RAMMOHUN ROY, 1)) myra lo que -IN the Christian Pioneer for October 1884, the following remarks have been elicited from the respected editor of that periodical, by a paragraph among the "Notices" in our 41st number: From a careful perusal of the writings of Rammohun Roy, and from personal conversation with that illustrious man on this particular subject, we are convinced that he embraced Christianity on the ground of its miraculous, its divine origin, long previously to his visit to Bristol. We are also persuaded, that had the editor of the Phrenological Journal had access to the same sources of information, or been aware of the degree of credit to be attached to some supposed evidence on which his opinion was founded, his decision would have been directly the reverse of that to which we object." HE Our chief reason for doubting Rammohun Roy's conviction of the divine origin of Christianity was the explicit statement of his secretary, the late Mr Sandford Arnot, that he believed in no Christian tenet whatever, "except the doctrine of the unity of God." (See our 8th vol. p. 600.) This is obviously the "supposed evidence" alluded to by the editor of the Christian Pioneer, and the trust-worthiness of which he seems to have reasons for doubting. Were we personally aware of the circumstances tending to invalidate Mr Arnot's statement, we should certainly be induced by the evidence on the other side to believe that Rammohun Roy was for many years a Christian. The following remarks are from a quarter on which we place much reliance. "I am convinced by a certain degree of personal knowledge of Rammohun Roy, and by the testimony of those who were more intimate with him, that a false view is given of his character in representing him as deficient in the "courage to say No," and as disposed to temporize from "love of approbation." In the Phrenological Journal itself, sufficient evidence of the contrary is afforded by the account of his resolution in maintaining his views of Christianity in India, when he had to encounter the calumny and prejudices of all his early connections, and of a great part of the European as well as Hindoo population. From a conversation which I had with Rammohun Roy myself, I perfectly understood why he was liable to the imputation of concurring in turn with Christians of different denominations. He distinctly stated to me, that from the deepest study of their respective tenets, he had come to the conclusion that the differences were purely verbal-the result of the imperfections of language, and that in every essential all Christians were agreed. It followed naturally, that he could join heartily in the worship of every sect, though the Unitarian was to his taste least exceptionable in respect to language. These sentiments of his remind me of what was said by Dr Tuckerman of a distinguished member of another church I am divided from such a man only by a word. If the evidence of countenance be not rejected, the expression of moral intrepidity would have been seen in that of Rammohun Roy: There is written in your brow honesty and constancy. As to his acquiescence from courtesy, I had personal experience of the contrary; for, when at my house, he opposed an opinion of mine with great energy. He maintained that murder ought to be punished with death; while my own opinion is in accordance with that of the conductors of the Phrenological Journal respecting capital punishment." We are happy to learn from this communication, that in serious, matters Rammohun Roy's Love of Approbation did not always lead him so far astray as we were induced by Mr Arnot to imagine. If we understand our correspondent aright, however, no doubt is raised with respect to the Rajah's great anxiety to avoid giving offence, and "that disposition to acquiescence," which, according to Dr Carpenter, was sometimes "known to place him in circumstances, and lead him to expressions, which made his sincerity questioned." It is probable that during the period of the Rajah's illness, his acquiescence might occasionally appear to be greater than it really was, from a desire to avoid the annoyance of disputation.. ARTICLE V. ANTIPHRENOLOGICAL ESSAY, by a CLERGYMAN of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND; with an ANSWER thereto, by Mr WALTER TOD.* ALL mental energy or susceptibility being presumed to be lodged in the head, and these to be indicated by the skull, either in its general conformation, or by its particular prominences, distinguishable by sight or touch, the system set out under the modest title of Cranioscopy. The two papers composing this article were written in the year 1833, without, we believe, the slightest view to publication. Having been favoured with a perusal of them, we conceived that they were likely to prove interest. ing to our readers, and solicited permission to print them. This request was Of late, however, it has arrogated to itself the more ostentatious title of PHRENOLOGY, from a supposed existence of cortesponding protuberances in the brain (as yet alissad judice), which find a receptacle in these bumps upon the skull, and which are presumed to be distinct organs, through which the mind acts or is acted upon, in a similar manner as by and through the different organs of sense ashtu ganioneos & mods to its over * It seems to me expedient, that this pretended science ought, as soon as possible, to be hooted off the stage1st, Because, even if true and believed, it is at best useless; gives rise to much impertinence and may be attended even with dangerous consequences: and, 2d, Because it has no foundation in nature, but is futile and absurd00 d q9 blitt sé er sysle of ic 2n6ngrobiznog sendt og vi-, D8910 10 9903 9didong yulst, Even if well founded, it is useless and mugatory. For even if it did indicate in childhood to what mode of training the person should be subjected with the greatest probability of suc cess, (which is the main ground upon which its claim to utility is founded), the very same thing, that is the peculiar propensi ties of the child, must have been much more unequivocally mani fested in its actions long before the time when any mode of education could be applied, suited to any particular profession. But farther, if well founded and generally received as such, it necessarily must give rise to much annoying impertinence, in awkward attempts at its practical application; whether for the purpose of gratifying/a mere idle curiosity, or for any other purpose of greater seeming interest. For the fiduciary tests being mere bumps upon the skull, equally open to the observa tion of all who have merely eyes to see, and fingers to handle, and requiring (in order to draw the proper conclusions) no previous knowledge of the anatomy of the human body, or metaphysical analysis of the faculties of the mind,it is not at all wonderful that this royal road to interesting knowledge should be entered upon with eager credulity, and a confidence placed 20 91 bad eid gewes 7 WIB to boste readily granted; and we have now the pleasure of laying before the public the reasons which have induced a talented clergyman to think that Phrenology 66 ought, as soon as possible, to be hooted off the stage." Truth being our sole aim, we are always glad to have an opportunity of publishing objections to the phrenological doctrines, especially from quarters so respectable, If they be valid, the sooner Phrenology is hooted off the stage the better; if futile, they only serve to confirm phrenologists in their belief. To which class the objec- {tions now published belong, no one who takes the trouble to peruse Mr Tod's reply, can have much difficulty in deciding. Some of our readers will at once identify the author of the Essay with the "Octogenarian", whose antiphrenological lucubrations were, as too good to be lost," published about two years ago in the Dumfries Times, and commented on by a correspondent in the eighth volume of this Journal, p. 365. These lucubrations, indeed, are the “ skeleton” of what is now supposed to have the power of giving Phrenology a mortal blow. En. 66 bas digit ad bas in the science equal to that, in a quack, medicine trumpeted forth as an infallible remedy for all diseases, As, however, phrenologists admit that the superior size of the whole head or whole bumps upon it compared to the general standard, or the overruling power of one bump when superior in size to its fellows upon the same head, or the biassing power of education, have all of them a controlling influence upon character; and as the forehead, (to general inspection, smooth as the side of a punch-bowl), would require an acuteness of vision or delicacy of touch, equal to those of the eye of the lynx or feelers of an insect, to detect in it one or all of those dozens of indicative bumps alleged to be contained within its narrow compass, each of them alleged to be filled up by a corresponding cerebral protuberance or organ;-from these considerations it is evident, that, even were the science well founded and true, any thing like a complete mastery of it must be exclusively confined to a very few adepts; and that the far greater number of those presuming to practise upon its principles, must be mere bungling sciolists, who, instead of allowing others the fair play of being judged by their conduct, would take up the most unfounded: misconstructions of their characters, conclusions resting upon mere ill-digested phrenological prejudice. Meantime among these numberless weak sciolists, what rude, staring, and insidious attempts at sly handling on the one hand, and, on the other, what suspecting efforts at evading touch or ocular inspection, would arise in every company! An irritating compound of impertinent curiosity, jealous suspicion, and unwarranted im putation, would banish all mutual confidence, and destroy all enjoyment of social intercourse979 bear, ozbit our fato dost What danger of injustice, too, might there not be introduced into the administration of criminal law, were an unfortunate pannel to be tried by a jury of dabblers in Phrenology who, instead of modifying their judgment by his habite and repute, established by witnesses as to his former conduct, should, instead of calling witnesses, cause his head to be shaven, that the condition of his bumps might be ascertained, in order to answer that intention.. 2d, But the theory itself is false and unfounded. For, (1.) It is contradicted by the whole analogy of Nature. Through the whole of created things, we may uniformly observe a most harmonious adaptation of one thing to another, to produce important ends. Now, it is abundantly evident that man was made for social union. He is born into this world the most weak and defenceless of animals; the helplessness of his infancy is longer protracted than that of any other, and his strength and defence depend upon social combination. Through the combination of mutual experience is acquired that knowledge which is power; and through the combination of powers are effected those purposes to which individual power were totally inadequate. But that such combination may be effected, it was necessary that a suitable adaptation of means should be provided; and the suitable one is accordingly provided in the capacity of men to communicate to each other their knowledge, their desires, their designs, and their mutual purposes and pledges to co-operation. Artificial language comes, no doubt, in process of time, to constitute the mode of communication. It is, however, not the natural mode, but the artificial, engrafted upon, and deriving its signification from the natural. Sounds, indeed, are natural modes of expressing various emotions, such as those of admiration, grief, fear, indignation, &c., and as such are uniformly the same, and universally and instinctively understood. But were articulate language an equally natural expression, it would be found equally universal and uniform, and instinctively intelligible, instead of presenting that endless diversity into which it is divided, and which makes the speakers of one tongue unintelligible to those of another. There must have been, and there are, natural signs of thought and emotion, universally and instinctively intelligible, from which the articulate sounds of words, pronounced under their influence, derived their meaning; and which being, through custom, attached to the original sign, when pronounced would bring to recollection the original sign, with its signification. In this mode of mutual adaptation of one thing to another, so universally prevalent and through which, for instance, the infant, without the least experience, information, or reasoning, applies its mouth to the mother's breast for nourishment-in this very same mode, I am perfectly convinced that the child, in order to avoid what may prove hurtful, and cling to what may prove beneficial, in the thoughts and sentiments of others, is led instinctively to the interpretation of these by their natural signs and expression; and that it is only through repetition and custom that he learns to connect the artificial substitute to the natural sign, so as to comprehend the signification of words. But, in this process, it is evident that the child was never intended to be a cranioscopist, but to be a physiognomist. When speaking of physiognomy, I would not be understood to use the term in that confined sense in which it is often used, as restricted to the mere features of the countenance (constituting, though they do, an essential branch of the subject), but in that enlarged sense, in which it applies not merely to the features of the face, with their various play, but comprehends also the intonations of the voice, the air of the head, with the various gestures and carriage of the body, &c.; and I am persuaded, |
