far is Phrenology from failing to explain the "mystery" alluded to, that on no previously obscure phenomenon of human nature does it shed a clearer light. Enthusiasm results from strong and vivacious action of any cerebral organ, and the direction which it takes depends simply on the particular organ that happens to be in a state of high excitement. the missionary it is from Veneration and Wonder that Enthusiasm flows; in the soldier, from Combativeness and Destructiveness; in the poet, from Ideality; - large and active Philoprogenitiveness renders a man enthusiastic about children; Locality, an enthusiastic traveller; Tune and Time, an enthusiastic musician. Thus, the "mystery" can be "explained" if not by Helvetius, at least by Spurzheim.

R. Cox.

Cheap Postage. - Many influential members of society are actively bestirring themselves in furtherance of Mr. Rowland Hill's plan for the substitution of a penny stamp in lieu of postage on letters. Though the subject is one of some pecuniary importance to many individuals, this consideration should sink into utter insignificance comparatively with the vast importance of the proposed change in a moral point of view. As the free interchange of ideas is one of the greatest aids to the diffusion of knowledge, and tends most powerfully to promote the moral improvement of mankind, it is exceedingly desirable that all obstacles to this freedom of "thought meeting thought" should be removed as far as possible. Now the postage of letters much interferes with the pursuits of literary and scientific men, even in the middle classes of society, and so far limits their usefulness; while the pleasures and moral benefits to be derived from family and friendly correspondence is almost denied to the poorer classes, to whom the tax of sixpence or a shilling on a letter is equivalent to the loss of their earnings by half a day's work. Should not all philanthropists exert themselves in their own circles in furtherance of the proposed change?

H. C. WATSON.

Religious and Medical Missionaries. - The Directors of the London Missionary Society have been issuing advertisements for "well-qualified medical men, of undoubted piety, capable of undertaking operative surgery, to labour as Missionaries in China." There is a large body of small-minded persons, who set up themselves as the pious by excellence, and who, being wholly guiltless of any scientific attainments, one and all pretend to despise the "sour grapes" which hang above their

reach. They speak with affected disdain of intellectual powers, under the absurd appellation of the "pride of reason," and decry every advance in knowledge as a retrogression from true religion, meaning by this their own peculiar tenets or faith. Such persons never learn that religion cannot be instilled into a mind wholly unprepared for it; but neglecting all adventitious and preliminary aids they seek to force their doctrines upon others, as if these were alike adapted to the ignorant and the enlightened, the savage or the civilised. The directors of the London Missionary Society appear to have caught a glimpse of the truth, that missionaries, if ignorant of every thing except religious doctrines, cannot succeed in making real converts to Christianity; and they judge wisely in proposing to send out as missionaries, persons whose useful knowledge in other things will tend to excite the feelings of goodwill and respect from those who are to be instructed by them in religion. This is not all: before Missionary Societies can effect substantial good on an extended scale, they will have to acquire a practical conviction that the minds of their intended converts must not only be favourably inclined towards the teachers, but must also be duly prepared to receive and appreciate the pure spirit of Christianity, by previous training and instruction. The Chinese are probably more advanced in such respect than most other people, and might be made Christians by missionaries properly qualified for the task; but (to substitute an extreme case) it will be altogether lost labour to attempt to make real Christians out of the natives of New Holland. It cannot be too much urged upon the public, that the savage must be civilised before he can become a Christian.

H. C. WATSON.

Why do Birds sing? - A correspondent in the 53rd Number of the Phrenological Journal, with the signature "R. C.," suggests that the singing of birds affords an example of the influence of certain states of the body on the mental faculties, — in this case, the faculty of Tune. The cause why birds sing has been many times speculated upon by naturalists, and more particularly in the last three or four years. The idea that birds have an intention in singing, such as that of pleasing the female during incubation, was formerly the explanation most commonly resorted to; but this appears to be paying too high a compliment to the knowledge and reasoning of birds. The suggestion of R. C., that in a certain state of the body the organ of Tune becomes excited into functional activity, is probably the true explanation, and is that meant (without being fully

understood) by those who call the song of birds an instinctive or involuntary act. An empty stomach, in a healthy person, gives such a stimulus (direct or indirect) to the faculty of Alimentiveness, that the individual cannot help wishing for food; and an unusual waste of the materials of the body, as from the increased perspiration induced by active exercise, sometimes exalts the desire into an irresistible craving for food. In like manner, it would seem that certain states of the body, acting as stimuli to the cerebral organ of Tune, give the bird a desire to sing, which in its highest intensity becomes so much a craving that the bird cannot help itself, but sing it must. The various circumstances which appear to call forth the song of birds may perhaps all be resolved into peculiar impressions on the nervous system, connected with a healthy and vigorous performance of its functions. A caged thrush, kept warm and clean, and well fed, will sing almost the whole year round except for a few weeks about the period of moulting. But in such a case as this, where we might suppose a nearly equable state of the general functions, external impressions considerably modify the quantity of song. A bird thus situate, even though it has never felt rain, and is kept in a dry room, will increase its song during rainy weather. It will also sing more freely soon after awaking from sleep, and after being treated with any favourite food. Many sounds not calculated to cause alarm, such as music, whistling, talking, the grinding of a coffee-mill, &c. also incite to song; and the excitement of some of the other cerebral organs appears to be transmitted to that of Tune. The influence of rivalry in provoking song is familiar to bird-fanciers, and may be one reason why the sounds above mentioned are instrumental in producing the effect. It is in this way, possibly, that love becomes one amongst the causes why birds sing. Though birds do sing at other times, they sing most at the breeding season. season. Two explanations can be offered for this;first, That the organs of Amativeness, Adhesiveness, &c. are in a high state of excitement or activity, and may thus tend to excite that of Tune, through their physical connection; or, secondly, The excitement in these organs (which forces birds to pair and procreate) and the excitement in the organ of Tune may be coincident results of peculiar conditions of the bodily frame and external atmosphere. I am disposed to think that both explanations are in some measure true; the cerebral excitements, respectively giving the tendency to sing and the tendency to breed, being coincident results of the general state of the body at the time, and also becoming mutual stimuli one to the other,love increasing song and song augmenting love. Supposing this to be correct, there is still a mystery as to the

physical cause why love or rivalry should induce the functional manifestation of Tune, while fear has the contrary effect. Should it be ascertained hereafter, that the organ now called Tune is necessary to the appreciation and production of any vocal sounds, the seeming paradox would be partly removed; because it might then be said that the functional activity of any other cerebral organ has a tendency to cause activity in that of Tune; for instance, a thrush shrieks when hurt or terrified, and is vociferous under the influence of some other emotions.

you.

H. C. WATSON.

Letter on the double Consciousness during Sleep. SIR, I observe in your Journal for June that a phrenological solution is requested, of the double mental action which produced the curious dream, of which an account is there given. Perhaps another instance of a similar kind may not be unacceptable to The circumstance which gave rise to it was this: In a family where the elder children were nearly all grown up, and after a very long interval, another child was born. A lady, who was acquainted with the circumstance, dreamt that she was speaking of it to a friend who was intimately connected with the family in question, and that she asked what was to be the name of the new comer. Some common name was mentioned, "but," added the informant, "I think it ought to be P. S." The dreamer did not comprehend the joke, and when it was explained by her fancied respondent to mean Postcript, felt vexed at her own obtuseness. The information seemed to reach her mind through the words uttered by another. The sensation did not differ from what it would have been had the conversation actually taken place with a second person. As yet, the phenomena of dreams have been but imperfectly investigated. Might not a good dreamer, if also a faithful relater, render important service to mental science, especially as connected with phrenology?

I am, &c.,

A DREAMER.

Influence of Gestures in exciting the Mental Faculties. "The effects of the various positions and motions of the limbs and body on the mind have not yet been studied by physiologists with all the attention the subject deserves and requires. That attitudes and postures exert a very important influence on the mind, may be proved by the effects of the manipulations used by the practisers of animal magnetism, and by the testimony of actors who acknowledge that it is difficult to assume the posture indicating any passion without feeling more or less of

that particular emotion. We cannot throw ourselves into the attitude of the striking combatant, without feeling somewhat of the ardour which would give strength to his blow; neither can we imitate the shrinking posture of the terrified, or the headlong flight of the pursued, without partaking more or less of their fears. To a certain extent this circumstance, combined with the contagious nature of fear, may explain the difficulty of rallying troops if once they have turned their backs to the enemy; and even the bravest and best-disciplined soldiers, in retreating leisurely before an advancing foe, find it a task to proceed in good order. The attitude of the female dancers at Gades, described by Martial and Juvenal, and those of the Egyptian public singing girls called Ghawazee, exert an influence over the passions not only for the spectators, but of themselves. Some dances consist of motions calculated to excite an amorous, some a martial spirit. The latter are the chief favourites of barbarous, the former of more polished nations; and without fear of giving offence, we may be permitted to rank the waltz among the physiologically erotic species of dancing, although we do not quite agree with Byron in unconditionally reprobating its introduction amongst the English. Again, among the ancients the value of forms in encouraging feelings of devotion or respect, seems to have been fully understood, and certain postures were accordingly scrupulously inforced in the ceremonies of religious worship, or in the respects paid to kings and princes. Hence the different values attached in different parts of the world to prostrations and genuflexions, when a subject approaches his sovereign; matters which the unthinking regard as mere idle ceremonies, but which the physiologist must consider as founded on the fact, that these positions do actually increase the awe felt on these occasions, The priests and priestesses most celebrated among the ancients never thought themselves inspired, never ventured to utter oracles, even at Delphi, until they had worked themselves into a frenzy, by a quick succession of forced attitudes and grimaces." Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, quoting the Dublin Medical Journal, vol. XII.

Repetition of Truths."Truth must be constantly repeated, because error is preached upon every side, not only by individuals, but also by the mass of mankind." - GOETHE.