"Resolved, That they have listened with great pleasure and mental profit to the comprehensive views of human nature, and to the elucidations of individual character, set forth by Mr. Combe in his lectures just completed. And that in these they recognise many important suggestions for the improvement of education and jurisprudence, and the consequent increase of the happiness of mankind.

"Resolved, That a committee be appointed to carry to Mr. Combe the preceding resolution, and a wish, on the part of this meeting, that he will be induced to repeat his course of lectures on Phrenology in this city.

"The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to carry into effect the foregoing resolution, viz:

"1. Nicholas Biddle, LL. D., President of the Board of Trustees of the Girard College, one of the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Member of the American Philosophical Society, &c. &c.

"2. Joseph Hartshorne, M. D., Member of the American Philosophical Society (one of our oldest and most experienced and trusted physicians and surgeons- a practical man).

"3. Benjamin W. Richards, a Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, formerly Mayor of this city, and long one of the Managers, if he is not now, of the Eastern Penitentiary, and of the Almshouse.

"4. William Gibson, M. D., Professor of Surgery in the University of Pennsylvania (medical class this winter is 401), Surgeon to the Blockley Hospital (Almshouse Infirmary), Member of the Philosophical Society.

"5. Thomas Harris, M. D., President of the Philadelphia Medical Society, Lecturer on the Institutes and Practice of Surgery, Member of the American Philosophical Society, (a gentleman in extensive practice as surgeon physician, author of a Life of Commodore Bainbridge).

"6. Alexander Dallas Bache, President of the Girard College, formerly Professor of Chemistry in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Pennsylvania; after graduating at West Point, (U. S. Military Academy,) he taught Mathematics as a Professor in this institution-Member of the American Philosophical Society.

"7. Rembrandt Peale, a painter of celebrity, author of 'Notes on Italy,' &c.

"8. Charles Picot, for several years the head of a seminary for young ladies, and who, by his success as a teacher, has acquired celebrity through the United States.

9. John Bell, M.D., Member of the American Philosophical Society, Lecturer on the Institutes of Medicine and

Medical Jurisprudence, Professor of Anatomy applied to the Fine Arts, Editor of the Select Medical Library and Eclectic Journal of Medicine, one of the editors of the Journal of Health, (the initial article, with two or three exceptions, of each number of the Journal of Health is by Dr. B.); author of a work on Baths and Mineral Waters, and on Health and Beauty, &c.

"That the friends of the phrenological philosophy elsewhere may know how Mr. Combe has been greeted by the literary and scientific men of Philadelphia, we have added to the names of the Committee given above, such information as shows their standing."

In consequence of the strong wish expressed by many persons, that Mr. Combe should repeat his course of lectures in Philadelphia, he consented to do so, and commenced a second course on the second of March, at the Musical Fund Hall. His second audience, appear to have been gratified equally as were the former, and to have also imitated them by passing resolutions expressive of their satisfaction. We copy the following report of these from the Pennsylvanian of April 9th:

"At the close of Mr. George Combe's second course of Lectures on Phrenology, in the Hall of the Musical Fund, March 6, 1839,

"On motion, Professor Samuel B. Wylie was called to the chair, and George McClellan, M. D. appointed Secretary.

"The Rev. Chairman addressed the meeting on the propriety of making some public expression of the satisfaction which the very numerous class in attendance had derived from the lec

tures.

"On motion, the following resolutions, offered by Mr. Thomas Fisher, were unanimously adopted:

"Resolved, That this class have listened with great interest to the able and highly instructive exposition of Phrenology which Mr. Combe has offered us.

"Resolved, That whatever may have been our previous acquaintance with the subject, the lectures of Mr. Combe have impressed us with much respect for its practical importance, and with the kindliest feeling for the learned lecturer.

Resolved, That Phrenology is recognised and commended as a science founded in Nature, by a large portion of the most distinguished anatomists on both sides of the Atlantic, and that we believe it to be the only adequate illustration of the existing, wonderfully various manifestations of the human mind.

"Resolved, That it will afford us pleasure, and that we believe it will be highly acceptable to this community, that Mr. Combe should make it consistent with his arrangements in other cities, to give, during next winter, another course in Philadelphia.

"Resolved, That a committee of seven gentlemen be appointed to communicate to Mr. Combe a copy of these resolutions. "The following gentlemen were accordingly appointed: "Samuel B. Wylie, D.D.; Samuel George Morton, M.D., George McClellan, M.D.; Charles S. Coxe, Esq.; Joseph Hartshorne, M. D.; Thomas Gilpin, Esq.; Thomas Fisher."

Having been also solicited to give a second course of lectures in New York, Mr. Combe returned thither from Philadelphia, and appears to have commenced this second course about the middle of April. From the New York American, we copy the following report of proceedings and resolutions arising out of these lectures.

"At a meeting of the class in attendance upon Mr. George Combe's second course of lectures, on the 15th day of May, 1839, the following gentlemen were appointed a committee to prepare and report a paper and resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the class upon the subject of said lectures, and their feelings toward Mr. Combe as a lecturer, to wit: Rev. Mr. Sawyer, Mr. Boardman, Rev. Mr. Sunderland, and Mr. Hurlbut.

"On the 18th day of May instant, Mr. Hurlbut, from that committee, reported the following paper and resolutions, which were adopted unanimously by the class:

"The second course of lectures upon Phrenology, delivered in this city by Mr. G. Combe, of Edinburgh, having closed, the members of his class are desirous of expressing their views of the science which he has taught, and the sentiments entertained by them toward the distinguished lecturer, personally. "He has presented to us the wonderful discovery of Dr. Gall, and its practical influence upon the character and condition of man. That discovery was characterised by the most minute attention to the laws of our organisation - by the most patient observation of facts—and by the deduction of inevitable conclusions from them.

"Dr. Gall abandoned the school of metaphysical speculation -and taking to the observation of nature, he at length presented to the world his great discovery of the true functions of the brain and of its various parts.

"We now look to nature for the foundation of the science of mental philosophy - and the enlightened mind of the old world and the new is now engaged in illustrating and establishing it.

"Our own country has been twice honoured by visits from the earliest and most gifted advocates of this science. The noble and accomplished Spurzheim (a name sacred to every friend of man) fell a victim to disease upon our shores, while

just opening the rich fountain of a well-stored intellect to an American audience.

"The language of eulogy fails altogether when employed upon so noble a nature as his. But for this we thank him— that he directed the mind of a Combe to the sublime truths he had himself embraced, and allowed his mantle to descend upon the gifted individual to whom we have all listened with intense interest and delight. How nobly has he executed, in our country, the work which his great and lamented master' had begun!

"He came not among us to earn applause, for of that he had already enough; nor treasure, for we are happy to know of that he had no occasion to go in search. He came not seeking controversy being no less distinguished for his love of peace, than for his devotion to science. But, he came as a minister from the enlightened mind of the old world, to treat with the intellect of the new, upon matters of the deepest concern to the human race.

"His message was of the highest importance to us all. It interested us as students of Nature's laws, as observers of their manifestations, as speculators in mental philosophy and friends of education. It opened new views of man's moral and intellectual character, and well nigh explained the mystery of thought that most subtle emanation from the divinity of nature. It taught the discipline of youth: how to inform their intellect, to elevate their sentiments, and to moderate their passions. It pointed the way of happiness to man, by exhibiting the sources of human virtue and its effects; the causes of vice, and its effects upon his condition in life. It presented the most rational and humane view of moral responsibility, and explained and enforced the whole duty of man; and, in this his last and crowning lecture, Mr. Combe has opened the treasures of his knowledge of the political institutions of the old world faithfully portrayed their defects, their subversion of human liberty and happiness and contrasted with them the free institutions of our own country, and their happy influences upon the moral and intellectual condition of our

citizens.

"And now, having attended upon the gifted lecturer through his various illustrations, his well authenticated facts, and heard his sound deductions drawn from them, we hasten to express our profound sense of obligation to him for the instruction he has afforded us, and our high appreciation of the doctrines he has so ably maintained:

"Be it therefore

"1. Resolved, That we regard Phrenology as having its

foundation in the truths of nature

and as entitled, in point of dignity and interest, to rank high among the natural sciences.

"2. Resolved, That we regard the practical application of phrenological principles, to physical training, to moral and mental education to the treatment of the insane, and to criminal legislation as of the highest importance and utility; and we indulge the hope of witnessing in our own day the beneficial results of such application in the increased happiness of our homes, in the improved condition of our seminaries of learning, in more enlightened legislation, and in the more benign influences of our civil and religious institutions.

"3. Resolved, That the extensive knowledge and sound philosophy which Mr. Combe has exhibited in the course of his lectures, have inspired us with a profound respect for his intellectual power and attainments; and while the simplicity of manner and purity of style with which he has conveyed the most interesting truths, evince a highly cultivated taste, the generous enthusiasm with which he has embarked in the cause of humanity commands our admiration of his sentiments equal to the respect we entertain for his understanding.

"4. Resolved, That entertaining such opinions of the science with which Mr. Combe has identified his life and fame, and such sentiments toward him as a lecturer and a man, we beg to tender to him an expression of our heartfelt gratitude for the instruction and delight he has afforded us, and our kindest wishes for his prosperity and happiness through life.

"On motion, it was further resolved, That the gentlemen constituting the Committee who reported the foregoing, be instructed to present the same to Mr. Combe."

Thus far we have adhered to the published reports falling under our notice. Mr. Combe's letters, dated May 1st and 20th, intimated that he and Mrs. Combe intended to pass the summer in Canada, setting out from New York on the 21st; and that he should not lecture again before the winter now approaching.

III. Speculations, occasioned by Mr. Noble's Paper on Quality of Brain, as influencing Functional Manifestations. By Sir G. S. MACKENZIE, Bart., F.R.S., in a Letter to the Editor.

DEAR SIR, Mr. Noble's observations, printed in the April number of the Journal, which reached me but a short time ago,