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criminals, is only one form of the growing civilization which is the glory of our age. As phrenologists, we maintain that the moral faculties are here pointing instinctively to their legitimate results; and we hail their influence with joy, because we perceive that the constitution of creation is in harmony with their dictates, and that they will lead us to sound and successful practical conclusions, if fairly allowed to guide all our social arrange

ments.

Owing to the length of this article, we are under the necessity of concluding without adverting to Archbishop Whately's proposal to punish insane criminals, or to the question of expense which would attend a right mode of treatment. We shall probably revert to these topics in our next Number.

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ARTICLE III.

DEATH OF DR SPURZHEIM.

It is with deep feelings of regret that we announce the death of this distinguished leader of Phrenology, and most gifted and excellent man. At a meeting of the Phrenological Society, held at Edinburgh on the 13th of December 1832, the President, Mr Simpson, made known this melancholy event in nearly the following words :

“GENTLEMEN,—During the twelve years of this Society's existence, no communication has ever been made to it so afflicting as that which it is now my painful duty to make to you. Dr Spurzheim is no more! He died of fever, brought on by over-exertion in his great vocation, at Boston in the United States, on the 10th day of last month!

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"The death of Dr Gall, the great founder of Phrenology, was not without its alleviations. He had run his course,—had done all that seemed, in the decrees of the All-wise, allotted him on earth to do, and fell like a shock of corn fully ripe.' Above all, Dr Spurzheim, his great pupil, survived, heir of all his master's wealth, and richer than even that master in treasures of his But Dr Spurzheim himself is now snatched away,-in the midst of his usefulness, at the summit of his power,about to pour the true philosophy of man, like a flood of light, on the transatlantic world. This is indeed a blow, almost devoid of alleviation. And yet hope deserts us not. To his own genius we owe the discovery of the organ of Hope, and a beautiful exposition of its functions. As we bend over his early grave, a ray breaks forth even from that dark abode. America has celebrated his obsequies with public honours, and ranks him

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with the illustrious dead. Europe will sanction the award. His philosophic page will live, and even pride and prejudice will look into the philosophy, when the philosopher, whom they shunned when alive, is no more. Galileo, Newton, Harvey, were all destined to teach from the tomb,-so are Spurzheim and Gall; they, too, are among the great departed, who are dead, yet speak,' and many a kindred genius will yet arise to listen to their voice. The minds already labouring in the great work, by them bequeathed, will be stimulated by the very thought, that they are bereft of their leaders. A hand to grasp all the inheritance may not be; but there does live a prophet who will wear gracefully the mantle that has now descended upon him. May all of us, however humble each, make redoubled exertions, do that which our teacher would have urged us to do with his dying accents,-promote by all that in us lies, the CAUSE for which he lived, and in which he died. His labours were as expansive as they were indefatigable,—no scope was too great for them, he had gone to add the New World to the Old in one wide empire of truth. Alas! that America's first tribute to her illustrious guest should be a grave and a monument! Be her's the care and custody of his honoured remains; the spirit of his genius is everywhere,-his memory is the cherished legacy of the human race.

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Mr Combe then read to the Society the following letters which he had received from America, on the occasion of Dr Spurzheim's death.

"DEAR SIR,

From NAHUM CAPEN, Esq.

BOSTON, November 15. 1832.

Though I have not the honour of a personal acquaintance with you, I trust the occasion of this letter is ample apology for the liberty I assume.

Perhaps the sad and melancholy news may reach you before this letter,—but it is with the deepest feelings of grief that I state, that Dr Spurzheim is no more!

He died in this city on the 10th instant, at 11 o'clock P. M., after an illness of about three weeks. On the 17th September he commenced a course of lectures on Phrenology in this city, and soon after another course at Harvard University, Cambridge. These lectures occupied six evenings in the week. He delivered, besides, a course of five lectures before the Medical Faculty on the anatomy of the brain, in the day-time.

The subject having met with the most favourable reception,he laboured with great earnestness and pains to elucidate its principles. He being personally admired by our citizens, his time and presence were in constant demand. Added to these continued engagements, our peculiarly changeable climate had

an unfavourable influence on his constitution. Sudden changes exposed him to cold; and an incautious transition from a warm lecture-room to the evening air was attended with debilitating effects. This variety of causes brought on at first slight indisposition, which, if it had been attended to, might have been easily checked. Regarding his illness of less consequence than the delivery of his lectures, he exerted himself for several days, when prudence required an entire cessation from labour. THIS WAS THE FATAL STEP: cold produced fever, and this imprudence seemed to settle the fever in the system.

He was confined to his room about fifteen days, which time his disease gradually assumed a more alarming aspect until death. He was averse to all active medical treatment from the beginning, and resorted to simple drinks and frequent injections.

The most skilful of the medical faculty in this city were constant in their attendance upon him, and we had two or three physicians with him constantly, both day and night. The interest, the exertions, and the strong desire, to save the life of so valuable a man were deep and sincere in the hearts of his friends. All within the power and reach of feeble man was extended for his relief; but, alas! it was the will of Divine Providence that he should quit, for ever, the scene of his labour, love, and glory. I enclose a paper containing an account of his illness by Dr

Jackson.

His death has cast a gloom over our city. It is not lamented with the cold formality of the world; it produces grief of the most poignant character, and it is expressed in the deepest tones of afflicted humanity. Although he had been with us but a few weeks, his virtues and worth were known and acknowledged. His amiable manners; his practical knowledge; his benevolent dispositions and purposes; his active and discriminating mind, all engaged the good opinions of the prejudiced, and won the affections of the candid. Alas! how inexplicable are the decrees of Divine Providence.

His body has been examined by the Medical Faculty (as per statement of Dr Jackson), and embalmed. This was thought advisable, in case his relations should have a desire to remove it. Casts of his head and brain have been taken, and his heart and lungs are also preserved.

Saturday next (day after to-morrow), the last solemn offices are to be paid to this distinguished man in a public manner. An eulogy by Dr Follen, German professor of Harvard University, will be delivered, and other services to correspond and suitable to the occasion, an account of which I will transmit as soon as published. I am truly, your servant and friend,

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NAHUM CAPEN,

of the Firm of Marsh, Capen and Lyon, Booksellers."

SIR,

From Dr ROBERT M'KIBBIN.

NEW YORK, 16th November 1832.

Having some years since had the honour of occasional correspondence with you, while residing at Belfast, I presume I may, without further apology, address you on the present occasion, as I am well aware how much you feel interested in all that concerned Dr Spurzheim, and that none can more adequately appreciate his loss.

His lamented death took place at Boston, at 10 o'clock on the evening of the 10th instant. He had been lecturing to a very numerous class (as you may have heard) in Boston, and on the alternate day in Cambridge: his class in Boston consisted of 300 to 600, according to the state of the weather, &c., and that at Cambridge of about 70. His illness continued for some time after having been chilled, and he persisted in lecturing, until, in the last lecture or two, he was quite obscure and confused, and evidently labouring under great weakness. No persuasion of his friends, however, could prevail on him to desist, until the Wednesday-fortnight before his decease, when the fever had increased so much as to confine him to his bed. He would use no remedies, though urged to do so by the medical gentlemen who most anxiously attended him: Lavements were the only things he would use, and he objected that the British and American practice was too active, unfortunately forgetting the climate he was in. The symptoms were very obscure in the accession, but they gradually assumed the form of synochus with great nervous depression, and he gradually got worse, until the fatal catastrophe occurred.

I accidentally arrived in Boston on the night of his decease, but not having heard of his illness, I did not see him alive. I went the next morning too late to see him living, but in time to witness the kindness of the Bostonians, a meeting having been at that time convened to arrange for the intended funeral, and such other matters as would shew their respect for the illustrious deceased. Mr Quincy, the president of the College, and most of the professors, with the eminent medical and other scientific gentlemen, were present, and their conduct did infinite credit to the parties.

A committee was appointed to make arrangements for the inspection and embalming of the body, so that his friends, if anxious, might have it removed; another to take charge of his effects; and a third to make arrangements for a public funeral, and any other tribute of respect they could devise. Agreeably to this plan, the body was removed to the college, and on Mon

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day a post-mortem examination took place, at which a number of medical gentlemen were present. There were some traces of increased vascularity in the arachnoid and pia mater, and adhesion of the colon to the peritoneum in the right iliac region. I shall send you my notes of the dissection first opportunity, as I have only a few minutes now. Casts of the head, brain, &c., were being prepared, and several sketches made by different artists, of the face, and one was taken by Mr Audubon, the orni-thologist.

The funeral will take place from one of the churches in Boston on Saturday, and an oration will be delivered by Professor Follen, a countryman of Dr Spurzheim. He will be deposited in one of the vaults in the beautiful cemetery at Mount Auburn, in a leaden coffin, and if his friends do not wish him removed, a monument will be erected in the same place for him.

Dr Jackson has kindly promised to send me the case, which he intends publishing; and the oration will likely be printed also. If If so, I shall endeavour to procure them with any other particulars, and forward them by some early opportunity to you. I have also a little of his hair which I removed, and shall send you a part. I regret I had not leisure to send you a more correct as well as detailed account, but the packet is just going off, which you will please to consider my excuse for this scrawl. I need not say to you how useful he would have been in this country;-here was a rich field, and a noble harvest for his exertions, and here his opinions would have gained ground. He was to have lectured in all the towns ;-even the villages were preparing to ask him, and the good he would have done is incalculable. To science his loss is vast,-to Phrenology more particularly, as his manner of gaining friends was peculiarly fortunate, and much assisted the really useful part of his instruction. Here in Boston, every person who had been acquainted with him seemed to have formed those warm attachments with which he was so often favoured, and he is mourned not only as a public loss, but as the friend of each. I hope to give you a more satisfactory account, at an early opportunity, and am with much respect, your obedient servant,

ROBERT M'KIBBIN, M. D.

The following resolutions were moved by Mr Combe, seconded by Mr Dun, and adopted unanimously by the Phrenological Society:

"First, That this Society have heard the communication now made with sentiments of the most heartfelt regret. While they deplore the premature death of Dr Spurzheim as by far the great

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