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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promoted, and a new stimulus afforded to incite to future exertion;-while such a demonstration of the strength of Phrenologists would be made, as could not fail to produce a deep impression on the public mind.

"In these views we trust that we shall meet with the concurrence of the members of your Society, and hope to be favoured with an early communication on the subject.

" I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

"RICHARD T. EVANSON, M. D. Secretary.

"To the Secretary of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society."

This circular (which there has not yet been an opportunity of submitting to the Phrenological Society), is an important document, and one which it gave us pleasure to receive. The time is come when phrenologists should, as a body, make a public stand-when Phrenology should be placed in its proper position, and the public taught to look upon it in its proper light.

Phrenology is a system of great and important truths-that true and tangible philosophy of mind, which so many great and good men have sought in vain, or only obtained a partial glimpse of; because, while they pursued an erroneous method of inquiry, however great their genius or good their intentions, their efforts could not be crowned with full success. That which philosophers have sought for from the days of Aristotle to the present time, Gall has attained, and Spurzheim promoted. Phrenologists are the repositories of this great collection of truths; to them is confided the sacred trust. Let them not neglect their charge-opposition cannot overturn truth, but neglect or indifference may retard its progress. The man who once avows his faith in Phrenology, and engages in its promotion, takes upon him no trifling responsibility. His neglect or indifference may be charged against the science as proof of error or unworthiness; and instead of becoming a promoter, he may be found a retarder, of truth. Not so with him, who, once convinced of the truth of the science, sees and feels its importance, and boldly and perseveringly steps forward to advocate its doctrines, and spread its principles abroad. He has broken through the traminels of ignorance and prejudice-he sees through the mists that surround him a bright future opens on his viewand a fair fame cannot but be his reward, when, at no distant time, a better system has brought better things to man.

The schoolmaster is abroad! why should not the phrenologist be abroad too? The schoolmaster, after all, is but the pioneer to knowledge. He teaches us but to know how to know. How long are people to think that a knowledge of language is a knowledge of things that sound is science?

Science has been conveniently divided into the fixed and the variable into that whose basis is capable of demonstration, and that where much is left to conjecture. The former constitutes Physical, the latter Metaphysical Science; and to the former, from its certainty, has pre-eminence been awarded. Yet surely it is not of more importance to man, not more conducive to his happiness, though it may be more directly connected with his comforts. Each has its difficulties to contend with-prejudices to oppose-ignorance to dispel-fanaticism to contend against. Some of the simplest physical truths-the most obvious facts, which every child is now taught and knows-have had, on their first announcement, to combat ridicule, calumny, and even persecution. How long has the world been learning, if it has yet learned, "that the day," as Kepler says, " will soon break, when pious simplicity will be ashamed of its blind superstition, when men will recognise truth in the Book of Nature as well as in the Holy Scriptures, and rejoice in the two revelations !"

Physical Science has naturally gone first, and for it the day of which Kepler speaks may perhaps be said to have dawned. Not so with Metaphysical Science, the younger, and yet the fairer and more majestic of the two. Over man's greatness the elder sister may preside, but his happiness is influenced by the other. Knowledge is power; virtue alone makes happy.

Shall those, then, on the cultivation of whose science so much of human happiness depends, forget for one moment its importance, or, deterred by the difficulties of the task, lag in the undertaking they have once begun? The greatest difficulty is already surmounted. Upon metaphysical science has dawned the prospect of attaining to some of that certainty or fixedness which is the boast and bulwark of physics. The right method is at last attained. Mind is studied as it is constituted by the Creator, in its natural relations to the body, not in a state of fanciful existence. The facts of the physiologist are substituted for the phantasies of the metaphysician. Locke talked of an algebra of morals: Phrenology almost holds out the prospect of realizing such an idea. With clearness the various faculties of man are discerned with distinctness set apart and determined-with certainty predicated, almost prophesied! Who could have believed a short time since that such could be done? How many still will not believe that it is done! But every age has had its wilfully ignorant and prejudiced. Men will rather talk than observe, and dispute than learn. But there are those who both observe and learn. Phrenology, though a new science, has made extraordinary progress. In spite of all opposition, and though perhaps peculiarly obnoxious to ridicule, its truths have sunk deeply into the public mind; its principles are widely diffused-almost instinctively adopted; and its phraseology

is widely employed, as if by common consent. How could it be otherwise? Phrenology is the true philosophy of mind: it satisfactorily explains the phenomena which no other system proposed ever did: it unites into one, and for the first time, the philosophy and physiology of man. Though young in years, it has had rapid growth, and seems as if already far advanced towards maturity. With those who look only for objections against the science, this very circumstance has been a favourite one. But was not such rapid progress to be expected? " Truth, like gold, is not the more new for being newly dug out of the mine;" Phrenology is not the more new for having been newly discovered. The brain was always the organ of the mind, and its several parts exercised alike their several functions, whether we knew it or not. But knowing it-being taught to look for these important facts-what a vast field at once opens on the view! The facts are all at hand, and obvious when we have once learned to read them aright-the scales have fallen from our eyes, and lo! we see.

The phrenologist need not concern himself because he is exposed to ridicule and opposition. His efforts have proved successful-his science has triumphed phrenological societies abound-phrenologists increase and multiply. Men of the first rank in the medical as well as other professions, and eminent for learning, talent, and moral worth, are to be found in their ranks. It is full time, then, that a general co-operation should take place-that a demonstration of the strength of phrenologists be made, and the science placed fairly in its proper position before the public. Such is the proposition embodied in the circular issued by the Phrenological Society of Dublin-a society whose movement in regard to this matter we rejoice to see; because we know the energies and capabilities of many of its members, and are ever disposed to receive with favour any proposition from them. Our readers will remark the coincidence of their proposal with one made by Sir George Mackenzie in the 43d number of this journal. We took the opportunity in that number of pointing out the difference between an Association for the advancement of Physical Science, like the British; and an Association of Metaphysicians, such as that proposed by Sir George Mackenzie.

The physical sciences afford a fixed point of union, which must give a stable basis to an association established for their advancement;-where all is capable of proof, and nothing received until it is demonstrated, and where no serious difference of opinion can arise. Not so in a metaphysical association, no two members of which could agree upon any fundamental principle,-no two of whom, perhaps, had a single fundamental principle to agree upon.

Far different would be a Phrenological Association: here would be a fundamental principle of vast importance upon which all would be agreed; a fixed point from which to start-to which to return-on which to rest: all would be unanimous in principle: their object would be to investigate details; and how important-how interesting-how all-absorbing these details! is a good plot-an excellent plot"-it must succeed.

"It

On a future occasion we may offer some remarks on the plan of proceeding, &c., endeavouring to elicit the opinions of those most competent to give good advice in the matter. In the mean time, we trust that the circular issued by our Dublin brethren will be promptly responded to by the various Phrenological Societies addressed; and we would here remark (as has been requested of us), that one of the objects of printing it in this Journal, is to give it immediate and extensive publicity, so that it may quickly come under the notice of all Phrenological Societies in Great Britain, the existence of some of which may not be known in Dublin, while opportunity may not speedily offer for sending the Address to others.

One topic more and we have done-but that is a topic of interest, on which it is desirable that we may be clearly understood. The proposal to form a Phrenological Association, and the suggestion to hold its meetings immediately after those of the British Association, neither implies, nor is meant to imply, any connexion, necessary or accidental, between the two.

The circular from the Dublin Phrenological Society is most explicit on this subject; no mistake in fact can be made, unless intentionally; but it is very probable that such mistake will be made, and erroneous statements industriously circulated. It will be said that the phrenologists are most anxious to attach themselves to the British Association, and that that Association is most anxious to shun any such attachment.

Of the British Association we are members, and to none do we yield in sincere zeal in behalf of its objects. It is an institution in whose prosperity we shall ever delight-a grand step towards that great and glorious regeneration of society, which the moral influence of such an association can do much to accelerate.

Men are not born all alike-the love of distinction is innate and energetic-too long has distinction been sought and attained on unworthy grounds. There is but one true foundation for the superiority of one man over another, and that is his superiority in intellect and in morals. The more society improves, the more will this truth be felt and acknowledged. But intellectual attainment has hitherto been too much confined to the cloistered solitudes of the university, or the retirement of private life. Now, however, it has gone abroad. Public attention, and public