PHRENOLOGY.

A LITTLE book called Horce PIrnmalogic:.1 brcn nut into out hands. We'::xpecte(i io find in it more disp...,Able matter than we Lind it to contain. It is neither more nor less, whatever the author may think of his design, than an explanation of the'ordinary motives of human nature, under the terms assigned to them by the phrenological nomen cloture. If Dr. EPPS imagines he has adVanced the knowledge of mankind on the subject of the human intellect, he is greatly mistaken; for, by an easy translation from the language of' GALL and S PURE HEIM to that of ordinary life, it will readily be seen that his most formal propositions are little else than axioms. For example, " The next point to be shown is that the influence of the Animal Feelings, in inducing outward morality is very imperfect, and totally inefficient. in cir- cumstances, strongly exciting to immoral conduct. Indeed in very nume- rous cases, they lead directly to the violation of the moral relations: " Thus, to take Philoprogenitiveness, which was noticed as a source of out- ward morality, leading individuals, for the sake of their children, to refrain from the violations of the moral law, in open acts of violence, and in retalia- tions of injuries. But this very faculty may, by inducing too strong an attachment to our own family, cause charity to begin and end at home' it may lead, in order to supply our families' necessities, to means not justifiable in their nature; and may induce, when other enticements have failed, to a ne- glect of the trust committed to an individual. Most perhaps are acquainted with Kotzebue's Pizarro. They will remember that the conspicuous cha- racters in the same are Alonzo, Rolla, Pizarro, Cora, and her child. It is well known that the brave Alonzo is taken prisoner by the Spaniards, and is to die on the following morn. Rolla hears the sad tidings to Cora; who inti- mates, in the agony of her heart, that Rolla had betrayed her Alonzo, to gain, by his death, tier hand. Rolla, who had renounced his claim to Cora, on account of her attachment to Alonzo, was therewith so agonized as to deter- mine to go to the camp of the enemy, find out the dungeon wherein Alonzo was confined, bribe the guard, and bid Alonzo escape ; himself remaining. The brave, the devoted friend arrives ; enters the cavern; when he is ac- costed by the sentinel. Sen. Who's there? answer quickly! who's there? Rol. A friar come to visit your prisoner. Inform me, friend, is not Alonzo, the Spa- nish prisoner, confined in this dungeon? Sen. He is. Rol. I must speak with him.

Sen. You must not.

Rot. He is my friend. Sea. Not if he were thy brother. Rol. What is to be his fate? Ken. He dies at sunrise. Rol. Ha! Then I am come in time. Sen. Just—to witness his death. Rol. Soldier, I must speak to him. Sen. Back, back. It is impossible. Rol. I do entreat thee, but for one moment. Sen. Thou entreat'st in vain—my orders are most strict. Rot. Even now, I saw a messenger go hence. Sen. He brought a pass which we are all accustomed to obey. Rol. Look on this wedge of massive gold—look on these precious gems. In thy own land they will be wealth fur thee and thine—beyond thy hope or wish. Take them—they are thine. Let me but pass one minute with Alonzo. Sen. Away !—wouldst thou corrupt me ? Mean old Castilian ! I know my duty better. Rol. Soldier i—host thou a wife ? Sen. I have. Hof. Host thou children ?

Sen. Four—honest lovely boys.

Rol. Where didst thou leave them ?

* Norte Phrenologiew ; being Three Phrenological Essays—I. on Morality; II. ontha Best Means of obtaining Happiness ; Ill. on Veneration. By John Epps, M.D. Lecturer on Blateria Nedica amid Chemistry, Ike. Loncion,1822. Simiariu rind Marshall.. Sen. In my native village; even in the cot where myself was born. Rol. Doat thou love thy children and thy wife ? Sen. Do I love them ! God knows my heart—I do. Rol. Soldier ! imagine thou wort doomed to die a cruel death in this strange land.

What would be thy last request ?

Sen. That some of my comrades should carry my dying blessing to my wife and children. Rol. Ott ! but if that comrade was at thy prison gate, and should there be told—thy fellow soldier dies at sunrise, yet thou shalt not for a moment see him, nor shalt thou bear his dying blessing to his poor children or his wretched wife, what wouldst thou think of him who thus could drive thy comrade from the door? Sen. How l Rol. Alonzo has a wife and child. I am come but to receive for her, and for her babe, the last blessing of my friend. Sen. Go in.

" Here we find that the appeal to the sentinel's Acquisitiveness, by the pre- sentation of the massive gold and precious gems, failed ; but the appeal to his Amativeness, and Philoprogenitiveness, succeeded in leading him to neglect his duty. Rolla is admitted ; and Alonzo, having assumed his dress, escapes. Thus it may be seen, how this feeling of attachment to offspring may lead an individual to depart from the career of duty."

What is this but hard words? The sentinel was not to be influ- enced by a bribe ; but a sympathy with his prisoner was excited by an

appeal to his feelings as a parent. What has this to do with phre- nology ? We certainly expected more from the somewhat pompous com- mencement of this little work.

"Phrenology being the true science of human nature, it must happen that every thing referring to this nature must be better understood by those in- dividuals in possession of this science than by others. Every one, who has examined the progress of scientific truth, is aware of the influence therewith connected. The mind is freed from error ; light is diffused where darkness previously existed ; and the general state of society has been altered and im- proved.

" If these have been the results of the inferior sciences being established upon solid bases, what benefits must accrue from the science of Mind, when the same is founded in truth ? It will give its gigantic power to vanquish all the enemies of the human race : it will go forth in the majesty of its strength, and banish from the territory of ethics all those erroneous opinions which exist in reference to the management and direction of the mind. Being light itself, its beams will necessarily radiate ; being true, error must be unveiled ; and being unveiled, in spite of the flimsy garments of sophistry and vene- rable antiquity, with which many of the talented have attempted to cover its deformed meanness, the brilliancy of the effulgence of truth will hold up to the gaze of an astonished world as false, and consequently injurious, opi- nions, hypotheses, and practices, which previously were credited, admired, yea revered.

" Phrenology is such a science: it is a sun ; human nature being the world it illuminates ; which nature, wherever existing, and under whatever aspects seen, must feel the benign and quickening influence of its beams." &c. &c.

We might here object, not merely to the incongruity of so fine agate to so small a building, but also to the unscientific character of such

language. Writers who are striving to establish a new system of in- tellectual investigation, ought to he peculiarly careful in their choice of words ; their language 'ought to be simple and appropriate, their reasoning perspicuous and rigorous : we would ask Dr. Epps to apply this test to his little treatise.

The only part of the treatise which is strictly phrenological, is the preface ; in which the author gives a slight outline of the science, if such it may be called, which is short and intelligible. The method which has been taken to lay the foundations of phrenology is undoubt- edly just and philosophical. It being a question whether the organs of different faculties do not manifest themselves on the surface of the brain, a great number of individuals of remarkable propensities and powers are examined, and the results registered ; and from these re- sults general inductions are drawn. These inductions have already led the votaries of the science not only to conclude that the general notion of the organs of the mind being indicated by the outward signs of the brain is true, but further, to point out what particular signs indicate particular powers. Thus the whole of the skull is now mapped oat by phrenologists into departments, in as orderly a manner as France was cut into small pieces by the Convention. He must be a very stubborn person who will not believe there is something in all this : at the same time, generally speaking, we entertain no very high opinion of the in- tellects of those persons who go all the lengths of the leading pro- fessors of phrenology. It is natural to those who discover new and unknown countries, to be somewhat rash in vaunting their acquisition : they take possession in great form, and proceed to divide, to govern, and to exploit, before they have attained any very accurate knowledge of the nature and productions of their godsend.

All that we have yet seen in phrenology, beyond a register of expe- riments, we are inclined to hold cheap ; but we are by no means dis- inclined to believe, that if the study and application of phrenological in- vestigation goes on with the same perseverance which has hitherto characterized its professors, it will lead to important results. We put little value on all the reasoning and analogy by which the system is endeavoured to be supported. The phrenologists have indeed been peculiarly unlucky when they have deserted the line of observation for that of argument. We may, for example, slightly mention two errors they habitually fall into. Granted that the brain is an assem- blage of muscular organs of thought, and that particular manifesta- tions on the skull indicate particular faculties, why should they con- clude that all the faculties are manifested on the surface of the brain? in other words, may it not happen that the muscles which represent particular faculties develop themselves in parts of the brain which do not abut on the surface ? Because the organs of particular faculties display themselves on the surface, have not the phrenologists too rashly concluded that all do ; and thus proceeded, not so much to ascertain by experience the indications of organs, as to find unappropriate por- tions of the brain where they could conveniently inscribe their names?

The other error (at least in our estimation) to which we have alluded, is that, in reasoning of the powers whether of disposition or intellect as manifested by the brain, size alone is taken into consideration. It is true, size is the only thing that can be felt, but it does not follow that it is the only thing to be considered. Size alone is not the only mea- sure of strength in other muscles—why therefore in the brain ? The constitution of the part ought surely to go for something, though we cannot ascertain for how much. It frequently happens in other organs, that a tight, compact, elastic, well-conditioned muscle, is worth several much larger and similarly situated muscles in other individuals ; why, then, should not a well-conditioned brain be permitted the same ad- vantage as a well-turned leg or a well-hung arm—why count upon mere brawn ? Size is undoubtedly one of the elements of strength, but phrenologists account it the only one. Dr. EPPS states it to be so as the result of experiments. " It has been found in addition, that when- ever any particular part of the brain is large, the power, whether of disposition or of intellect, connected therewith, is proportionably strong ; when the part is small, the converse holds good."