tion, by which their dangerous character is clearly proved. In a penitentiary founded on the humane principle of reformation without inflictive vengeance, even such a being as this might have been humanized, at least he would not have been permitted to annoy and endanger society by a long course of violence-to end, perhaps, in murder."

Remarks. I am doubtful whether Secretiveness and Acquisitiveness are so large as is supposed. The thickness of the temporal muscle not being evident from a cast, has probably led the very able writer of the foregoing to overrate them. He seems also to have made both Time and Tune larger than is justified by the appearance of the cast. Some, who have seen the cast, have objected, that the distance from the ear to Individuality is larger than we might have been prepared for; but phrenologists have long ceased to regard that measurement as any indication of the power of the intellect. The distance may be caused by a large middle lobe of the brain, as is the case in the present instance. The proper way to ascertain the point is to look how far forward the anterior lobe projects from Constructiveness. The great size of Combativeness and Destructiveness, uncontrolled by Benevolence, and called into fierce action by liquor, easily accounts for the murder. His astonishment at the verdict of "Guilty" probably arose from deficiency in the power of understanding the force of testimony, owing to the smallness of the reflecting organs. Ignorant people are very apt to indulge in absurd hopes. His great Love of Approbation, and his large Order, sufficiently explain the foppish freak of arranging his hair in curls at such a time, as well as the marked neatness of his dress as he appeared upon the scaffold. It is difficult to say what his religious feelings might have been, as probably his mind was never directed to them till after he was condemned. denial of the crime makes good his claim to the character of a liar his Love of Approbation would induce him to make it appear that he was innocent, and his Conscientiousness would be no match for this strong feeling. The affection of the woman for him was very natural. He was a good-looking fellow, and was doubtless so much attached to her by his large Adhesiveness as to display affection when in good humour; and, when strong marks of affection are bestowed on a woman, she is certain, in most cases, to return it. The organ on which the instinct of food is conceived to depend is large, which perhaps may explain his conduct with respect to the jail provisions, already alluded to, as well as his fondness for liquor. His good Time and Tune would probably give him a fondness for dancing, for which his figure was well adapted; but whether he really was given to this amusement I have not been able to learn. That he was so, however, I have very little doubt. His great Ama

His

tiveness was sufficiently apparent in the circumstances of his sensual career,

Altogether, the head of this man is such, that no good phrenologist would hesitate one moment to say, that the lower propensities must have been very predominant, prevailing lamentably over the intellect and moral sentiments. His mode of life was extremely unfavourable to the exercise of the two latter, and must have tended to give to the first an enormous preponderance. Ignorance and dissipation acting together on such a mind, could hardly lead to any other result than the gallows. The analysis to which I have ventured to add these observations, will speak for itself. It is perhaps one of the most skilful displays of phrenological acumen of which we have any record, and speaks volumes for the science. Wherever the man's character was known, the inference accords most minutely with it; and there is every reason to suppose, that, were those points cleared up of which we are still ignorant, the correspondence between them and the deduction would not be less striking. The concluding paragraph of the analysis is most important, and well worthy the attention of legislators.

ARTICLE XIII.

DUBLIN PHRENOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

A MEETING of this Society was held at their rooms, Upper Sackville Street, on Monday evening, 17th August 1835, which was very numerously attended. Professor Harrison took the chair, and explained the object of the meeting to be, to take measures for the formation of a General Association of the Phrenologists of Great Britain and Ireland, to meet annually at any given time and place agreed upon, with a view to their assisting each other, and co-operating for the advancement of the science.

Dr Evanson moved a resolution to this effect, and suggested that the annual meetings might be held immediately after the times and at the places fixed for the meetings of the British Association, without being in anywise connected with it. That gigantic association had its own objects in view-the improvement and advancement of the physical sciences; yet many of its most distinguished members would be happy to join in the furtherance of phrenological science; and a time more suited for having the collected wisdom of so many scientific individuals together could not be fixed upon than the meetings of the British Association. Dr Marsh seconded the resolution, and dilated with great

force upon the advantages of studying the mental manifestations; drawing a line between the physical and metaphysical sciences.

Dr M'Dowell moved the appointment of a committee to carry the resolution above mentioned into effect. He acknowledged himself to have been most sceptical upon the utility of Phrenology as a science, until he had heard the admirable lectures of Dr Spurzheim in this city, from which time he had given the subject his best consideration, and became, in a great degree, a convert to it.

Dr Houston presented himself to the meeting, having the day previously obtained the skulls of the celebrated Dean Swift and Mrs Hesther Johnson, better known by the appellation "Stella." They had been entombed for one hundred years, and the coffins having been recently disturbed, in consequence of some improvement being about to be made in the vaults of St Patrick's Cathedral, permission was granted by the Very Rev. the Dean for their removal for a day or two, until accurate casts could be made of the skulls, with a view to the advancement of scientific knowledge. On an examination of the Dean's skull, it would appear, from the depression on the anterior part of the head, that the man must have been apparently an idiot*. The bones of the skull must have undergone considerable change during the ten or twelve last years of his life, while in a state of lunacy. The heads of children labouring under hydrocephalus often increase to a most extraordinary size. The identity of the skull was complete; for it was handed down, and well known by old persons in the neighbourhood of the Cathedral, that the Dean's head was sawed across before he was buried. The skull was found in this state in the coffin; and the inscription on the lid left little doubt on the subject. The head of "Stella" was found in the coffin next that of the Dean, inscribed with her name, &c.

Dr Evanson remarked that the bones of the anterior part of the head were considerably thickened, and the internal surface of the skull did not exhibit those impressions of the convolutions which are to be found in the healthy subject. It was also on record, that after the skull had been opened, a quantity of water was found suffused upon the brain. It was not fair to condemn the science if this head were not found to give an idea of the Dean's character; for Phrenology paid regard only to developments occurring in the brain of a person in full health and vigour. Mr Snow Harris made a few observations on the subject, bearing out Dr Evanson in his last observations.

Captain Sir John Ross, R.N., here presented himself to the meeting, and was very warmly received. He said he had, during a period of family privation and illness, occupied himself with studying Phrenology, and after four years observation he was

• We think this expression considerably stronger than is warranted by the cast of the skull.-ED.

more and more convinced that the brain was the organ of the mind. He proved its practical utility often in the education of children; he had been the means of reconciling man and wife, who had disagreed with each other. In fact, it clearly pointed out the many imperfections of human nature, and taught every thing the Christian religion taught. He at one time undertook, from motives of humanity, to educate a child, whose father and mother had been hanged. At first the child was treated with great severity by those under whose care he had placed it. On bis suggestion the treatment of the child was changed; in place of the usual severity being employed, the effect of being put into a dark room was tried, and in a short period the organization was altered, and the character in proportion. It selecting the crew of a ship he found it useful; he saw in whom he could trust, and those whom he could not; he was by it led to apply appropriate punishment, and during a period of ten years he never punished a man corporally; he was led to this system by Phrenology. It was not fair (Captain Ross observed, in referto the skull of Dean Swift) to raise a discussion upon skulls either aged or diseased. He had attended a meeting of the Phrenological Society in London, to which a skull had been sent, with a sealed letter, from a person who knew the character of the man whose skull had been presented. Dr Spurzheim was at the time in London: he analyzed the head and gave his opinion, which almost literally corresponded with the account given in the letter when it was read.

Mr Hawkins, V. P. of the Phrenological Society of London, instanced a case where he measured the head of a man after an interval of twenty-five years: in the latter part of his life he became an enthusiast in religion; the upper part of his head increased three-eighths of an inch in height, while the back part decreased one quarter of an inch. Mr Hawkins exhibited a wire made of grain tin, which he was in the habit of using for phrenological measurements, and described it as the most accurate which could be availed of.

A conversation took place in reference to a plaster cast, made from a marble bust of Dean Swift, executed during his lifetime by an artist named Cuningham; but as the artists of those days were not accustomed to pay that attention to the developments of the head which is now given, it was considered to be unimportant in reference to the debateable ground in question.

Dr Evanson gave a highly interesting lecture on the skull of "Stella," shewing that it bore out all the characteristics of that singular and gifted woman.

The Society will have another meeting upon the subject brought before them on this occasion.

ARTICLE XIV.

PROPOSED ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF MENTAL SCIENCE.

THE following circular, addressed to the Secretary of the Phrenological Society, from the Phrenological Society of Dublin, has just been put into our hands :

"DUBLIN, November 1. 1835, "36. Dawson Street.

"SIR,-I am directed by the Members of the Dublin Phrenological Society to communicate to you the following resolution, passed unanimously at a special meeting of the Society:

"Resolved, That it appears desirable that there should be formed a General Association of the Phrenologists of Great Britain and Ireland, to meet annually, for the purpose of advancing the Science of Phrenology, giving publicity to its doctrines, and effecting a system of mutual co-operation among Phrenologists.'

"It is hoped that this proposition will meet with the approbation of the members of your Phrenological Society; and we solicit your advice and assistance in carrying the proposal into effect.

"To us it appears that the most eligible time and place for holding this assemblage of Phrenologists, would be immediately after the meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, at whatever place, each year, that meeting is held; as many there assembled would be thus saved the necessity for a separate journey to attend the Association of Phrenologists; but we disclaim any intentions of attempting to interfere with the meetings of the British Association, or of mixing up our proceedings with theirs.

"Several eminent Phrenologists have attended the meetings of the British Association, without having had opportunity of communicating together as such; while several distinguished members of the Association, not Phrenologists, have expressed much interest respecting the science, and a desire for some opportunity to become acquainted with its principles.

"To such the meetings of the Phrenological Association would afford the desired opportunity; and to Phrenologists themselves would be secured opportunity for mutual intimacy and scientific communication:-their views could be compared together-truths would be confirmed, errors corrected, unanimity

VOL. IX.-NO. XLVI.

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