The following case, mentioned by Mr Macnish on p. 17, is interesting in a phrenological point of view. "I know a gentleman, who, in consequence of excessive over-working of his brain during the composition of a French and English dictionary, lost the memory of words for a considerable time. His knowledge of French, German, and Italian, which was very extensive, disappeared from his mind as if by enchantment, and did not return till the brain had its usual energy restored by quiescence."

The last work named in our title is that of Dr Reynolds on the Necessity of Physical Culture to Literary Men,-originally a discourse delivered before the students at Andover Theological Seminary. It is clear, sound, and forcible, and excellently calculated to serve the end in view-the incitement of theologians to strengthen their bodies, with the two-fold object of invigorating their minds and fitting themselves for professional labour. After alluding to the arduous mental exertions which a faithful performance of duty requires from clergymen, Dr Reynolds proceeds

"It is one of the great evils of this state of things, that the Christian minister is exposed to continual danger; that his efforts, noble and praiseworthy as they are, may occasion injury to his health, which will render them abortive. In the ardent pursuit after knowledge, he is too apt to neglect the body; and to overlook the fact, that the mind, while united with the body, partakes of all its infirmities.

"It becomes, therefore, a question of unspeakable importance, how he may be a faithful servant, and so use the mind as to secure all its powers to the best advantage, and for the longest time, in the great work of Christian benevolence.

"This can only be effected by a judicious and practical attention to physical education. Such a course must be adopted in regard to diet and exercise, as is conformable to nature, and calculated to establish that perfect harmony of action between the body and mind which is necessary to the health and vigour of both-in other words, such habits of life as will render learned men healthy men.

"The man whose position in society demands of him great mental effort, should make the acquisition of this knowledge one of his first lessons; otherwise, he is continually exposed to dangers, which may sooner or later paralyze his efforts. Until he has learnt this lesson, he cannot fulfil the high duties which he owes to society and to his Master in heaven. I would almost say, that the scholar who cultivates the mind exclusively to the neglect of the body, as effectually buries his talents in the earth, as he does who cherishes the body and neglects the mind. Plato calls that man a cripple who exercises the mind

and neglects the body. How many of Plato's cripples have belonged to the army of the cross, encumbering its march, and bearing like so many dead weights upon its efforts; men with minds formed to soar to heaven, and wield the elements of the moral universe; but chained down by neglected bodies to inactivity and disease! How often has Zion been called to weep bitter tears over these disappointed hopes! The mind thus used, or rather abused, becomes weakened by the very means which were intended to strengthen it."

In order that the dangers to which the health of literary men, and especially of the clergy, is exposed, may be successfully met and resisted, they must, as Dr Reynolds justly observes, be seen and understood. "A faithful examination of the structure and uses of the human body,-the intimate connexion existing between the body and the mind,—and the reciprocal action of one upon the other in health and diseasewill alone reveal the source of these dangers and supply the remedy." He then proceeds to shew the necessity of bodily exercise, and to expound the principles by which it ought to be regulated, the mode in which its beneficial effects are prcduced, the debilitating influence of bodily disease upon the mind, and the fact that "neither the body nor the mind is capable of attaining the highest point of perfection, until both are brought into full action." He adverts to the reciprocal influence of the brain and stomach, and to the derangement of the digestive functions caused by unremitted study. Such de rangement, as we shewed in the outset, tends to weaken the whole body, and no part more evidently than the brain. At this stage, consequences the most lamentable ensue. "There is a more intimate relation between the powers of the mind and the morals, and the health of the body, than is commonly supposed. The body, when injured to a certain extent by mental exercises, be! gins to react upon the mind, and produces the most deplorable consequences. The memory becomes impaired, the ideas corfused, and the power of thought is broken. The elastic spring of the soul is weakened. Pusillanimity usurps the place of that moral courage in a man, which could meet every trial with firmness; the cheerfulness which shed its sunshine over his path is no longer seen; the spirits are dejected; every difficulty appears insurmountable; every effort depresses. Overcome with the common duties of the day, he lies down at night, but not to repose. Extreme irritability of the nervous system drives sleep from his pillow, and happiness from his heart. The voice of friendship falls powerless upon the ear; the love of God kindles but a momentary feeling in the palsied soul. Is this the man who shall lead on the armies of the cross, and successfully repel the machinations of its great enemy, when, prepar

ing for a last desperate effort, he has arrayed himself as an angel of light? With how much reason did the ancients, when they beheld such a picture, also conclude that the stomach was the seat of the soul! In giving it that location, they, at all events, discovered habits of accurate observation, which it would be the part of wisdom in us to imitate. The man who bestows all his care upon the brain, and leaves the stomach to chance, may find, when too late, that he has neglected a friend whose place no other can supply."

It gives us much satisfaction to observe, that, in the theological seminaries of the United States, workshops are becoming common, as the means of strengthening the bodies and preserving and improving the health of the students, and (what is frequently an object of no mean importance) of adding to their pecuniary resources. The "Mechanical Association of Andover Theological Seminary" was first established in 1827. Its object, as stated in the constitution, is "the promotion of health and vigour both of body and mind, by a regular system of mechanical exercise." It has the use of a large four-story building, affording room for about seventy work-benches, which are usually all occupied. The work done is for the most part joiners' and cabinet-makers' work. "A superintendent of the workshop is employed, a practical mechanic, whose duty it is to make all purchases of stock and sales of the work. But his chief business is, to plan and prepare work for the shop; so that every student, on arriving at his place, may find his task before him, and be able to begin his labour at once, without loss of time. It is regarded as a very important principle in the management of the institution, in order to secure the highest utility of it, that every student, when in the shop, shall be fully and actively occupied; and, when out of the shop, shall have no further care nor thought about it. At present, the time spent in labour is daily three quarters of an hour before dinner, and the same interval before evening prayers. a number of monitors; and every person who is absent or comes in late, is subjected to a small fine. The Association is open to all members of the seminary, so far as there is room; and any member may leave it at pleasure. The effect of this institution upon the general health of those who have been connected with it, has hitherto realized the highest expectations of its patrons." Similar institutions exist in other parts of America, and will certainly arise in Britain as soon as ignorance and prejudice give way to reason and common sense.

There are

We cordially go along with Dr Reynolds in regarding attention to physical education as a solemn duty of the clergy. "It is a subject of vital importance to the church, and cannot be neglected by those to whom its interests are confided, with

out incurring a responsibility for all the evils which may follow such neglect. The body, as well as the mind, was given to be cultivated for the glory of the Creator. "Know ye not, bre. thren, that your bodies are the temples of the living God?" And shall the temples of God be permitted to decay through negligence or sloth, and no guilt be incurred? Health is a talent intrusted to our care, which cannot with impunity be buried in the earth. He who squanders it, throws away a treasure of inestimable value, and will be answerable for the consequences. For every opportunity of doing good which is thus lost, for every degree of activity of which it deprives him, and for years of usefulness of which the church is thus deprived, he must be called to give a solemn account. How much sin does he accumulate, who, having enlisted as a soldier or leader in the cause of Christ, renders himself, by neglect, wholly or in part unfit for duty! Who can calculate his guilt, or estimate the vast amount of good which he might otherwise have effected? At the day of judgment, I fear it will appear, that many who thought they were doing God service, were robbing the church, and defeating the purposes of Heaven, by shortening the life, and impairing the powers, which had been bestowed for their advancement.

"The clergy often reprove their hearers for indifference and neglect, while listening to the most solemn truths. The principles which I have attempted to set forth in this discourse, when considered in all their possible relations to the great cause of Christian benevolence, are very solemn truths. May I not then call upon them, on this occasion, to practise as well as hear; and to beware lest they also fall into the condemnation of those who are hearers only, and not doers of the word!'"

ARTICLE XIII.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE BLIND; or LIVES OF SUCH AS HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES AS POETS, PHILOSOPHERS, ARTISTS, &c. By JAMES WILSON, who has been Blind from his Infancy. Third Edition. Sold only by the Author. 1835. 12mo, pp. 300.

THIS is a very interesting work, independently of the personal history of the author, which to us has particular attractions. His father was a Scotchman, who emigrated to America before the commencement of the Revolutionary War. The author was born in Richmond, State of Virginia, on the 24th of May 1779. His father continued faithful to the British Government, and was ruined. He sailed from New York on

his return to Europe, but died on the twelfth day after the vèssel had left the port. The author's mother being in the last stage of pregnancy, the alarm occasioned by her husband's death brought on premature labour, and terminated her existence. He himself was seized with small-pox, and lost his sight. The vessel was driven by stress of weather into Belfast, where he was left a blind helpless orphan, without a friend on earth, and dependent entirely on the compassion of strangers. Captain Smith, the master of the vessel, acted with admirable generosity. "In order to prevent the author from becoming a charge to the parish, he deposited in the hands of the churchwarden a sum of money sufficient to pay the expense of supporting him for five years."

He was kindly treated by a good-natured old woman, to whose care he was committed, and recovered his health. "Shortly after this," says he, "my right eye was couched by the late Surgeon Wilson, and, in consequence of this operation, I could soon discern the surrounding objects and their various colours. This was certainly a great mercy; for though the enjoyment did not continue long, yet the recollection of it affords me pleasure even to the present day. One day, however, when about seven years of age, as I crossed the street, I was attacked and dreadfully mangled by an ill-natured cow. This accident nearly cost me my life, and deprived me of that sight which was in a great degree restored, and which I have never since enjoyed." We lately examined the author's head, and found his organ of Colouring exceedingly deficient. A mask of him was taken, and is sold by Mr O'Neil. *

A few years afterwards, he was employed to carry letters to and from the offices of the different merchants in the town and neighbourhood. "In the course of time," says he, “ my sphere was enlarged, and often, on important business, I have borne dispatches to the distance of thirty or forty miles." The organs of Locality are very largely developed in his head.

He attempted to learn music, but with no great success; yet sufficiently well to charm the rustics at dances. He found himself exposed to great temptations to immorality in this vocation, and gave it up.

When about fifteen years of age, he began to pay some attention to books, and being obliged to listen to what others chose to read, his first instruction was derived from Jack the

• When Mr Combe lately lectured in Glasgow, Mr Macnish and he visited the Asylum for the Blind in that city (an admirably conducted institution under the benevolent direction of Mr Alston), and observed that this organ was depressed in all the inmates who had been born blind. Dr Spurzheim made the same remark in other asylums. Mr Combe pointed out two adult individuals in whom the organ was not deficient, and the matron said that both of them had only recently lost their sight.