THE PHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL. No. LIV. NEW SERIES.-No. I. Introductory Explanations to the New Series. IN commencing a New Series of the Phrenological Journal, conducted by different parties, and with its publication transferred from Edinburgh to London, it will be proper to offer some explanations respecting our future plans and prospects; and it will not be out of place to connect with these a few brief remarks on the present aspect of Phrenology. This Journal was commenced fourteen years ago, at a time when the current of public ridicule was running strongly against the science to the diffusion and elucidation of which it was devoted. The supporters of Phrenology were then few; and although amongst those few were several very able men, whose superior power of mind was felt and acknowledged in their own social circles, yet no sooner did they address the public in explanation and defence of Phrenology, than any petty puppet deemed himself entitled and called on to set up his own limited ideas in array against them, and also modestly took upon himself to pronounce them fit denizens for the regions of irrationality, as so many wild enthusiasts or deluded fools. In that day, it was rare to meet with phrenologists hardy enough to avow their convictions openly, in general society, and to disregard the usual manifestations of contempt or enmity which the avowal was almost sure to call forth. We have now reached a different era in the current history of Phrenology. So far from an avowal of belief in the principles of our science being seldom heard in mixed society, it has become quite a rare occurrence to meet with any intelligent and well-informed person who totally denies, or who even professes to entertain doubts of the general truth of the subject. From this common assent, we must, indeed, except a few rustic gentlemen, and some others, chiefly elderly men, still wholly ignorant of the matter, albeit persons of some knowledge on other subjects. With a few such exceptions as these, (overlooking also certain roof-shaped craniums, the possessors of which estimate themselves at a much higher premium than their neighbours would consent to buy them at,) almost everywhere in the present day we find the great body of the really educated public yielding assent in general terms, though each person has mostly his own particular doubts and difficulties to bring forward as objections in detail. These also will gradually cease to be made, since in nineteen out of twenty cases they are found to spring solely from want of knowledge, whether owing to the absence of ideas, or to the existence of misconceptions, in the minds of the objectors, the proper remedy for which will consist in the diffusion of more correct knowledge. Further, we see that the truth of our science is not only thus obtaining place amongst the received opinions of society, but that a deep and abiding interest is taken in the subject, and that most persons admit the vast importance of phrenological investigations, just so far as they happen to be acquainted with their real nature and objects. Hence may we safely assume that the general principles of Phrenology are now allowed oy the intelligent portion of the public, to be true, useful, and interesting; and that we shall have little further need to defend our subject, in toto, before the public. Our future labours, on such ground, will rather be directed to meeting any individual objections made against particular departments of a science now generally received, though as yet far from being perfected. This we shall be glad to do; and believe that the agitation of such questions will not be found useless to phrenologists, some of whom do not always sufficiently keep in view the many uncertainties and difficulties that still remain. If we would arrive at truth, in inquiries connected with mental philosophy, it is of the first consequence that we should have numerous and very exact observations as a groundwork, or as data, on which to reason; and it is equally necessary that we should submit all our conclusions drawn from them, to the most rigid and repeated examinations. In investigations touching the philosophy of mind, the sources of error are many, very deceptive, and pregnant with great mischief if overlooked in practical applications. Thus, our first and paramount duty, as journalists, will still be the endeavour to complete and (where necessary) to correct the science of Phrenology, on the basis and in the outlines already laid out. For this purpose, all new facts, or newly-observed confirmations of opinions not supported by the most ample evidence, will be eagerly sought for, and gladly received when offered by others. Much has, indeed, been already effected in this way; but very much yet remains to be done. Nor must we only seek to perfect our science by additions to that which is already known or believed to be so. Doubtless the doctrines of phrenologists are mainly correct, while regarded as a whole; yet we do fear that some minor points, if not some of the later systematic generalisations, have been assumed rather more hastily than a strictly philosophical induction would warrant. We speak here of proofs. It is one thing to satisfy our own minds, but another and often a more difficult labour, to adduce sufficient proofs to make doubt in others become unphilosophical. In the conflicting opinions respecting the real functions of some of the organs, there is ample evidence that individual observers do not find the received notions of others to be wholly authorised by the facts of nature. Whether the facts have been ill observed, or conclusions from them have been drawn prematurely, we need not here stop to inquire; it is a sufficient support to the accuracy of our remark, that such discrepancies do largely exist, whatever may be taken as the explanation of them. Facts, we repeat, numerous facts, accurately observed and precisely recorded, are yet wanting for the more satisfactory elucidation of many points in Phrenology; and we shall endeavour to specify under another article (probably in our next Number) the kind of observations which are among our desiderata on this head. In addition to the record of mere facts, we would have a watchful eye kept to the conclusions drawn from them by individuals. Sweeping generalisations in science are always to be received with caution, as being usually the offspring of slender knowledge or superficial powers of reasoning. Such are the natural manifestations of minds, whose range is too contracted to take in the counter-possibilities and the varied explanations of the self-same facts, such as may be given by different observers. To spring at once to conclusions, seems to be commonly a far more agreeable effort, than is the slower process of testing the soundness of our opinions, by a careful examination of the grounds on which they rest at each progressive step. Our best phrenologists, they whose opinions carry most weight in the estimation of others, have constantly endeavoured to make each step sure and solid; and keeping in view the difficulties of the subject, it may confidently be asserted, that they have steered clear of false conclusions with singular felicity. At the same time, it must be allowed, that some others have brought a temporary discredit upon the science, by venturing rash conclusions and dogmas, nominally on phrenological data, which they have been unable to support when pressed by the adverse arguments of opponents. We have occasionally witnessed with pain the dilemmas into which half-informed phrenologists have in this way caused themselves to be drawn. Per haps we may not be wide of truth, in attributing much of the distaste towards Phrenology, without absolute denial, which is avowedly felt by several scientific men of high attainments, to the injudicious manner in which crudely-formed conclusions have sometimes been set in array against received opinions, and with which more mature deliberation may show them to be less discordant than has at first appeared. Besides this, most persons receive their earliest ideas about Phrenology, orally, in course of ordinary conversation. Injudicious enthusiasts and the mere pretenders to knowledge abound; and they unwittingly circulate much that is fallacious or wholly false. Such errors are received by others in the light of expositions of Phrenology; and as a natural consequence, persons imbibe a distaste to the subject, who would have been attracted towards it, had their first notions of the matter been accurate. It is difficult to apply an effectual remedy in correction of this evil; but a rigid and cautious examination of all that comes into print will be a partial palliative; and the diffusion of sound knowledge will gradually tend to prevent the mischief, by increasing the number of competent persons, who will teach the public that a man is not necessarily acquainted with the subject just because he chooses to call himself a phrenologist. We shall be obliged to any friends who may draw our attention to such misrepresentations as get into public circulation. But the observation and record of isolated facts, the systematic combination of those facts into general rules or principles, and conclusions deduced from them by a process of reasoning, supposing all this to have been done quite accurately, together make up only an unapplied or theoretic science; which can be of no real value to mankind, otherwise than as it affords an agreeable study for a few individuals, until its principles are brought to bear upon the practical affairs of life. It is this application of science which changes mere knowledge into "useful knowledge;" it is only when thus applied that knowledge can be truly designated as power; and it is in its adaptation for these practical applications, that the science of Phrenology shines out as vastly superior to the abstract philosophy of mind, so long and sedulously cultivated by the Scottish school of metaphysicians. Whatever the talents of the individuals of this school may have been, their labours have invariably proved of such extremely little service to mankind at large, that the name and subject of Metaphysics have become the staple of numerous current jests against the natives of Scotland, and amongst them likewise. We regard, then, one of the most important sections of our prospective labours, to be that of applying the facts and principles brought to light by phrenolo gical investigations, to the elucidation and improvement of all matters in any way connected with the training and direction. of the human mind, as well as to the more exact appreciation of many others in which the influence of mind constitutes an element for consideration. Education, legislation, and morals in general, come under the former head; while our social customs, civil institutions, political economy, national statistics, and general literature, are more or less touched on under the latter. It is on account of such applications of phrenology, that we have adopted the subsidiary title of "Magazine of Moral Science;" being well assured, that on Phrenology only can moral science be steadily based. In support of this asseveration we might cite many of the papers published in former volumes of this Journal, and proceeding from the pens of writers every way entitled to take a foremost rank amongst the expounders of practical ethics. In one or other of the departments mentioned,-facts, conclusions, and applications, - Phrenology, Phrenology, as the Science of Mind, bears directly and intimately on most of the ordinary pursuits of life; and it thus becomes the interest and the duty of all to know something of our science, to have some knowledge of mind, of the corporeal conditions on which its due manifestations depend, and of the manner or degree in which one mind is able to exert an influence upon others. To no one can knowledge of this kind be wholly useless; to very many must it be in the highest degree beneficial. The happiness of individuals and the prosperity of nations rest alike on the natural powers and direction of the individual and national mind. To know what those powers are, is fundamental; to know the extent to which they can be changed and guided, and the limits which nature prescribes to our successful efforts, is of vital consequence; and to apply this knowledge, for the removal of evil and increase of happiness, is all-important. It is to be feared that many and deep-rooted prejudices will long have to be contended against, by those who would apply phrenological analysis as a test of the soundness of our opinions, habits, and institutions. There is a constant proneness in the human mind, and more especially in the minds of the ignorant and half-educated, to decide on the truth or value of new views solely by reference to the ideas previously imbibed or formed. These latter being assumed true, sound, and safe, the more novel views are forthwith rejected (so far as they differ) as untrue, unsound, or unsafe. Comparatively few persons are sufficiently imbued with the spirit of philosophical impartiality, to submit their notions to a re-examination, when any newer and different views are suggested to them; and thus it happens, in |