and talents of individuals, provided we can ascertain the shape of the brain during life. On examination, Mr. W. tells his readers, we find that there is a very close resemblance between the shape of the brain and that of the skull, in human beings; and, that the skull itself corresponds in shape with the outside of the head: consequently, there is little difficulty in estimating the shape or proportions of the brain, in living heads. Between the brain and the external shape of the head, however, the correspondence is not quite perfect, and therefore there is some difficulty in the way of correctly ascertaining the natural dispositions and talents of individuals by looking at the external shapes of their heads. For this reason, it behoves phrenologists to make themselves acquainted with the parts of the head where such differences usually occur, and also with their usual extent; and, possessed of this knowledge, they can easily make the requisite allowances when looking upon a living head: serious mistakes will seldom occur, excepting with respect to that portion of the brain which is situated behind the lower part of the forehead.* Phrenologists estimate the size of organs by examining the proportions or comparative size of different parts of the skull or head, as representing those of the brain which constitute the organs of the different mental faculties: and, in their language, cerebral development signifies the absolute or comparative size of the brain and its parts. Development differs more or less in every individual head; and, in extreme cases, the differences amount to inches, so as to be readily discovered; but, in many instances, it is difficult to say which of any two organs is the larger. By careful observation of extreme cases, the functional manifestations of faculties and their organs have been ascertained, and the cases of more equal development corroborate and explain the primary conclusions. Thus, Mr. W. affirms, the mental faculties absolutely depend upon material organs for their manifestation; and, like all other textures of our frames, these organs do not admit of entire change at will: hence, dispositions and talents are innate and will defy all attempts at change, excepting within the limits allowed in the material organs by which they are manifested.

Mr. Watson goes on to say that, besides the differences resulting from the size of the brain and the proportions of its parts, the natural dispositions and talents of men seem to be greatly influenced by the quality of the brain, and probably by that of the whole frame. There are no fixed rules for judging of the quality of the brain, he thinks; but it is supposed to be indicated by certain empirical signs. This doctrine seems somewhat singular in coming from a medical philosopher and a phrenologist: the qualities both of brain and of body may be ascertained by the self-same rules which enable us to judge of the qualities of medicines and the qualities of organic functions; namely, by attention to the relations of concomitance and causation. Mr. W. regards the comparative or proportionate de

See Analyst, vol. iii., p. 43.

velopment of the different parts of the frame, elementary constitu-
ents as well as compound organs, as the most probable cause of tem-
perament or constitution.

The temporary state of the brain and body materially modifies
the manifestations of the mental faculties, particularly when the
size of their organs is nearly balanced. It is stated further by Mr.
W., that the exercise of the faculties increases the functional acti-
vity of their organs: it improves their power and energy, but it
does not otherwise change them. On the other hand, when the
faculties are too little exercised, their organs become weaker: but
when they are too much exercised, their organs become irritable
and unhealthy, and the constitution of the whole body is then in-
jured by the unhealthy state of the brain. Precocious children
usually die in childhood, or lose their talents through being encou-
raged to overstrain their brains; and, through being forced to do so,
dull children are often seriously injured. Again; the organs are
stimulated into activity by external circumstances; but often they
become involuntarily active from an internal cause-as an increased
flow of blood to the part. This, as Mr. W. observes, is an import-
ant fact, which ought to be well known and ever remembered by
moralists, divines, parents, teachers, and physicians. He thinks it
probable that exercise or activity of the cerebral organs increases
their size; but whether it does this to the extent of altering the
original configuration of the skull, after puberty, seems yet very
doubtful. He is quite certain, however, that particular forms and
qualities of brain are hereditary; and, although the laws of here-
ditary descent are unascertained, yet there is a presumption that
the organs predominantly active in the parents, will be the most
developed in their children. And this much we give to afford a
glimpse of the "philosophy of Phrenology."

Mr. Watson seems to have taken extraordinary pains to make his
Statistics of Phrenology alike comprehensive and accurate. When
under the influence of particular inspirations, he is sometimes amus-
ingly oracular; but, throughout the work, his talents and principles
appear to great advantage; while his literary character is beauti-
fully distinguished by a vigorous straight-forwardness of purpose,
and a devoted veneration of philanthropy and truth.

Anecdotes and Annals of the Deaf and Dumb. By Charles Edward
Herbert Orpen, M.D., Member of various British and Foreign
Societies, and Secretary of the Institution for the Deaf and
Dumb, at Claremont, near Dublin. Second edition. London:
Tims. 1836. Post 8vo., pp. 626.

IF establishing schools and colleges for the instruction of ordinary
children is of such importance, and the necessity of arriving at the
best and surest means of enlightening them and rendering them fit
to mingle in polite society, as is now universally acknowledged, so

indispensable, how infinitely more incumbent is it upon us to provide institutions for the education of those of our fellow-creatures whose unhappy lot it is to be deprived of the powers of hearing and speaking. When we consider that in Britain alone there are at this time many thousands of deaf and dumb persons; when we remember that, perhaps, one tenth of these are uninstructed, and consequently wholly ignorant of the existence of the Deity and of a future state, shall we imagine it an affair of no moment to draw these wretched beings from the brutal state in which they must otherwise live and die! But the fact is, that few persons ever bestow a thought on these their unfortunate fellow-creatures; and, being unaware of the frequency of the malady, do not reflect on the evils necessarily consequent thereon, without the lights of education. In Ireland, the deaf and dumb population amounts to four thousand, and only one hundred and twenty of these are educated. What then can become of the immense majority that must be as the beasts of the field! The misery caused by the mere abstraction of the powers of hearing and speaking is comparatively of slight importance, when contrasted with the utterly uncultivated condition of the deaf and dumb. Having never enjoyed the pleasures of conversation, this may not be felt by them so great a privation as it na turally appears to be to us; but how awful and terrific is the idea that they will first become aware of the existence of God when they shall be summoned at the last day to appear before his judgment seat, whence there shall be no appeal. When all these matters are taken into consideration, it is surely not too much to say that it is the duty of every one, according to his ability, to give substantial evidence of his willingness to aid the benevolent institutions established in various parts of Europe and America for the education of the deaf and dumb. Let those who yearly spend their thousands and tens of thousands on racing, gambling, and other vicious and demoralising sports-to which too many are driven solely from the want of some rational employment, and with the view of killing timefollow the bright example of the Abbés de L'Epée and Siccard, and turn their attention to the education of the deaf and dumb, or at least provide schools and instructors for the purpose. Then, indeed, they will be "useful in their day and generation ;" and when their mortal body shall be shrouded in the cold clay, their memories will still be cherished and revered by succeeding generations, when ages shall have passed over their tombs, and when, but for this true patriotism, their names would long since have passed into oblivion, unremembered and unregretted. We have given our readers some idea of the frequency of this distressing calamity; we have mentioned the exceedingly small number of those, which receive instruction; and we have alluded to the expediency and necessity of adopting some means of alleviating their misery: we shall now proceed to shew the awful effects which may be, and frequently are, the result of leaving the deaf and dumb, but more especially females,

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NATURAL HISTORY, AND THE FINE ARTS.

EDITED BY

WILLIAM HOLL, Esq., F. G. S.,

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BRITISH SONG BIRDS," "ORNITHOLOGIST'S TEXT BOOK," &c.)

VOL. VI.

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arms, gave every indication of excessive suffering. He took her by the hand, led her up to his room, and desiring her to go to bed, instantly left her, and, locking the door, seated himself outside it. The poor creature, terrified at finding herself locked in, with no one to pity or assist her, thundered at the door and screamed so violently to get out, that the four men-servants and four women-servants, rushed up stairs; but their prayers and tears, that some one might be admitted or called to her relief were all in vain: her father denounced instant vengeance against any one who should approach. Her groans were echoed by the useless sympathy of the servants outside the room. At length her cries became fainter and fainter, till, at the end of two hours, they ceased entirely. A pause ensued: her father then rose, and admitting the servants, gave them the key and went down stairs. On unlocking the door of the chamber, they found the poor young woman lying on the floor, quite dead, and a fine infant boy lying beside her, dend also. With one voice, they exclaimed, that had she been taught to read and to understand the Scriptures, she never would have been in this state; but no one ever warned her that she ought not to be a mother and unmarried."

Nor is this a solitary instance of the evil resulting from leaving the deaf and dumb to the course of Nature. Dr. Orpen's Annals and Anecdotes abounds with cases in which the worst of consequen ces ensued, as might indeed be expected. But the above extract is sufficient to point out the necessity of educating these unfortunates. It appears, from the Doctor's evidence, that at every vacancy which occurs in the institution to which he is Secretary, there are fifty or more applicants for admission; numbers of these have been candidates for years and years; and as pupils are not allowed to enter after a certain age, hundreds must pass the time of life when it would be possible to educate them, without relief: and until the funds of the various schools shall be considerably augmented, this must necessarily be the case.

Having thus given our readers some faint idea of the state of the uneducated deaf and dumb and their prospects, let us now investigate the manner in which Dr. Charles Orpen has fulfilled his task. The author is founder of the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Claremont, Glasnevin, near Dublin; and all the time and money which he could spare, seem to have been dedicated to this truly useful and benevolent purpose. His book consists of a collection of anecdotes concerning the deaf and dumb, and the correspondence of the pupils in various schools, intermingled with original observations of his own. These latter at once prove the talent, judgment, and enthusiasm of the author in his subject. The style is pathetic, occasion, ally eloquent, and in every case admirably adapted to the topic un der discussion. A decided spirit of piety pervades the whole volume, and this spirit is, in general, not carried too far. It appears, however, to be the settled opinion of Dr. Orpen, and likewise of the instructed deaf and dumb at the Claremont school, that their hapless lot is to be considered 66 а dispensation of Providence"-a most erroneous and pernicious doctrine, and one which cannot be too much deprecated. Dr. Orpen must be well aware (although he has no where alluded to the circumstance), that deafness-in common with all other deformities-is the result of an infringement, of one or