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The fact of the successive development of the different faculties of the mind is indeed admitted by all philosophers. But if we try to explain it, by the supposition of the gradual perfection, or of some general change in the constitution of the whole brain, as the single organ of mind, as is generally done, we meet with nothing but contradiction. The organ of mind being single, and serving for the manifestation of all the faculties, ought, on this supposition, to be equally fit for the operation of all at the same time, which we have seen it not to be. If we admit the phrenological principle, however, nothing can be more simple, or true to nature, than the explanation we then have. According to this principle, each mental faculty, like each of the five senses, will depend, for the power of manifesting itself, upon the healthy condition of a particular organ. So that, just as the power of vision is, ceteris paribus, always proportioned to the perfection of the eye, or organ of vision, the energy of each mental faculty may be proportioned to the state of its own organ; and, as from the sense of sight being exercised by an appropriate organ, we sometimes find it sooner and more perfectly developed than that of hearing or of smell, in like manner we can easily conceive how the faculty of Individuality, which disposes to observation, from having also an appropriate organ, may be sooner and more perfectly developed than that of Causality, or of Tune, or of Number, or more in one person than in another. Indeed, the moment we admit the plurality of mental faculties and organs, the explanation of the early or late, successive or simultaneous, perfect or imperfect development of one, of several, or of all the mental powers, becomes so simple and easy as to present itself to the mind of every inquirer.

In proof of the fact of the later development of some portions of the brain than of others, I have only to state what is well known to anatomists,-1st, That, in infancy, the cerebellum bears a much smaller proportion to the rest of the cerebral mass than it does in after life; in the former, being only about one-fifteenth, and in the latter, one-sixth or

one-eighth, which corresponds precisely with the function ascribed to it, of being the organ of the Amative propensity; 2d, That, in infancy and youth, the middle and central parts of the forehead are generally so much more prominent than the upper lateral parts, as to give a kind of roundness, compared to the square appearance which it afterwards assumes, upon the farther development of those portions of the anterior lobes of the brain, which form the organs of the reasoning powers. In relation to this fact, it may be worth while to add, that the parts first developed are known to be the organs of the faculty of Individuality, which is said to observe and to know; while the later are those of Causality, or reflection;-thus in strict accordance with

nature.

The differences in the mental constitution of the two sexes are also inexplicable on other than phrenological principles. It is admitted, that the female generally differs from the male in character, dispositions, and talents. In their earlier years, the boy and the girl can scarcely be distinguished, except by their dress; but a difference gradually shews itself, while yet external circumstances remain the same, and proceeds till the distinctive character of each is broadly marked. That this is the course of nature, and not of art, is manifest from the change occurring while circumstances are unaltered, and from its occurring at an earlier or later period in different individuals similarly situated, and from some indviduals of one sex retaining through life most of the mental qualities of the other. If we attempt to explain the difference by the supposition of some original difference in the animating principle, uninfluenced by the organization, we are refuted by the occasional occurrence of females possessing all the mental attributes of the male, and, vice versa, males with all the mental qualities of the female. But the moment we admit the phrenological principle of plurality of organs and faculties the difficulty vanishes. We have only to suppose, that the parts of the brain which constitute the organs of the love of offspring, of attachment, and of the other faculties which predominate in the female mind,

by some unknown law of nature, become more fully developed relatively to the others, in the female than in the male brain; and the natural result will be a greater degree of activity of these faculties. The female intellect is like that of youth, more remarkable for acuteness, readiness, and extent of memory, and a perception of qualities and resemblances, than for depth of reflection or solidity of judgment. The female forehead, therefore, if this explanation be the true one, should, more than that of the male, resemble the youthful brow; and a moment's reflection will satisfy every one that, in point of fact, it does resemble it; and the proof is, that that very roundness and sloping away of the upper lateral parts has always been regarded as a point of beauty in the female forehead.

Another order of intellectual phenomena, viz. those of Genius, are of themselves sufficient to prove the plurality of mental faculties and organs; for Genius, in almost every instance, is partial or limited to the possession of a few faculties only, which it could not be if the organ of mind were single. Thus, an individual may now and then be met with, who possesses much genius for poetry, for music, for reasoning, for mechanics, or for the fine arts; but we very rarely meet with one who is able to excel in all, or in several of these at the same time, however anxious he may be to do so, and whatever efforts he may make. We are told indeed by some authors, such as Mr Stewart, that "a genius for poetry, for painting, for music, or for mathema"tics," is "gradually formed by particular habits of study or " of business;" and that " invention in the arts and sciences + "is the result of acquired habits, aided by favourable circum"stances, and not the original gift of nature."

But if we consult a yet higher authority than Mr Stewart, viz. Nature herself, we find these opinions contradicted by facts: for genius most frequently appears at such an early age as to put habits of study or cultivation as a producing cause entirely out of the question. We are told, for instance, that at three years, Mozart's great amusement was

• Moral Philosophy, p. 16.

+ Stewart's Elements, 1st vol., 50th ch. part 1, § 4.

in finding out concords on the piano, that nothing could equal his delight at discovering an harmonious interval, and that before six, he had invented several pieces of some extent and intricacy. We are also informed, that Haydn had distinguished himself before the age of twelve; that Handel, before the age of fourteen, had produced an opera which had a run of thirty successive nights; and that so far from his habits of study being the result of great cultivation, they were formed in the retirement of a garret, and in spite of every species of discouragement. Miss Paton too, who, in her late visit to Edinburgh, afforded so much delight, was remarkable as a performer at the age of eight.*

Among the poets again, the same early appearance of genius occurs where cultivation could not possibly have had time to operate. Dr Johnson, in his Lives of the Poets, tells us, that Cowley, Milton, and Pope " might be said "to lisp in numbers,"" and to have given such early proofs "not only of powers of language, but of comprehension of things, as to more tardy minds seem scarcely credible." Cowley, for instance, wrote a tragedy in his tenth year. Miss Clara Fisher also in her seventh year manifested amazing powers of comprehension and of dramatic talent; and yet so little were her parents aware of any laborious studies on her part, that they simply affirm, that these talents appeared all at once after seeing a play. Mr George Bidder, too, when still a child, manifested his prodigious calculating powers, and invented rules for himself which his teachers could never discover, and which, consequently, he could not have derived from them. Again, turning our attention to invention in the Arts and Sciences, which we are told is not a gift of nature, but the result of acquired habits, aided by favourable circumstances, equally contradictory instances occur. Dupin, for example, speaks of two brothers, journeymen-bakers, whom he saw in Glasgow. "Deux frères

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boulangers, qui, dans l'intervalle d'une cuisson à l'autre, "s'occupent à faire des machines et des instruments de phy"sique. Ils ont coulé, tourné, ajusté toutes les pièces d'une

Edinburgh Review, No. lxvi. May 1820, p. 380.

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petite machine à vapeur, dont la modeste bouilloire chauffe à "côté du four aux petits pâtés. Elle sert à faire aller un tour " en l'air, à l'aide duquel nos deux artistes tournent les métaux "et façonnent des lentilles pour des instruments d'optique. Ils "ont construit un petit appareil pour eclairer par le gaz leurs boutiques et leurs appartements, &c. &c."* One would expect, that in such a case, if Mr Stewart's theory were true, the combination of circumstances must have been very favourable indeed to produce such an effect on men of a profession which is universally considered as any thing but intellectual. Monsieur Dupin, however, in expressing a hope, that They will one day quit their profession to cultivate with success the natural sciences," adds,-" Mais leur fortune dèpend d'un oncle qui préfère de beaucoup la boulangerie et la pâtisserie à la gazometrie et à l'astronomie, et qui, jaloux du "titre héréditaire de sa famille, veut transmettre à ses arrièreneveux le pétrin de ses ancêtres." And so little is he satisfied with the uncle's mode of encouraging science, and of forming habits of study, that he immediately exclaims,— "Hélas! combien d'hommes sont parmi nous, sans s'en douter, "l'oncle des deux patissiers!" And that there are men who have even a still more oblique perception of what constitutes "favourable circumstances," I shall presently shew.

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During my residence in Paris, I had the pleasure of knowing intimately a man remarkable for his " powers of invention in music and in mechanics," and who had raised himself to riches by the exercise of these powers. I was at that time studying phrenology, and looking about for information. I therefore eagerly embraced the opportunity of asking him, whose house was filled with the results of his own inventions, by what habits of study he had formed his genius, and what "favourable circumstances" had aided him in his career of excellence? He gratified my curiosity, and gave me the history of his life, which seemed, however, to prove that in this case, as in the others, his genius had formed his habits, instead of his habits forming his genius. He was born in Germany, and at about four years of age was sent to school; but instead of learning to read, he occupied himself in constructing and carving with his knife all sorts

• Memoires sur la Marine, p. 69.

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