ADDRESS BY THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS AND CONDUCTORS OF THE PHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL, TO ITS READERS. IN resigning the property and charge of the Phrenological Journal into other hands, the original Conductors consider it to be due to their readers as well as to themselves, to state briefly the circumstances under which it has been carried on during the long period of fourteen years, and the reasons by which they are influenced in now transferring its publication from Edinburgh to London. Mr. William Scott, Mr. James Simpson, Dr. Poole, Dr. Andrew Combe, and Mr. George Combe were the original proprietors of this Journal, and by them its publication was commenced in December, 1823, a time when the force of public prejudice made it almost impossible to obtain a hearing. The enemies of Phrenology confidently prophesied that its first Number would be its last; yet its conductors have now completed fifty-three quarterly numbers, forming ten thick octavo volumes! The first four numbers were edited by Dr. Poole, under an engagement with the proprietors, at the close of which he ceased to have any connection with the work. The subsequent numbers, down to No. XXI. inclusive, were edited by the proprietors themselves. Mr. Scott then withdrew from all connection with the Journal, and from that time it was continued under the management of the three remaining proprietors, down to the 53rd number, published on the 1st September, 1837. From the first moment of the undertaking, the proprietors have been actuated solely by the desire to cultivate and extend the knowledge of what they considered to be a science fraught with the most beneficial consequences to the human race; and they have endeavoured to accomplish this end in that spirit of moral and intellectual purity and peace which Phrenology so strongly inculcates on those who embrace its truths. Wherever they have fallen short of this aim, as in many instances they have done, it has been from the imperfection of their a own faculties, and the unfavourable circumstances in which they were placed. From the beginning all the proprietors have been actively engaged in professional pursuits, and could boast neither of pecuniary independence nor of literary leisure. The conducting of the Journal, therefore, was the work of those hours which professional men generally devote to pleasure and recreation. Far from being cheered in their labours by the hopes of gratifying their ambition, they were warned by their friends that they were laying a sure foundation for their individual ruin, by opposing public opinion with such marked determination. They were spurned as weak and mischievous enthusiasts by the men who then took the lead in literature and science; some of whom, nevertheless, rather inconsistently, put forth their most powerful efforts to extinguish them by argument and ridicule, and where these failed, by misrepresentation. Amidst these difficulties, they were not sustained by the approbation even of any considerable body of followers animated by principles congenial to their own. The views of human nature brought to light by Phrenology were so new and unexpected, that few even of the most enlightened minds were prepared to embrace them. Their consequences were obviously important, but they were shrouded in so much obscurity, that the public shrunk back from investigating them. The conductors of the Journal, therefore, laboured amidst obstacles and discouragements of the most formidable description, and for many years the circulation of their work was so limited that they had the painful certainty of having few supporters in the world. It was only the consciousness of the purity and dignity of their motives, and an irresistible conviction of the importance of the cause in which they were engaged, that supplied them with confidence and enabled them to persevere. They felt that they were acting for posterity, and although they knew that they should never personally hear the verdict of an impartial and enlightened community on their labours, they relied on its justice, and, through faith, were cheered with the hope of an ultimate acknowledgment that they had done some service to the cause of human improvement. The real merits or demerits of their work will be appreciated more justly as its conse quences are developed by time: but even now, they believe, it will be generally acknowledged, that the whole annals of science do not present such a record of the state of public feeling regarding a great discovery at its first promulgation, as is contained in the ten volumes of the Phrenological Journal which they have just completed. Throughout the whole work, the labours of the proprietors and of all the contributors have been gratuitous; and it is solely owing to disinterested zeal that the work exists. To Mr. Robert Cox, however, the proprietors have been indebted for much valuable aid. Besides furnishing upwards of sixty articles, many of them highly valuable, he edited the work from No. XXXIV. (December, 1832) to No. L. (December, 1836), both inclusive; besides preparing the Indices of all the volumes from the fifth to the tenth inclusively, a labour which has greatly enhanced the value of these volumes as a record of phrenological facts, doctrines, and occurrences. For a few years past, the sales of the work have sufficed to defray the expenses of paper and printing; but a considerable amount of capital, expended during the first years when it was not productive, remains unredeemed. These facts are mentioned to enable the readers to form a proper estimate of the difficulties with which the conductors have had to contend, and having stated their case, they leave the value of their efforts to the verdict of the public; expressing only their sincere regret for any imperfections with which the work has been chargeable, and which they would have been happy in removing if it had been practicable for them to do so. Their reasons for transferring the publication to London, now when its success seems no longer problematical, are entirely personal, and do not imply any diminution either of zeal or confidence in the cause in which they have been so long engaged. In January, 1837, Mr. Robert Cox ceased to reside in Edinburgh, and his valuable assistance was withdrawn from superintending the printing of the work. Dr. A. Combe was prevented by impaired health and his indispensable avocations from lending that aid which otherwise he would gladly have afforded. While Mr. Simpson and Mr. Combe were frequently called from home, to teach Phreno logy and its applications in distant parts of the country. In these circumstances they could not insure that regularity in the conducting and publication of the Journal which are essential to its success. They have now transferred the copyright and management of the work to a gentleman resident in the vicinity of the capital, whose contributions have often enriched its pages, and who has distinguished himself by his writings in other departments of science. They confidently believe that he will infuse into it fresh vigour, while he will preserve unimpaired those moral and practical qualities with which its past conductors have aimed at imbuing it. They return their warmest thanks to those readers, whose zeal in the cause has led them to continue their support through the season of difficulty, and respectfully solicit their future countenance to the work; at the same time, they pledge themselves still to lend their best assistance to the new Editor, in rendering it worthy of approbation. Edinburgh, 21st October, 1837. JAMES SIMPSON. ANDREW COMBE. Note by the Editor of the New Series.-It is proper to mention that the preceding Address did not reach our hands until after the "Introductory Explanations," which commence this Number, had been printed. The circumstance will account for some repetitions of statements which might otherwise have been avoided, and will also explain the slight discrepancies of sentiment and anticipation that may be observed between the two explanatory addresses. We ourselves have been attentive readers of every Number of this Journal that has been published, and have constantly sought to introduce it to the notice of such of our friends as were likely to be pleased or benefitted by its contents; and judging from our own feelings and experience, we cannot hesitate in believing that the other readers of the Phrenological Journal will gratefully acknowledge the vast services which have been rendered to Phrenology, by the gentlemen whose names are subscribed to the Address above printed. 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 |