Simpson's exertions and his triumphs, as having had their origin in Phrenology. Had he not been a phrenologist, had he not been the intimate friend of Mr. Combe and Dr. A. Combe, it is far from improbable that his attention would not have been so devotedly given to the diffusion of sound views on education; and without the aid of Phrenology, he never could have attained to the clear, rational, and harmoniously connected opinions which he now holds and teaches. Mr. Simpson has no doubt enlarged and carried forward the notions first obtained through his phrenological studies; but in Phrenology they had and have their foundation. Small opponents of Phrenology are continually squeaking out, "Phrenologists are nobodies." We reply, Mr. Simpson is somebody, or a meeting of that respectability would not have been got together in compliment to him; and Mr. Simpson is somebody through the aid of Phrenology.]

Mr. Cargill and Dr. Knott. - The latter of these gentlemen has taken umbrage at Mr. Cargill's commentary upon the correspondence published in our last number; and has inserted a voluminous advertisement in the Newcastle Chronicle of March 24., apparently intended as a reply to, or critique upon, the commentary. The matter is so utterly devoid of public interest, and the remarks in Dr. Knott's advertisement turn so much upon verbal quibbles and personal allusions, that we do not feel at all called upon to enter into the subject any further.

Mr. Sidney Smith's Lectures. - "At Dundee I lectured at the time of the mercantile distress, and the attendance was only about one hundred and ten. When in Glasgow I had to commence before the regular lecture-going season, and when the distress was still considerable. According to my present recollection, the attendance was only about a hundred and twenty. If I arrive in Glasgow in time, on my way home, I can ascertain accurately from my door-keeper, and let you know. In consequence of one of my lectures, I was requested by a deputation of the Glasgow Total Abstinence Society, to deliver my lecture on Alimentiveness under its auspices. I did so twice to audiences of six hundred and nine hundred. By the same society in Paisley the same request was preferred, and I delivered the lecture there to about six or seven hundred. At Manchester I have just concluded my lectures at the Mechanics' Institution. I am informed that the place holds fourteen hundred, and from this datum I should conclude that my audience was about eleven hundred. It seemed rather to increase as the lectures proceeded. I sent you notices of them in the Manchester newspapers." Mr. Sidney Smith, in letter of Jan. 4. 1838.

Progress of Phrenology. We daily meet with evidences of the certain though gradual progress of Phrenology in attracting public attention. Lectures are well attended; elementary books, even of the humblest claims to notice, are bought up in large editions; marked busts are seen in every town, and met with in almost every street in London; quack manipulators are resorted to by shoals of the idle, the egotistic, the ignorant, and the wonder-stricken; and probably few dinner-parties pass over without some allusion to this attractive and debateable subject. These are so many indisputable evidences of an advancing public interest in phrenological investigations; but we regret to add, that several of them are almost equally conclusive evidences of public ignorance. The fanatical and fortune-telling, the puffers and plagiarists, are confounded with the real cultivators of the science, and the public freely unclasps its purse for the benefit of those whose pretensions and productions render them fit successors of the astrologers and almanac makers of generations passed away. Lamentable as this undoubtedly is, it affords certain proof that the doctrines of Phrenology are

fast taking hold of the public mind, and two trifling but equally intelligible examples in point have recently come into our hands. The first is a pocket handkerchief, with a large head printed in the centre, mapped and lettered like the phrenological busts, which was exposed for sale in a village shop in Kent. The second is one of "Professor" Smith's advertisements; but who "Professor" Smith may be, and what university is honoured by his chair, we cannot inform our readers. His strange advertisement runs thus :"Phrenological Predictions. — Persons meditating any important change in their pursuits, parents, before deciding on a business or profession for their children, should consult this science, as their fortunes depend on the choice harmonising with its predictions. Terms, five shillings and upwards. The responses of the science, as far as will conduce to the future welfare of youth, are given for this sum. Professor Smith, No. 90. Strand, opposite Southampton Street (inner private door).

Prenology applied in the choice of Parliamentary Representatives. At the election of a member for Marylebone, in March last, it was proposed by one of Colonel Thompson's supporters, that the electors should select their representatives by phrenological examination of their heads. Mr. Ewart, the other defeated candidate, seemed very little disposed to relish this test of his fitness; and by the report of his speech, in the Morning Herald of March 5th, is stated to have said, that, "whatever novelties had been introduced into the system of elections, this, he thought, was the most novel, and Mr. Murphy must be held as the gentleman who had introduced the system of phrenological election." Mr. Ewart, in this remark, only betrayed his proneness to talk on matters concerning which he is ignorant. The "system of phrenological election" is not yet introduced; butwe doubt not that in due time- that is, when electors have learned the practical value of phrenological tests - candidates will be returned on account of their personal fitness, rather than for empty protestations made on the hustings or during their canvass. If Mr. Ewart fancied that the simple recommendation of a phrenological test was equivalent to its introduction, he was wide of truth in attributing the credit of originality to Mr. Murphy: the same course has been heretofore recommended in phrenological books, and even suggested in

newspapers.

John Linn, the Belfast Parricide. The case of this lunatic was reported in the tenth volume of the Phrenological Journal, pages 207 and 616. He has recently been detected in a conspiracy to escape from Carrickfergus jail; thus illustrating the necessity of great watchfulness over criminals and lunatics, in whose heads the organs of Secretiveness present a very large development. We shall probably give details in our next number.

Intended Change in the months for Publication of the Phrenological Journal. - The next Number of this Journal will be published on the First of October (in place of September), and the future Numbers will succeed after the regular interval of three months; No. V. being published on the First of January. We make this change, partly as being more convenient to ourselves, partly because we have grounds for believing that one cause of the irregularity in the delivery of the work, complained of by subscribers in the country, has been owing to its publication one month in advance of the usual days for the appearance of quarterly periodicals, and the booksellers consequently forgetting to order it; the easy (though false) excuse to their subscribers being, "not out."

Readers are requested to correct an error in No. II., New Series, which materially affects the meaning of a passage. The word "assert" has been omitted in the 14th line of page 147.; and the passage is to be read, “or assert that they are now free."

Note to our Contributors.

We fear that some of our contributors may be disposed to accuse us of being too negligent of their communications; several of which we are reluctantly compelled to postpone. This periodical professes to be a Journal of Phrenology; and we should not fulfil our duty to those who subscribe to it as a journal, did we fail to make it one. Accordingly, we give a preference to the current events of interest, connected with Phrenology; for example: illustrative or important cases- controversial proceedings new publications-applications of Phrenology to the opinions and events of the day-intelligence respecting its progress, &c. &c. Essays on the functions of organs, however valuable in themselves, do not demand such immediate attention; and, indeed, when extended to considerable length, they ought rather to form separate publications. In this present number, although extended to an extra size, we could allow space only to some of the papers on the functions of organs, received last winter. But, unless unforeseen circumstances arise to prevent this, we may hope to clear off many arrears in the next number; which, we request our subscribers to remember, will be postponed till October, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

POSTSCRIPT.

Letter from Professor Evanson, on Mr. Carlile's Objections to Phrenology.

SIR,In reply to your request for "more definite information as to the phrenological bearings of Mr. Carlile's observations" than that supplied by the printed reports of the last meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, I must state that neither Mr. Carlile's facts nor observations can be said, strictly speaking, to have had " phrenological bearings." His facts were in themselves interesting, as instances of peculiar deficiencies in the structure and development of the cerebellum; but they altogether failed in their application to Phrenology, as a foundation for the inference. that Gall's opinions, respecting the functions of the cerebellum, were incorrect; for Mr. Carlile knew nothing of the history of the individuals to whom these cerebella belonged during life; although he conjectured, from certain appearances observed in the bodies after death, that the amative function must have been active, notwithstanding the defective development of its phrenological organ. Hence his objection against Phrenology; But can an objection, brought forward on such insufficient grounds, be said to have even a bearing upon the science?

Even had Mr. Carlile established his position, that the function attributed by phrenologists to the cerebellum had been active during life in the individuals whose cases he brought

forward, he would not have succeeded in establishing therefrom any exception to the truth of the phrenological doctrine; for the first case was that of an idiot (a female); and it is obvious that a proportionately small endowment of animal passion, under such circumstances, unchecked by moral influence, and unguided by reason, might lead to irregularities, which would not follow from a much larger endowment of the same propensity under other circumstances; and in the second case, that of a man, in whom was found only half of the cerebellum, it would be but establishing a very interesting and probable physiological fact, namely, that one half of the cerebellum. could perform its functions, like one hemisphere of the cerebrum, independently of the other.

Some general arguments, volunteered against Phrenology on this occasion, had really as little bearing upon the science; being nothing more than a vague reiteration of some oft-refuted objections against size, as a measure of power in estimating the functions of the nervous system.

Mr. Carlile is a gentleman for whose professional attainments I entertain much respect; and I cannot but think it a subject of regret when a scientific man allows himself to be so far misled by prejudice as to risk the value to be set on his opinions, by inconsiderately coming forward as the opponent of doctrines with which he does not even profess to be accurately acquainted. Thus have we another instance added to those which may already be adduced of the total failure of attempts, made on even high medical authority, to impugn the doctrines of Phrenology.

Were this science viewed simply in its true light, as an extension of our knowledge of the functions or physiology of the brain, it could hardly meet with such reception from men who are willing to devote years of labour and research to other physiological questions, not to be compared with this in interest or importance. The favour and advocacy, however, of most eminent men who have paid attention to the subject, is more than a compensation for such ill-advised and fruitless opposition.

I had been unavoidably prevented sending an earlier reply to your communication; but remain a sincere well-wisher to the success of your useful labours.

DUBLIN, April 20th, 1838.*

RICHARD T. EVANSON.

* Dr. Evanson's letter having reached our hands only on the 15th May, it is added by way of postscript, as it could not be introduced in the proper place, at so late a date, and we are unwilling to postpone it, until the meeting shall have become the last but one.

EDITOR.

THE

PHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL.

No. LVII.

NEW SERIES.-No. IV.

I. MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.

I. Remarks on Dr. Prichard's Third Attack on Phrenology, in his "Treatise on Insanity."- By ANDREW COMBE, M.D.*

IF posterity shall deem determined opposition to the progress of Phrenology to be good service done to the cause of science, no man bids fairer to be remembered with honour than Dr. Prichard of Bristol. Other men indeed have, as well as himself, done their best to demonstrate its futility, but for him alone it was reserved to distinguish himself by the multiplicity of his refutations, and to outstrip even the far-famed Edinburgh Review in the race of hostility to what we are convinced will turn out to be the greatest discovery of the age.

Thrice, like the great conqueror of old, did the Edinburgh Reviewer slay the foe whom he had slain before; and thrice

This article was intended to appear in the Phrenological Journal for March last, and the type had been all set up for that purpose, when circumstances (with the explanation of which it is unnecessary to trouble our readers) caused the article to be postponed. It has been since printed in Mr. Combe's work on the Cerebellum, along with other controversial articles; but we are desirous that it should meet the eyes of all readers of this Journal, for the following reasons: - - First, Dr. Prichard is a person of some eminence as a medical writer; and his opposition to Phrenology will be quoted against the supporters of that science, who ought therefore to be acquainted with his proceedings and the real weight to be given to them. Secondly, Dr. Combe's former strictures upon Dr. Prichard's attacks on Phrenology have already appeared in this Journal; and by printing these present "Remarks," we shall more clearly expose the conduct of a man, who deliberately shuts his eyes to truth, and gives currency to statements which he knows to be unjust, and to arguments which he knows to be invalid; but which may still serve to impose on his readers who remain ignorant of their futility or falsehood. Thirdly, The information contained in Dr. Combe's "Remarks,' we are sure, will be serviceable to many of our readers, either as instruction or as a refresher to memory.-EDITOR, P. J.