ferring, for several striking instances of it, to Mr Combe's work on the Constitution of Man,-a work that should be very generally perused.

I now proceed to give some facts strongly illustrative of the doctrine, that the faculties which predominate in power and activity in the parents, when the organic existence of the child commences, determine its future mental dispositions. This is a doctrine to which, from its great practical importance, I would beg leave to call your serious attention. It was remarked by the celebrated Esquirol," that the children whose existence dated from the horrors of the first French Revolution, turned out to be weak, nervous, and irritable in mind, extremely susceptible of impressions, and liable to be thrown by the least extraordinary excitement into absolute insanity." Sometimes too, family calamities produce serious effects upon the offspring. A very intelligent and respectable mother, upon hearing this principle expounded, remarked that there was a very wide difference in the intellectual and moral development between one of her children and the others; and accounted for this difference by the fact, that, during pregnancy, she received intelligence that the crew of the ship, on board of which was her son, had mutinied that when the ship arrived in the West Indies, some of the mutineers, and also her son, had been put in irons, and that they were all to be sent home for trial. This intelligence acted so strongly upon her, that she suffered a temporary alienation of judgment. The report turned out to be erroneous, but this did not avert the consequences of the agitated state of the mother's feelings upon the daughter she afterwards gave birth to. That daughter is now a woman, but she is and will continue to be a being of impulses, incapable of reflection, and in other respects greatly inferior to her sisters.

The following is a melancholy instance of the operation of this principle, which was communicated to me by a respectable medical practitioner, and which I have since found from inquiries in the neighbourhood, and from seeing the subject of it, to be substantially correct. In the summer of 1827, the practitioner alluded to was called upon to visit professionally a young woman in the immediate neighbourhood, who was safely delivered of a male child. As the parties appeared to be respectable, he made some inquiries regarding the absence of the child's father; when the old woman told him that her daughter was still unmarried, that the child's father belonged to a regiment then in Ireland, that last autumn he had obtained leave of absence to visit his relations in this part of the country, and that on the eve of his departure to join his regiment, an entertainment was given, at which her daughter attended: during the whole evening, she and the soldier danced and sang together;

when heated by the toddy and the dance, they left the cottage, and after the lapse of an hour were found together in a glen, in a state of utter insensibility, from the effects of their former festivity; and the consequence of this interview was the birth of an idiot. He is now nearly six years of age, and his mother does not believe that he is able to recognise either herself or any other individual. He is quite incapable of making signs, whereby his wants can be made known-with this exception, that when hungry he gives a wild shriek. This is a case upon which it would be painful to dwell; and I shall only remark, that the parents are both intelligent, and that the fatal result cannot be otherwise accounted for than by the almost total prostration or eclipse of the intellect of both parties from intoxication. Numerous instances might be adduced wherein the temporary activity of certain faculties not in general prominent in the parents, has caused strong endowments in the offspring, and nothing but the fear of giving offence induces me to forbear citing many that have come under my own observation. It is well known, that the first born children of very young parents, have usually a larger animal and less moral and intellectual development than the younger branches of the family. Sometimes this is not the case, and the converse happens; but this will be found to be the consequence of straitened circumstances or other causes rousing the propensities of the parents into a state of unwonted activity, at the time of the production of the younger children. Marriage among near relations is also a breach of an organic law, and a fruitful source of evil; but unions of this class are seldom contracted by individuals of our order. We find this law principally infringed by royal families, and others of the higher and middle classes, who, anxious to keep up their wealth and their caste, intermarry amongst each other, until mental imbecility results.

I now conclude with a few observations to the young of both sexes, founded on the foregoing views.

Το my fair hearers, I would take leave to say :-Persevere in the acquisition of orderly, cleanly, and industrious habits ;—learn early to accommodate yourselves to the different dispositions of others with whom you may be associated ;-strive to acquire a knowledge of your own dispositions, and endeavour, as much as possible, to render your manner habitually agreeable and engaging;-and when your estimable qualities, graces, and accomplishments, attract the attention, or rivet the affections, of others, learn to be circumspect,-act with great caution,-be wary before you give encouragement. Consider that the happiness of your selves and the welfare of others are dependent upon the choice you are about to make. Learn to know your own physical and mental constitution, and to judge of that of others aright. Re

member that, if you contract an alliance with any one possessing an unhealthy constitution, that constitution will descend to your progeny, and, in all probability, consign them one by one to the grave, at the very time when they have become most endeared to you. Remember also, that on the industry, honesty, sobriety, and affection, of him to whom you shall unite yourselves, depends your every temporal felicity. And remember, that, unless your feelings, opinions, and sympathies are in harmony with his, unhappiness will be your inevitable portion. “What,” says Dr Johnson, "can be expected but disappointment and repentance from a choice made in the immaturity of youth, in the ardour of desire, without judgment, without foresight, without inquiry after conformity of opinions, similarity of manners, rectitude of judgment, or purity of sentiment? Such is the common process of marriage. A youth or maiden meeting by chance, or brought together by artifice, exchange glances, reciprocate civilities, go home, and dream of one another. Having little to divert attention or diversify thought, they find themselves uneasy when they are apart, and therefore conclude that they shall be happy together. They marry, and discover what nothing but voluntary blindness before had concealed; they wear out life in altercations, and charge nature with cruelty." (Rasselas, chap. 29.) What, indeed, can be more productive of misery to a refined and educated woman than the habitual society of a man addicted to grovelling pursuits, and who laughs at whatever she most highly esteems? Let not the countenance drest up in smiles, nor the honeyed accents of a lover, enlist your affections in his favour before your judgment has been satisfied of his moral and intellectual worth. Regard not his behaviour towards yourself, but examine into his previous conduct as a son and a citizen. If If you find that he has been regardless of the infirmities and wants of those to whom he owed existence; that he could never brook parental restraint, or listen to the counsel dictated by affectionate regard; that he spends too much of his time in idleness, or that, though industrious, he spends too much of his money in the gin shop; that his associates are unintellectual, immoral, and dissipated ;-shun him as you would a pestilence but if you find that he has been dutiful to and is esteemed by his parents and the other members of his family,that he is industrious and sober,—and that his associates are men of intelligence and moral worth, then will you have reason to believe that he may prove to you a faithful and affectionate husband, and fulfil all the duties of life with integrity and skill. To the youthful aspirant towards manly usefulness and honour, I would now address myself. Acquire a knowledge of the physical and moral sciences, to fit you for the proper discharge of the duties of active life. Learn to know yourself,

:

both as regards your physical frame and your intellectual and moral constitution. Physiology will unfold the former; and Phrenology the latter. Study the laws which the Creator has established for the government of organized beings, and train your faculties to render them a willing obedience. Learn to look around you in the world, and note the consequences to others of their infringement of these laws, and the benefits that follow observance. Become acquainted with the institutions and laws of your country, and with the principles that regulate the population of a state. Cultivate a love of truth and the moral courage necessary to follow it; for, be assured, that it can never lead to danger. Cherish a kindly feeling towards the whole human family: Let no distinction of country or sect be made a pretext for indulging invidious feelings; but remember that it is not given us to be born where we please, and that

"True religion is a boon, which Heaven
To man, and not to any sect, has given."

you,

Neither let inferiority of mental endowments in others prompt you to despise them, nor be elated with the idea of your own capabilities and acquirements; remember that the advantages you possess over others in that respect, are purely a gift of the Creator, and that consequently, though you have been more fortunate, you are not the more meritorious. Labour rather to improve those who are behind you, and do not scorn to imbibe instruction from your superiors in moral and mental attainments. Strive to acquire a knowledge of the duties you may be called upon in after life to fulfil, either as citizens, husbands, or parents. Make Phrenology in particular your study, for acquir ing a knowledge of which you possess higher advantages than the artizans of any other city in Europe, with the exception of Edinburgh. Judge not of the importance of the science from what limited faculties have been able to lay before my but examine for yourselves the writings of its intellectual and benevolent founders, and then look abroad on society and draw your own conclusions. This you can accomplish with a very trifling sacrifice of time and money, while the benefit you will derive may be the means of insuring much of the happiness of your future life, and will have the immediate effect of exercising and rendering active your moral and intellectual powers. When you have acquired industrious and moral habits, and a knowledge of those laws which the Creator has established for the moral government of the world, endeavour to act in accordance therewith. Be especially on your guard that you do not infringe them in forming the social compact; for the consequences will extend beyond yourself, and go far into futurity. And when a choice has been made in accordance with the dictates of your superior faculties, let both parties endeavour, by fulfilling every

duty, to render yourselves mutually agreeable: then will the joyful husband find by delightful experience, that—

"It is to lovely woman given

To soothe our griefs, our woes allay,
To heal the heart by misery riven,
Change earth into an embryo heaven,
And drive life's fiercest cares away."

ARTICLE XIII.

EARLY ANTICIPATION OF PHRENOLOGY.

In the London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science for October 1833, p. 308, we find, under the above title, the following intelligence:

"The Rev. W. D. Conybeare, F. R. S. &c. has favoured us with the following notice of a curious anticipation of the modern Phrenological System, bearing date as early as 1503: it occurs in an old Encyclopædical kind of Work, entitled Margarita Philosophica, printed at Friburg in that year. The author, speaking of the mental functions, says, Sensus interiores numero quinque sunt: Sensus Communis, Imaginativa, Estimativa, Cogitativa, et Memorativa. Horum Organa in substantia cerebri subtilissimis secernuntur pelliculis; quæ primum totum cerebrum tribus distinguunt ventriculis, quorum anterior et medius rursus bipartiuntur:-1ma portio anterioris organum est Sensus communis; 2da, Imaginativa. Ima, autem ventriculi medii attribuitur Estimativa; 2da, Cogitativæ ; posterior vero ventriculus totus Memorativæ deputatur.' This is illustrated by the sketch of a head divided just like one of Gall or Spurzheim's models, a part of which is copied in the annexed.”

There is little novelty in this "curious anticipation of the modern phrenological system." The engraving copied in our first volume, p. 387, from Ludovico Dolce's work on the Memory, published in 1562, exhibits a mapping out of the head very similar to that which appears in the sketch given in the Philosophical Magazine; although the seats of some of the faculties are in very different positions, as well relative as absolute. An account of many such "curious anticipations" will be found in the first volume of this Journal, p. 378; and for additional remarks on the subject the reader is referred to our last number, p. 381. The radical distinction between these theories and the doctrines of Dr Gall is, that the former were mere speculations unsupported by a shadow of evidence; while the latter are firmly based upon observation and experience.