י.

there is nothing in that critique which we as yet see any good reason for modifying. We are by no means satisfied that, in cases of the sanguine temperament," there is most commonly a disposition to indolence and mental inactivity, in the absence of any powerful motive;" nor are we less sceptical as to the validity of the reason assigned by Mr Noble for the circumstance, even supposing the fact to be as stated. Those organs of vegetative life," which generally possess the predominant energy when the temperament is sanguine, are the lungs and heart; and the activity of these, so far from detracting from that of the brain or any other part of the system, has exactly the opposite effect, by propelling forcibly through the body an abundant supply of well-oxygenated blood, which stimulates alike the brain and the muscles. It was after carefully considering the sentence quoted last by Mr Rawson, but which, for the sake of brevity, was omitted in the printed essay, that we wrote the observation that "temperament, besides influencing the activity of the organs, affects their power also, to a greater extent than Mr Noble seems inclined to allow."The passage adverted to, however, does not bear on the question at all; for Mr Noble speaks of energy acquired by exercise, while our remark has reference to native energy alone. Observation proves that the latter depends on temperament or quality of the organic structure, as well as on its size. However much a lymphatic brain may be compelled to work, it will never acquire the energy of a similarly developed bilious or nervous brain which performs exactly the same quantity of labour. The reader must judge between us.-EDITOR.

SIR,The work of M. Guerry, entitled " Statique Morale de la France," has lately revived discussion on the old question, whether or not education tends to diminish crime. It appears from the work alluded to (of which an abstract will be found in the first volume of Mr Henry Lytton Bulwer's "France, Social, Literary, and Political"), that while crimes against the person are most frequent in Corsica, the provinces of the southeast, and Alsace, where the people are well instructed, there are fewest of those crimes in Berry, Limousin, and Brittany, where the people are most ignorant; and that, in like manner, crimes against property almost invariably prevail most in those departments of which the inhabitants are best informed. The

data on which such statements are founded, ought to be narrowly looked into; but as M. Guerry has a high reputation for accuracy, and his tables seem to have been compiled with care, the probability is, that the above account may be safely relied on. Now, it may naturally enough be imagined, that if the facts are really so, they furnish unquestionable evidence that education, instead of diminishing crime, positively tends to increase it. Such an inference, however, seems to be as yet unwarranted; for, until it be proved that education has the same kind of subjects to operate on in every part of France, its effects cannot be judged of from such data as those furnished by M. Guerry. It appears from the 42d number of the Phrenological Journal, article 1st, that France is peopled by two great families,named by M. Thierry, Gauls and Kimris, whose mental qualities are very dissimilar; and I have been informed, by a phrenologist who recently travelled in France, that he observed the heads to be in some districts much inferior to those seen in others. Now, this important fact ought not to be overlooked, as it has hitherto been, in judging of the influence of education; for it can hardly be doubted, that educated but inferior minds will display less morality than minds which are uneducated but naturally much superior. What should we say of a man who should call in question the efficacy of medical treatment, because a patient tainted from birth with consumption, and who had been long under the care of a physician, was not so healthy as a person with naturally sound lungs, who had never taken medical advice in his life? But for the treatment, the consumptive man would have been much worse than he actually was, and probably would have died in early youth. To judge correctly, therefore, of the question at issue, we must compare the present amount of crime in particular departments of France, with its amount in the same departments when there was either very little instruction or none at all. In this manner we shall avoid being misled by the effects of other influences; such as the density or thinness of the population, the employment of the people in agriculture or manufactures, and their residence on the coast, in the interior, or in mountainous or fertile districts. Were such a trial made, I think it would almost without exception be found, in cases where no great change of circumstances had occurred that in exact proportion to the increase of education there had been an obvious diminution of crime. I am well aware that, by the system of instruction generally pursued, the moral feelings, which restrain from crime, are wholly neglected: but cultivation even of the intellect appears favourable to morality; first, by giving periods of repose to the lower propensities, of whose excessive activity crime is the result; secondly, by promoting the formation of habits of regularity, subordination,

and obedience; and, thirdly, by strengthening and informing the intellect, and thereby enabling it to see more clearly the dangerous consequences of crime. No doubt there are criminals on whom an excellent intellectual education has been bestowed; but instead of thence inferring that education increases the liability of mankind to crime, it may with great reason be asked, whether, had the same individuals wanted education altogether, their crimes would not have been ten times more atrocious.Yours, &c. Q. M. Q.

ARTICLE X.

CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE, No. 45. Treatise on Moral Philosophy.

THIS number of the Information for the People is occupied by a Treatise on Moral Philosophy, in which are briefly and intelligently described the leading doctrines propounded in ancient and modern times relative to the powers and operations of the human mind. The author, in concluding his sketch of the metaphysical systems which have hitherto prevailed, states that "it has been given more with the view of affording our readers an idea of what has been done in the way of exploring the hid den mysteries of mind, than with the hope that any benefit will be reaped from the perusal. The sketch, such as it is, exhibits a lamentable picture of misdirected ability-of valuable time spent in a search as vain as that after the philosopher's stone.' From the days of Zeno and Epicurus to those of Immanuel Kant, the world has been the theatre of successive systems of metaphysics, each of which, as we have seen, has met with followers of greater or less distinction, in schools and colleges, without having, either individually or collectively, been of any sensible benefit to the mass of the community. Logic, the design of which is to teach the right use of our reason, or intellectual and moral faculties, and the improvement of them in ourselves and others, has been actively employed in the endeavour to subvert the most obvious truths. Zeno demonstrated the impossibility of motion; Spinoza, that there was

Hobbes, that there was no difference between right and wrong; Hume, that belief was imaginary; Descartes, Mallebranche, and Locke, that mind was matter, or, in other words, that when we lose our consciousness of existence, we no longer preserve our identity. Well may the untaught reader inquire, What does all this mean? We may answer him in the words of Reid -Poor untaught mortals believe undoubtedly that there is a sun, moon, and stars; an earth which we inhabit; country, friends, and relations, which we enjoy ; land, houses, and move

ables, which we possess. But philosophers, pitying the credulity of the vulgar, resolve to have no faith but what is founded on reason. They apply to philosophy to furnish them with reason for the belief of those things which all mankind have believed without being able to give any reason for it. And surely one would expect that, in matters of such importance, the proof would not be difficult: but it is the most difficult thing in the world; for these three men Descartes, Malebranche, and Locke with the best good will, have not been able, from all the treasures of philosophy, to draw one argument that is fit to convince a man that can reason, of the existence of any one thing without him. Admired philosophy daughter of light! -parent of wisdom and knowledge if thou art she, surely thou hast not yet arisen upon the human mind, nor blessed us with more of thy rays than are sufficient to shed a darkness visible' upon the human faculties, and to disturb that repose and serenity which happier mortals enjoy, who never approached thine altar, nor felt thine influence But if indeed thou hast not power to dispel those clouds and phantoms which thou hast discovered or created, withdraw this pernicious and malignant ray-I despise philosophy, and renounce its guidance; let my soul dwell with common sense.' These are no doubt severe expressions of reproof from one of the most eminent inquirers into the nature of mind in modern times, but they are obviously no less just than severe. Professor Dugald Stewart has admitted with the Abbé de Bonald that diversity of doctrine has increased from age to age, with the numbers of masters, and with the progress of knowledge; and Europe, which at present possesses libraries filled with philosophical works, and which reckons up almost as many philosophers as writers, poor in the midst of so much riches, and uncertain with the aid of all its guides, which road it should follow-Europe, the centre and focus of all the lights of the world, has yet its PHILOSOPHY only in expectation.

After thus giving his opinion as to the value of the labours of the metaphysicians, and alluding with approbation to the recent works of Dr Abercrombie, the author proceeds to notice "the extraordinary exertions which for the last few years have been made by the phrenologists, whose system of mind, laying the question of its physiological origin and alleged foundation en tirely aside, has perhaps better claims to notice than many who are repelled by the startling question as to that origin may be aware of" A short account of the rise and progress of Phrenology is then given, and a high eulogium is pronounced on Mr Combe's Treatise on the Constitution of Man. The author observes, that, "as if disposed to compensate the credulity which their ances tors displayed respecting alchemy and astrology, the public have been perhaps too eager to condemn a science which, though

at first sight one of the same order, never yet has made any pretensions that were not based on observation of facts patent to the senses. So much we can say in a spirit of fairness, without having ourselves so much acquaintance with the organological part of the science as to say whether it is to be believed or not. Since the publication of Mr Combe's Essay, which has been understood and practically applied by multitudes without regard to particular localities in the brain, the case has evidently been much altered. Phrenology may now be taken into consideration, not as a. means of vaticinating upon the characters of men by an inspec tion of their heads, but as a scheme of the mental constitution; in short, a system of metaphysics, and, consequently, of morals. Considered in this light, it appears to us to have, in the first place, the important quality of intelligibility, which no other system altogether has. It seems for the first time to make plainthe perplexing mixture of tendencies, feelings, and powers, which has heretofore rendered man such a riddle to himself. This it does by rigidly tracing the powers of mind to their primi tive functions, and reducing then to a kind of democratic level, allowing each an agency independent of the rest, but which may be exerted in company with others; and dividing the whole into three great classes-propensities, moral sentiments, and intellec tual faculties."

Finally, the writer concludes by quoting at full length from Mr Simpson's work on Popular Education, the account there given of the powers of the human mind; and Phrenology is thus made to occupy three-eighths of the whole sheet.

We cannot refrain from here expressing our high estimate of the bold and independent spirit which has induced Messrs Chambers to publish their favourable opinion of doctrines so generally hooted at by persons who find it more easy to ridicule than to investigate. Not having studied the physiological department of Phrenology, they, with characteristic good sense, offer no opinion regarding its validity. A tree, however, is known by its fruit. If the metaphysical superstructure of Phrenology be so excellent, it is difficult to escape from the conclusion that the physiology on which it is based cannot be unsound.

ARTICLE XI.

MR J. L. LEVISON

SINCE the publication of our last number, the following communication has been received from Mr Levison :

"LEEDS, Dec. 10. 1834.

"TO THE Editor of the edinburgh pHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL.

“SIR-I shall not trouble you with any further remarks on