesn't give me more money I will fetch him and rear him up against the door," alluding to the murdered man !

The five prisoners were already at the bar when the writer of this article entered the court.-He thus describes

« AnteriorContinua »