faculties are inevitably present in each individual. Hence the impossibility of resorting to the experimentum crucis of trying the influence of one organ isolated from the rest, or the influence of all the rest, when one is removed; as is done in experiments on the nerves, by simple division. Hence, too, the necessity of very numerous facts in confirmation of the function assigned to each organ, and giving them in precise detail, so that ultimately we shall be enabled to separate the essential from the accidental, without falling into errors or vagueness by hasty generalization. In addition to such facts as go chiefly to confirm and explain the organs already established or rendered probable, there are others illustrative of the influence of the state of the brain, with respect to health and disease, on the manifestations of the mental faculties - the effects of any morbid or peculiar states of other parts of the body the mutual influence of the excited faculties - the phenomena of dreaming and memorythe varied phases of consciousness-particular tastes and habits of the insane and many more, concerning which there can be no difference of opinion as to the propriety of seeking to accumulate evidence. Besides which, there are cases occurring every day under the eyes of phrenologists, not possessing the charm of novelty, perhaps, or not being of sufficient interest to be worth recording as mere facts, but which are well fitted for illustrating useful and practical applications of phrenological views. On such grounds, they have an intrinsic value, and become worthy of being reported, although not calculated to extend the boundaries of the science. The usefulness of cases of this kind, if properly reported and applied, is two-fold; first, by way of a test of the practical value and soundness of our doctrines; and secondly, as exercises for the reflections of others, and especially of younger phrenologists, who may readily admit the soundness of views presented to them in a logical disquisition, without having yet acquired sufficient facility in accurately applying theory to practice. Points for attention in reporting facts. In recording facts or cases as illustrations and evidences of the functions of organs, it is important to state the specific actions of the individuals, under determinate circumstances, rather than our own conclusions from them solely. The actions are real facts; the character assigned to the individual, on account of those actions, is an inference that may be erroneous, as before remarked. In example of this, reference may be made to a case of false inference lately coming under our own observation. A person in several instances neglected to give money in return for slight services which others deemed it incumbent upon them to pay for. He got the reputation of being parsimonious. Yet his real inclination was exactly the opposite of this; though being excessively unwilling to receive gifts himself, he judged others to have the same reluctance, and thus frequently abstained from giving, lest he should thereby offend their supposed feelings of independence. Where there could be no doubt as to the propriety of offering gratuities, he was disposed to be too lavish in his gifts. The false inference in this case, was the idea naturally arising in less fastidious minds, that the person in question wished to save his pocket from any abstraction which was not absolutely compulsory. Large organs of Benevolence and Self-Esteem gave the clue to his real disposition. Further, in recording cases, everything ought to be fully stated, which at all conflicts with received ideas, or which is not readily explained by reference to established principles. That which coincides with admitted truths, or what are supposed to be truths, will usually require only a slight notice. In too many instances, in reported cases, we find a tendency to make prominent those circumstances which corroborate received views, and a comparative neglect of others; as if the cases were published only to confirm what is already known. The opposite course would certainly be the more useful one. Some persons do look only for confirmations; but a philosopher will enquire about exceptions, before he admits any supposed truths. Real exceptions of course demonstrate a want of truth; but apparent exceptions, on exact examination, are often found merely to limit, and thus better explain and confirm, actual truths before imperfectly ascertained. Thus, when phrenologists (craniologists) formerly said that the size of cerebral organs is the measure of their power of functional manifestation, they were right, yet only partially so; it being soon observed that some small heads effected more than larger ones under the same circumstances. This was an apparent exception, but it was one which merely limited, without in anywise contradicting the proposition. Size is the measure of power, though not the only measure; quality being also a test of it. It may be suggested further, that in reporting cases of moment, it is not sufficient to say that an organ is large, moderate, or small. It would be desirable to have some additional intimation touching the grounds for pronouncing it to be large or small, or otherwise; for instance, whether an organ is called large by reason of prominence, or breadth, or both together. But on the manner of estimating and reporting developments, we shall have to offer some other suggestions in a future Number. The present method is unscientific, and is generally admitted to be too arbitrary, as depending too exclusively on the experience and accuracy of individual observers; nor will this be otherwise, until we can use definite terms for describing the forms of head, in lieu of stating only the (presumed) size of the organs, according to the terms of the received scale. A priori, we should say that an individual, who is well endowed with the organs of Form, Size, and Locality, might reduce the forms of heads to some general standard, or to a few standard shapes, and invent appropriate terms for expressing the degrees of divergence from the standard. Let it not be supposed impossible because heads appear to be infinitely varied in their proportions. Nature works by definite rules, not capriciously. The clouds of the atmosphere, the leaves of plants, the aggregations of mineral particles, seem to be infinitely varied, in the eyes of the superficial observer; yet have they been reduced to classification, and are now readily and correctly described by appropriate terms. At all events, it is surely possible to improve upon the present mode of reporting development; and we earnestly recommend this attempt to the attention of phrenologists organically adapted to it.* When facts are reported for other purposes than that of showing the functions of organs, the object especially in view will determine the points to which particular attention should be given. One general rule, however, may be laid down; namely, not to omit anything that may be found useful or explanatory hereafter. Many of the pathological cases which have been cited by medical writers, as being adverse to Phrenology, derive their apparent counterforce from being incompletely reported. Had they been correctly and fully reported, they would now be so many evidences in support. That the cases of the older medical writers should have such defect, is not to be wondered at; but for such a garbled or bungled report, as that of the case of Mr. N., (in the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal,) to appear in the year 1836, is remarkable enough. The exposure of that misreport (made in Number 50. of this Journal, and again mentioned in Number 53.) affords a good illustration of the necessity of stating all particulars, if we do not wish to mislead and deceive. True it is, that we may chance to record several trifling or accessory matters, of no real moment, in our attempts to give full details; but for the purposes of science it is far better to be too full than too meagre in description; so that in doubtful cases we can take care to keep on the right side, by being sufficiently explicit. Besides, if persons will not use more words than are necessary to convey their meaning, a great many details may be contained in a See the case of Perrie, in this Number, for some further observations on taking developments. small compass of printed pages. Simplicity and precision, not fine writing, should be esteemed a first excellence in the literature of science, and especially so in the record of its facts. [To be continued.] II. The Atrocities in New South Wales, and Supineness of the British Government to the Means of Prevention. THE readers of the Phrenological Journal are aware, that early in the year 1836, Sir George Stewart Mackenzie addressed a representation to Lord Glenelg, as Secretary for the Colonies, stating that the lives and property of the settlers in N. S. Wales, were seriously endangered by the transportation of convicts of ferocious and desperate character, who were assigned as servants to the settlers, along with others of better or more manageable dispositions. It was the suggestion of Sir George, that the worst and most dangerous convicts ought to be kept in confinement at home, and that there ought to be an officer qualified to investigate the characters of convicts and to classify them on phrenological principles. Sir George further proposed that an authorised trial of the skill of competent phrenologists should take place, in order to ascertain the possibility of distinguishing the most dangerous criminals from others more capable of management. The value of Sir George Mackenzie's suggestions must be too apparent to require any forcing upon the attention of phrenologists. The manner in which the proposed trial should have been conducted, was explained on page 389 of our last volume. His Lordship declined to take any measures for effecting an object so important to the cause of humanity, and likely to prove so beneficial to the settlers and inhabitants of one of our principal colonies. His alleged reasons for refusal were two; first, the want of funds, which were declared by Sir George Mackenzie not to be required, because phrenologists themselves would provide the necessary sum out of their own purses; secondly, his Lordship's own want of faith. in phrenological science, which could be no sufficient reason for neglect of a public duty; particularly since his Lordship did not state that he knew anything whatever about Phrenology, or of the evidence by which it is supported. But in order to remove even the shadow of an excuse thus thrown over the refusal of the noble Secretary, Sir George Mackenzie procured certificates from many persons of acknowledged ability and good character, who had investigated the doctrines and evidences of Phrenology; most of whom stated in their certificates, that it was possible to distinguish desperate and dangerous men from others, by the forms of their heads; while the rest, who were not so far advanced in their practical acquaintance with the science, declared their conviction that the experiment ought to be tried. His Lordship then said that he considered the matter to come within the duties of the Secretary for the Home Department; and the certificates were accordingly presented to Lord John Russell, who promised to attend to the subject as soon as he could find an opportunity of doing so. Nearly two years have elapsed, and we have not learned that any further notice has been taken by Lord John Russell. The Certificates were afterwards published, along with other Testimonials to the truth and practical value of Phrenology, presented to Mr. Combe on the occasion of offering himself as a Candidate for the Chair of Logic in the University of Edinburgh. They were also reprinted in the 4th Edition of Mr. Combe's System of Phrenology. The certificates amounted to forty-five, and were signed by eighty gentlemen. Amongst these were twenty-seven physicians, several of them professors in our Universities; twenty-four surgeons; ten barristers or gentlemen otherwise connected with the administration of the law; and four divines. The rest were members of Parliament, persons of independent property, editors of periodicals of established repute, or authors of approved works. When so many persons of respectable station in society, of acknowledged ability, and competent to give an opinion on the question from actual investigation, thus bore testimony to the practicability and usefulness of this application of Phrenology, we conceive that it was the duty of a responsible government to allow the proposed trial of skill to be made. If unsuccessful, there was an end of the matter, and the pretensions of phrenologists would have been at an end also; but if successful, there was then the certainty of great advantage, not only to our convict colonies, but also to all persons concerned in the custody and management of criminals. Our Government, however, refuses even to allow the experimental test; that is, Lord John Russell makes a promise, and then takes no further notice of the matter. Meantime, the atrocities of the transported convicts continue; the dangerous characters are still intermingled amongst the others, and incite them to the commission of outrages horrible to every one endowed with the ordinary feelings of humanity. As phrenologists, we must assume (and we assume this, because we speak on the strength of undeniable facts,) that the occurrence of such outrages - |