following gentlemen were admitted as ordinary members: Bindon Blood, Esq. of Cranaker, Ennis, county of Clare, Ireland, M. K. J. A., M. R. D. I.; Mr David Thomson, merchant, Edinburgh; Mr William Thomson, solicitor-atlaw; Mr Hewit O. Watson, student of medicine; and Mr Robert Cox, Gorgie Mills.

January 22, 1829.-Mr Simpson read an Essay on Natural Language, by Mr William Slate.

February 5.—Mr Combe read Observations by him on the Case of William Burk, recently executed for Murder, and William Hare. The following donations from Sir G. S. Mackenzie were presented, and his observations accompanying them read :-Skulls of a sheep-dog, of a very bold spaniel, of a wild-cat, of a polecat, of a martin, of a buzzard, of a hooded crow, and of a kite; two skulls of magpies, skulls of a white or barn owl, of a brown owl, of a falcon, of a sparrowhawk, and of a hawk. The Society's thanks were voted to Sir G. S. Mackenzie.

February 19.-Dr Andrew Combe read Observations on Mental Derangement and some of its Causes. The' Society's thanks were voted to Dr Combe.

March 5.-Mr Simpson read Observations by him on the System of Education followed at the Edinburgh Sessional Daily School.

March 19.-Mr Simpson read an essay entitled, "Some "Reasons for conjecturing that the Faculty hitherto named" "Tune would be more philosophically denominated the

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Faculty of Sound." Mr Joseph presented to the "So-" ciety casts of the heads of Hare and Burk, moulded by him. The thanks of the Society were returned to Mr Joseph for the donation.

OFFICE-BEARERS.-Dr Andrew Combe, President.-William Ritchie, George Combe, James Law, Patrick Neill, VicePresidents.-William Bonar, James Tod, George Lyon, Dr R. Hamilton, Walter Tod, John Anderson, jun., Council.-William Scott, Secretary.-Robert Cox, Keeper of Museum.-Donald Campbell, Clerk.

A Lecture upon the Truth, Reasonableness, and Utility of the Doctrines of Phrenology. By the Editor of the Chesterfield Gazette. Second Edition. London; Longman & Co. &c. pp. 26.

WE have frequently said that one of the most unequivocal signs that Phrenology is destined to become the established philosophy of the next generation is afforded by the increasing number of sound-thinking and talented men, in various parts of the kingdom, who are appearing as its advocates; and the pamphlet before us forms another valuable indication of the march of truth in addition to those formerly recorded. There is a sober earnestness, a soundness of judgment, and a clear philosophical power of exposition in this little work, which make us hope that the author will extend his labours in the cause of Phrenology, His line of argument is the following:

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A

To suppose the brain to be the organ of thought is to coincide in opinion with all mankind: This is besides probable, inasmuch as the mind is affected through the medium of the body. The head in every case wherein there is no disease indicates the conformation of the brain, and the skull takes its shape from the brain. Once admitting the brain to be the organ of thought, there is nothing unreasonable or absurd in supposing different parts of the brain to be the seats of different mental powers; but, on the contrary, it is reasonable, inasmuch as it explains difficulties otherwise inexplicable. Heads are differently shaped; and, by this difference in shape, men are, and always have been, partly governed in their opinions. The doctrines, although corroborated by reason and experience, yet rest upon the evidence of facts, and cannot be gainsayed by any argument

founded upon less certain data. The author then examines the objections of the anatomist, next those of the uninitiated, and shows that the science neither is materialism, nor leads to fatalism; and finally explains the uses to which it may be made subservient in the moral and intellectual education of man.

This is a mere summary of the topics treated of, which are well and briefly handled. The following extract gives a fair specimen of the author's powers:

"No Phrenologist was ever wild enough to assert, that education " and training were altogether ineffectual in their system of philo"sophy. Phrenologists not only hold, that the power of the mind "as well as that of the body is increased by exercise, but that the " individual faculties of the mind as well as the individual members "of the body are rendered more vigorous by employment. We "know that if, from infancy, one arm only were used, that in youth "there would be a wide difference in the capabilities and strength "of these two members, originally formed alike by nature; but, in"deed, it has never been denied, that the exercise of any one men"tal faculty increases its power; and it is in the facility with which "this may be applied, especially in the improvement of moral character, that the doctrines of Phrenology possess so decided a su"periority over every other system of mental philosophy.

"this to be discovered? and how is education (I mean, at present, "moral education,) to be directed in order to restrain the propensity "to which the fault has been owing? Here is an action committed, " and the concealment implies some imperfection in character,-for "want of openness, want of Benevolence, or inordinate Self-esteem, are each of them faults in character. Without Phrenology no "certain remedy can be applied. It is as if the body were afflicted "with a disease of the nature of which physicians are ignorant; " various remedies are attempted, but, unless the true origin of the "malady be known, no remedy can be applied with any good pros65 pect of success. So it is in the case I have just supposed; but "with a knowledge of Phrenology the root of the evil is at once "struck at. If a love of concealment be the imperfection, that sys"tem of training must be followed which will encourage an opposite disposition. This may be partly effected by addressing the reasoning powers, if they be sufficiently strong, of which Phrenology can judge; or, by encouraging the benevolent feelings, which have ever a tendency to counteract all sentiments that are mean, and to neutralize every feeling of selfishness. If the imperfection be "owing to an inordinate Self-esteem, then, however difficult it may "be, we know that it is possible, by time and management, to inspire one with more moderate ideas of one's self; besides, were "these doctrines thoroughly believed and intended to be acted upon, persons of talent and judgment would give their minds to the con"sideration of that species of moral education which this system "would demand in all the varieties of human character, But it may be laid down as a certain position, that the faculties of the mind can be acted upon in the same way as the organs of the body; that they may be encouraged by exercise, and repressed by "disuse; and that, were the economy of the mind as much reduced to certain principles as the economy of the body, a deep and wide influence would be exerted on man's moral condition."

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"

The author's concluding remarks express the true spirit of an enlightened Phrenologist:-" To prove," says he, “its "truth or its falsity by observation lies with you; there is nothing "in it hidden, no freemasonry, no jugglery. The power of mak ing observations is open to every one; it is not necessary to be "either a metaphysician or an anatomist in order to make them. It is this that I invite you to do."

SIR, Though I am by no means so full a believer in the details of the doctrines of Gall and Spurzheim as to entitle me to the appellation of Phrenologist, yet, as I deem it the duty of every man to contribute all he can, however small that may be, towards the establishment of truth, I beg to communicate to you the following case, which, if you think worthy of a place, you may insert in your Journal.

The case to which I refer occurred in the Royal Infirmary here to-day. During the examination of the morbid appearances in the body of a woman who died yesterday morning, some eminent antiphrenological gentlemen were engaged, (as has been the practice for some time past,) in weighing the cerebrum and cerebellum, and in ascertaining their relative proportions; and the circumstance in this case to which I am now to call your attention is the correspondence of an immense cerebellum with a full manifestation, during life, of the functions which Phrenologists ascribe to that part of the cerebral mass; and I doubt not you will consider the case the more valuable, as I go on the weights which I saw taken by these opponents to your doctrines.

The following circumstances, by patient examination, I ascertained this afternoon at the house of the father of the woman, who resides in 31, Richmond Place.

The following case occurred in the course of some investigations instituted by Sir William Hamilton. It was sent to us at the date which it bears; but we conceived it proper not to anticipate Sir William's report of it. His promised publication, however, being still withheld, no reason exists for farther delay.-EDITOR.