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quire the least knowledge of artificial sounds (verbal language) : and, in this manner, they comprehend certain physiognomical signs, even when they do not understand the words which orally represent them; as, for example, the nod of the head, as an af firmative; and the lateral shake, as meaning to express a negative. They also evidently distinguish between the frown of anger and the smile of approbation, as they intuitively shrink back at the exhibition of the former, and are attracted by the pleasing impressions of the latter," (p. 70). Mr Levison neither gives, nor, we may safely add, is able to give, any good evidence of the soundness of these new views as to the source of natural language and power of understanding it.

"The organ of Form," says Mr Levison, "lies rather upon Individuality, at each side of it," (p. 80). This is pure non

sense.

At the end of the book there is given an explanation of technical terms; and here, at least, might care and precision have been expected. Even in definitions, however, Mr Levison displays his characteristic vagueness and inaccuracy. We shall extract several of them entire, and leave them, without comment, to the judgment of our well-informed readers.

"Colour (organ of).-Perception of harmony or relation of colours."

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"Constructiveness.-Instinct of contrivance." "Destructiveness.-Carnivorous instinct."

64

66

Form.-Perception of symmetry and proportion."

Hope. A sentiment which urges the mind to regard a fu

ture state."

"Imitation (organ of)-Source of expression and natural language."i

"Marvellousness.-Instinctive credulity."

“Number (organ of).-Perception of quantity." "Secretiveness.-Instinct of cunning and evasion: also an element in prudence.”

"Self-Esteem.In its good sense, the instinct of self-preservation, but generally used with a reference to its various abuses.' "Size (organ of).-Perception of distance and perspective."

We now take leave of Mr Levison, by expressing our regret that he should have done himself the injustice of sending into the world a book sullied by so many imperfections, and of which we have been compelled to speak in terms the reverse of those which we should otherwise have gladly employed. We beg to assure him, that notwithstanding what has lately, and on the present occasion, appeared in our pages, we shall ever be ready to speak with favour of whatever future productions of his pen may seem to us worthy of commendation.

ARTICLE XII.

SINGULAR DREAM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL.

SIR,-As the subject of dreaming is rather a curious one in the philosophy of the human mind, and phrenology is the only system which affords a rational explanation of the nature and origin of dreams, the following narrative may prove not uninteresting to your readers, as an example of considerable activity of some of the intellectual faculties co-existing with the complete inactivity, or sleep, of most of the propensities and sentiments. The whole occurrences were as distinctly impressed on me as if I had been entirely awake.

In the dream referred to, I was standing in St Paul's Churchyard, when a funeral procession, consisting of a magnificent hearse, drawn by six horses, preceded by a great number of mutes, and followed by an immense train of carriages, slowly approached from Ludgate Hill, and made its way towards the entrance on the north side of the Cathedral. A dense crowd was looking on, and I was given to understand that the deceased was a man universally known, and distinguished for the services which he had rendered to his country and the lustre he had shed upon the age in which he lived; but I could not discover his name. On arriving within a short distance of the gate, the procession stopped, and presently Lord Nelson stepped forward from beside me, dressed in his admiral's uniform, and, with a respectful inclination of his head, as a mark of profound respect for the character of the deceased, stated to him that he had left his own tomb, and come to do him the honours of the funeral-vault, and receive him amongst the other great men already buried there. The recently deceased, who, strangely enough, was not in his coffin, but stood near us, received this piece of attention courteously and graciously, and signified how much he was pleased to put himself under his Lordship's guidance in this hitherto untried scene.

After a short pause, Lord Nelson, perceiving the crowd looking eagerly on for the completion of the ceremony, remarked to his guest, that he must now take his place in his coffin, and be carried forward in the splendid official hearse prepared for the occasion. His Lordship then ordered the richly ornamented coffin to be brought forward, and said, that as he was now accustomed to the thing, he would shew his friend how to place himself, which he accordingly did by laying himself in it at full length, and carefully pulling a folded covering over his body. He then got out, and the deceased placed himself exactly as

directed, on which his Lordship made a signal to lift the coffin into the hearse and move on. This was done accordingly, and we then mingled with the crowd, and proceeded on foot to the door of the Cathedral-I walking familiarly alongside of his Lordship, without ever wondering how I had become acquainted with him, or perceiving any thing extraordinary in the fact of a man who had been dead for many years, rising from his grave, still dead, and, in the character of a dead man, doing the funeral honours to another dead man. I never for a moment imagined that Nelson was alive; but, on the contrary, was conscious that a long interval had elapsed since his death, and saw distinctly the glazed eye and cold dull features so characteristic of death: and yet so completely were the feelings asleep, that I felt neither wonder, nor awe, nor incongruity, but every thing seemed perfectly natural and as it ought to be; and indeed I was more at ease with him than I probably would have been had I met him in society as a living man.

We entered the church together, and Nelson, with respectful care, was ready to direct every movement, so as to make the situation of his guest as little uncomfortable as possible. He descended with him into the vault,-saw his coffin properly placed,-took his leave, and then adding that he must now resume his place in his own coffin, was going away, but immediately turned round and said, " By the bye, as I am here at any rate, would it not be as well to take a look of my head before I go?" I answered eagerly," that I thought it would, as this was an opportunity which might not occur again, and ought by no means to be lost." We thereupon proceeded to the recess of a window for the sake of a better light; and as he stood before me with his sunk and glazed eye, dull leaden features, and armless sleeve, I thought how very like he was to his portraits, and to the wax-figure in Westminster Abbey! At this time, too, it struck me as extraordinary, that he who had been so long dead should be aware how much interest phrenology was exciting now, when, at the time of his death, it had scarcely been heard of; but this was the only thing approaching to wonder or perception of incongruity of which I was conscious during the whole time.

On looking attentively at the forehead, I was struck with the breadth and fulness just above the root of the nose, where Individuality lies; and remarked to him that his power of observing what was passing around him must have been peculiarly acute and rapid, and that I could now see many uses in his profession to which it was applicable, although I had never before thought that it was so necessary. He requested to know exactly what was comprehended under the term Individuality; and after listening to the explanation, replied, "It is quite

true: I must have it large-that was my forte-I was always quick in observing." I then noticed the great development of Locality, Weight, Size, and Form, told him the qualities of mind which they indicated, and remarked on the fondness for exploring other countries, which such a combination bestowed, and the facility which it gave of recollecting places and countries once seen. He said this also was correct, and that he found Locality useful even in stationing the ships of his fleet. I proceeded in my examination, and remarked, that I was disappointed to find the upper part of his forehead more retreating than I had anticipated-denoting less power of logical reasoning and systematizing than what I had conceived him to possess. He begged I would explain particularly the functions of that part of the brain; and when I gave him the usual account of Causality, he thought for a moment and replied, "Well, after all, you are perhaps not far wrong there either: I was not remarkable for reasoning power; observation and the other qualities were what I excelled in." My interest in the examination was becoming every moment more intense, and my eye was taking the direction of Firmness, an organ which seemed to be very largely developed, when, unfortunately, the vault-keeper came quietly up, and, tapping his Lordship on the shoulder, said all was ready for him down below, and he would thank him to resume his place, as he had not time to wait longer. His Lordship at once obeyed, and bade me good bye, with a slight bow, but without altering a single feature of his face. I then left the church, thinking how fortunate I had been to be there at such an interesting time, and soon after awoke.

Such are the facts of my dream. I shall not attempt to explain them farther than by remarking, that they exhibit a striking instance of activity of some faculties co-existing with repose of others; a circumstance which can be accounted for only by the phrenological principle of a plurality of cerebral organs, each of which may be active while the others are at rest. The perfect recollection which I had, not only of Nelson's history, appearance, and death, and of the localities of St Paul's and the aspect of its monuments, but also of the phrenological doctrines and their applications in life, formed a singular contrast to the total absence of every feeling of awe, incongruity, wonder, or disgust, which, in the waking state, would have been so strongly excited. The only cause to which I can ascribe the dream, is having previously resolved to send to the library for Southey's Life of Nelson, which I had heard praised as an excellent piece of biography. I am, &c.

EDINBURGH, 3d February 1835.

A. C.

ARTICLE XIII.

PROSPECTUS OF A BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF MENTAL SCIENCE. By Sir GEORGE S. MACKENZIE, Bart.

THE establishment of an Association for the advancement of Physical Science, naturally led several persons who have paid attention to the state of Mental Science to desire the promotion of the latter by a similar Association. Whether mental science be regarded as one hardly yet in existence, or as having advanced sufficiently to enable those who have particularly attended to it to perceive that it is minutely interwoven with human conduct and human institutions, it has been too long neglected. While physical science opens up to view many proofs of the immensity of creative power, and administers to the increase of human comfort, it likewise multiplies human wants, and contributes to the useless gratification, even to the extent of abuse, of appetites which were destined not to be the guides of human conduct, but to be subservient to the higher faculties, the exercise of which alone can direct mankind to the rational use of physical discovery. The rational enjoyment to which physical science can administer, can be rendered so only by a knowledge of the real constitution of man; and such happiness as it may be permitted to us to enjoy in this world can be attained only by searching for the relation in which man stands to his fellow-men and to external nature-in other words, for the laws which it has pleased Almighty Power to establish for that relation-and by obeying those laws as part of the Creator's will. No doubt it has been discovered that the mind is so closely connected with the body as to produce mutual influence; and to investigate this is a branch-of physiology; and thus, mental science might appear capable of being connected with physical, in our present Association: But, since the mental faculties have not yet been all discovered, nor those known defined with sufficient accuracy, they have to be submitted to farther metaphysical inquiry; and it seems proper, from the wide extent of the subject, that a separate Association should be established. While mental science is truly one of observation, inquiry being applied in the first instance to the discovery of faculties, much discussion will be required before the definitions of discovered faculties are settled. Seeing, therefore, that this is what may be called a mixed science, and that its results are applicable to legislation, the administration of justice, political science, education, and the treatment of the insane, and, in short, to every sublunary concern of human life, it would be improper to attach it to an Asso

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