“of that monster man, Mr Booth. I am undone, and am revenged, and have now no more business for life; let them "take it from me when they will.' Our poor gentleman turned "pale with horror at this speech, and the ejaculation of Good "Heavens! What do I hear! burst spontaneously from his lips; 66 nor can we wonder at this, though he was the bravest of men : "for her voice, her looks, her gestures, were properly adapted "to the sentiments she expressed. Such, indeed, was her image, "that neither Shakspeare could describe, nor Hogarth paint, "nor Clive act a fury in higher perfection."

Fielding, aware of the probability of objections to the contrast exhibited in the behaviour and the language of Miss Matthews, offers an apology for it, drawn from the analogy of nature. The Phrenologist, whatever he may think of the poetic diction in which it is couched, or its political allusion, will give it so far credit; but the metaphysical theorists of the day must find it somewhat difficult of digestion, and would undoubtedly laugh at him if he had seriously advanced it in illustration of any similar contrariety in character.

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"It may be necessary to whisper a word or two to the critics, "who have, perhaps, begun to express no less astonishment "than Mr Booth, that a lady, in whom we had remarked a "most extraordinary power of displaying softness, should, the very moment after her words were out of her mouth, express sentiments becoming the lips of a Dalila, Jezebel, Medea, "Semiramis, &c. We desire such critics to remember, that it "is the same English climate in which, on the lovely 10th of "June, under a serene sky, the amorous Jacobite, kissing the "odoriferous zephyr's breath, gathers a nosegay of white roses "to deck the whiter breast of Čelia; and in which, on the 11th "of June, the very next day, the boisterous Boreas, roused by "the hollow thunder, rushes horrible through the air, and driving the wet tempest before him, levels the hope of the "husbandman with the earth: Dreadful remembrance of the (6 consequences of the revolution !"

Can any known system of metaphysics account for such phenomena, or furnish even a catalogue of the elements concerned in them? If not, is the philosophy of the Phrenologist to be despised which leads him to another interpreter,or his sincerity to be called in question, which puts the means of detection or confirmation beneath the very noses of his opponents? It is quite in accordance with such liability to sudden changes, that this tender-hearted fury, after having shown the warmest affection for Booth, and bestowed every

favour in her power on him, contrives the aggravation of his misery, because, under the combined influence of Conscientiousness and regard to his wife, he refuses to continue her paramour.

Some of her peculiarities displayed themselves at a masquerade. Her Self-esteem, goaded into jealousy, combines with an excited and threatening Destructiveness, to urge the unstable Booth into an appointment which his moral principles and his love for Amelia condemned.

danger of associating with a woman of her cast.

Such is the

"Booth had been prevented searching farther after his wife, by "the lady in the blue domino who had joined him again. He "had now made three discoveries; that the lady was pretty well acquainted with him; that she was a woman of fashion; and "that she had a particular regard for him. But though he was "a gay man, he was, in reality, so fond of his Amelia, that he thought of no other woman; wherefore, though not absolute"ly a Joseph, as we have seen, yet could he not be guilty of premeditated inconstancy. He was indeed so very cold and "insensible to the hints which were given, that the lady began "to complain of his dullness. When the shepherdess again "came up, and heard this accusation against him, she confirm"ed it, saying, 'I do assure you, Madam, he is the dullest fel"low in the world. Indeed, I should almost take you for his "wife, by finding you a second time with him; for I do as66 6 sure you the gentleman very seldom keeps any other com""pany. Are you so well acquainted with him, Madam ?' "said the domino. I have had that honour longer than "your ladyship, I believe," answered the shepherdess. Pos

sibly you may, Madam, cries the domino; but I wish you "" would not interrupt us at present, for we have some busi"ness together.' 'I believe, Madam,' answered the shepherd"ess, 'my business with the gentleman is altogether as important " as yours; and therefore your ladyship may withdraw, if you "please. My dear ladies,' cries Booth, I beg you will not

quarrel about me.'- Not at all,' answered the domino, "since you are so indifferent, I resign my pretensions with all "my heart. If you had not been the dullest fellow upon earth, I am convinced you must have discovered me.'-She then went "off muttering to herself, that she was satisfied the shepherdess was some wretched creature whom nobody knew."

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"The shepherdess overheard the sarcasm, and answered it, by asking Booth what contemptible wretch he had picked up? Indeed, madam,' said he, you know as much of her as I "do; she is a masquerade acquaintance like yourself." Like "me!' repeated she. Do you think, if this had been our first acquaintance, I should have wasted so much time with you as "I have? For your part, indeed, I believe a woman will get

"very little advantage by her having been formerly intimate "with you.' 'I do not know, Madam,' saith Booth, that I deserve that character any more than I know the person that "now gives it me.' And you have the assurance then,' said "she in her own voice, to affect not to remember me?' 'I 66 think,' cries Booth, I have heard that voice before; but, upon my soul, I do not recollect it.' Do you recollect,' said "she, no woman that you have used with the highest barbari"ty, I will not say ingratitude?' 'No, upon my honour,' an"swered Booth. Mention not honour,' said she, thou wretch; "for, hardened as thou art, I could show thee a face, that, in "spite of thy consummate impudence, would confound thee with "shame and horror.' Dost thou not yet know me?' 'I do, "Madam, indeed,' answered Booth; and I confess, that, of all "women in the world, you have the most reason for what you "said.'-Here a long dialogue ensued, consisting chiefly of vio"lent upbraidings on her side, and excuses on his. He at length pacified her with a promise to make her a visit, which "promise she extorted from him, swearing bitterly in the most "solemn manner, unless he made it her, she would expose "both him and herself at the masquerade. As he knew the vio"lence of the lady's passions, and to what heights they were "capable of rising, he was obliged to come into these terms; "for he had no fear upon earth equal to that of Amelia's know"ing what it was in the power of Miss Matthews to communi"cate to her, and which to conceal from her he had already undergone so much uneasiness."

The animosity of Miss Matthews was not confined to violent upbraidings and denunciations of wrath, in case of her will and pleasure being thwarted. She could doom to misery, of the direst kind, the wretch, whom, as she had once favoured him with her affection, she conceived she had made a slave for ever; and she had so much of a good hater in her, arising from Firmness, Self-esteem, and Destructiveness, that she could carry that doom into execution with a resolute and unfaltering mind. Booth did not keep his appointment; for, besides his positive disinclination, he had abundance of occupation elsewhere. Her next interview with him drew forth

a little of the bewitching softness of which she was so complete a mistress; but displayed a still larger portion of her terrific qualities, and one singularity in the character of Selfesteem, namely, that, when excessive, it blinds the mind to the claims and feelings of others. Miss Matthews, under its predominating sway, seems to have persuaded herself that

even Booth's wife would take part with her in punishing the delinquent!

"In his way home, Booth was met by a lady, in a chair, who, "immediately upon seeing him, stopped her chair, bolted out "of it, and, going directly up to him, said, So, Mr Booth, you "have kept your word with me.' This lady was no other than "Miss Matthews, and the speech she meant was of a promise “made to her at the masquerade of visiting her within a day or "two. Booth was too sensible and too well-bred to make the excuse of forgetfulness to a lady, nor could he readily find any "other. While he stood therefore hesitating, and looking not "over-wise, Miss Matthews said, 'Well, Sir, since, by your con"fusion, I see you have some grace left, I will pardon you, on "one condition, and that is, that you sup with me this night. "But, if you fail me now, expect all the revenge of an injured "woman. She then bound herself, by a most outrageous oath, "that she would complain to his wife. And I am sure,' says "she, 'she is so much of a woman of honour as to do me justice. "And though I miscarried in my first attempt, be assured I will "take care of my second.' Booth asked what she meant by her "first attempt? to which she answered, that she had already "written to his wife, on account of his ill-usage of her, but that "she was pleased it had miscarried. She then repeated her as"severations, that she would now do it effectually, if he disap"pointed her. This threat she reckoned would most certainly "terrify poor Booth; and, indeed, she was not mistaken, for it "would have been impossible, by any other menace, or by any "other means, to have brought him once even to balance in his "mind on this question. But by this threat she prevailed; and "Booth promised, upon his word and honour, to come to her at "the hour she appointed. After which, she took leave of him "with a squeeze of the hand, and a smiling countenance, and "walked back to her chair."

Booth, in making this promise, resolved against the consequence so apparently intended by the lady, and purposed, by keeping his word, to convince her, if possible, that, from a regard to his honour only, he having pledged himself to Colonel James that he would not visit her, he must discontinue her acquaintance, and, failing success in his arguments, to communicate the whole truth himself to Amelia. It is not to be wondered at, that with a person so constituted and so deeply interested as Miss Matthews, the reasoning of Booth, at his valedictory visit, should prove ineffectual, or rather, indeed, provoke a larger measure of indignation; and that, as he was for once true to his better principles, the

consequence was no other than an absolute quarrel. It is unnecessary to pursue the story farther, as enough has been detailed to illustrate the character of Miss Matthews. It is one of unhappy composition and fearful energy, and one, which, to have become safe to the possessor and useful to the world, would have required a very different training from what she received. That it is perfectly natural will be ques. tioned by no one to whom the principles of Phrenology are familiar, and might be amply proved by some very distressing examples, on record, of atrocity and crime in that sex, to whom, in their palmy state, we are accustomed to look with confidence for our highest solace and refinement, but by whom, when, from the prevalence of the lower propensities co-operating with the villany of selfish men, they have passed the bounds of decency and fair repute, it is not unusual, alas! to be shocked by some of the grossest corruption and most appalling iniquity to be met with in the history of our species. Love of Approbation is probably of greater fre quency than Self-esteem, in the combination which leads, or is liable, to such depravity; but the latter, though it may contribute to reserve and decorum, will undoubtedly, where it predominates, be more untractable and dangerous,

ARTICLE XVI.

OBSERVATIONS ON SECRETIVENESS.

To the EDITOR of the PHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL. SIR,In lately looking over the extensive collection, belonging to the Phrenological Society, of casts and skulls of executed criminals, and comparing them with the recorded notes of development of many unexecuted offenders, whose heads have been manipulated, I was much struck with the. large size of the organ of Secretiveness in almost all of them; and I began to think what effect such an endowment, combined with the deficient moral sentiment and moderate intelleet by which these unfortunate 'beings are characterized,