tomology, Ornithology, and others comparatively of little value, are largely entered upon, the most important of all sciences-that of the human mind, is scarcely spoken of? · The new issue of the Encyclopædia Britannica, is close upon the article " Phrenology" now, and we shall soon see whether the rejected" Cranioscopy" of Dr. Roget is to come in again under another We hope the publisher will be more politic than to oppose our science. He cannot pass it unnoticed, without injury to the work.

name.

The British Annual and the Phrenological Society of London. We know not whether it is from contempt of the Society itself, or from contempt of the science to which it relates, that the Phrenological Society of London has been omitted by the compilers of the British Annual. Some other of the London scientific societies have been equally passed over; but the omission of the Phrenological Society becomes more remarkable by contrast with the admission of another whose objects are comparatively contemptible, -the Entomological Society; which is introduced into the Annual for 1838, with lists of a President, four Vice-Presidents, and a host of other officers. The British Almanac, of " The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge," does include the Phrenological Society, in its list of meetings of the scientific and literary bodies of London. We should be sorry to learn that any unworthy feeling of bigotry or dislike had influenced the Editor of the Annual in this exclusion, for his work is well got up, and there is a tone of temperate liberality and freedom from prejudice in his allusions to the defects of Oxford education, which should betoken a better spirit.

Phrenological Quacks.-We beg all true phrenologists to take every opportunity of exposing the impositions practised on the public, by a set of ignorant persons who frequent the towns of second and third-rate size, pretending to give lectures on Phrenology, and inducing foolish people to pay shillings or crowns for specifications of character passed off upon them as phrenological inferences from development. Whilst we have some reason to complain of these worthies in the" old country," our friends on the other side of the Atlantic seem to have a still more impudent set of impostors to misrepresent them. We have heard of one of these itinerant and self-styled phrenologists travelling about in America, to exhibit a Giant, a Dwarf, and himself as a lecturer on Phrenology; and in order to render the last of his three wonders equally attractive as the two former, he took up the name of "Coombs " attempt, it is supposed, to pass himself off for Mr. Combe; as a rational phrenologist found it expedient to address a letter to an Albany Paper, stating that the proprietor of the Giant and Dwarf was not Mr. George Combe of Edinburgh! This would have been a capital anecdote for the antiphrenologists a dozen years ago; but phrenologists can now afford to tell it against themselves, or rather against the public who are gulled by these itinerant quacks.

an

National Education. Lord Brougham has brought in a bill for the appointment of a Board of Educational Commissioners, with power to commence and advance a system of National Education for England and Wales, which was favourably received by the House of Lords, on its first reading. Petitions have been presented from many towns in England - one from Sheffield with 12,000 signatures and many others are in preparation. A grant of 10,000l. is now lying in the Treasury, for the establishment of a great Normal School, to train teachers; the application of which will probably be the first object of the labours of the Commissioners. We sincerely hope that the bill will pass, and that Commissioners may be chosen, whose ideas and knowledge of the requisites of thorough education are quite up to

the rapidly-advancing progress of the public mind on this vitally important question. We fearlessly assert that the three original proprietors who carried on this Journal till September last (but who no longer direct its sentiments, except openly as contributors), have not been surpassed by any other persons in their successful efforts for diffusing sound knowledge on the subject of education, and arousing the public mind, not only to a sense of the importance of education, but also to a sense of the best means of giving real education. The true extent of their labours, and of their influence over public opinion, has not been sufficiently appreciated; because (to avoid kindling prejudices) neither they nor their supporters have always prominently put forward the science which instructed them. As proofs of their influence and success, however, we call attention to the next paragraph; and also to another headed" SCOTLAND," on page 219, of the present Number. We think the Commissioners will act judiciously in consulting these gentlemen on the best means for carrying out the objects of the Commission, and ensuring permanent success. The sale of their works by tens of thousands affords a convincing proof that their views are largely imbibed and approved by the public; and we know that they are particularly sought by that portion of the public which is most desirous of seeing an effective system of National Education.

Testimonials to James Simpson, Esq.- When speaking of Mr. Simpson's Lectures, on page 90. of last Number, we omitted to state that the Working Classes of Bath and Manchester had respectively sent him presents, with inscriptions expressive of their good will and gratitude for his instructions; as had been previously done by those of Edinburgh. Such testimonials are honourable both to the donors and to the receiver. A short time ago, a letter was addressed to the Editor of the Spectator Newspaper, from a member of the Working Men's Association, in London, in which it was roundly asserted that the line of separation between the middle and labouring classes was becoming more decided; and on these grounds, the writer of the letter appeared to believe that a revolutionary outbreak of the working men was not far distant. From the occurrence of such testimonials of good-will as those just mentioned, we should incline to a contrary inference. Nor have we any doubt that the different classes of society are actually approximating instead of separating more widely. As institutions for the instruction of the operatives increase, and their moral and intellectual faculties become more cultivated, the real bar to friendliness will be removed. It is the coarseness of habits, the brutality of feeling, and the utter ignorance, characteristic of the great body of the working classes, at present, which render them unfit for any friendly intercourse with their superiors. We speak of the mass: exceptions doubtless exist. Were such objections materially diminished, differences of wealth would seldom be found a serious obstacle. No one is better able than Mr. Simpson, to enforce this upon the attention of the working classes.

Obituary. It is with much regret that we record in our pages the death of two of the gentlemen who strongly recommended Sir George Mackenzie's suggestion to Lord Glenelg (see page 104. of this Number), in reference to a phrenological classification of convicts. The Rev. DR. LLOYD, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, was universally esteemed for his private worth; and as a public benefactor, both through his own scientific attainments, and by persevering exertions for the advantage and improvement of the University with which he was connected, his name will long be remembered with respect and gratitude. We are not informed how far he had made himself acquainted with Phrenology. A brief biographical memoir of Dr. Lloyd will be found in the Athenæum of December last, page 897.- Dr.

JOHN MACKINTOSH, author of the "Practice of Physic," and other professional writings, several years ago became thoroughly convinced of the truth of the leading principles of Phrenology; and from that time it was his custom earnestly to recommend our science to the attention of the students of medicine in Edinburgh; and he was himself always ready to avow his belief, and to defend phrenological doctrines from the sneers and misrepresentations of opponents. At the last meeting of the British Association, he supported the phrenological portion of Professor Evanson's Analysis of the different methods of determining the functions of the brain. As a Lecturer on Medicine, Dr. Mackintosh was highly popular with the students in Edinburgh, and had the very useful art of inspiring them with ardour and earnest zeal in the pursuit of professional knowledge. A short Memoir of Dr. Mackintosh was given in the Scotsman Newspaper of November 8th last, and in the Obituary of the British and Foreign Medical Review, No. IX. January 1838. To these our readers may be referred for particulars,

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"JNO. WILLIAMSON."-We have received an abusive letter, dated" Commercial Inn, Ramsgate," and signed "Jno. Williamson." The name is supposed to be an assumed one, the writer probably being one of the makers of the catchpenny cards exposed on page 60. of our last Number. The letter is written in very vulgar language; whence it may be inferred that the writer has unfortunately not had the advantages derived from good education or polished society. We pity him, without feeling any anger at his coarse abuse. He will find one point of his letter attended to in the first paragraph on page 212.

Philalethes. We thank our Cambridge correspondent adopting this signature, for his attention in sending Mr. Warne's pamphlet; but think it injudicious to attempt the connexion of science with Scripture; and more particularly so, when a science involves many debateable doctrines. At the same time, it may be said that the essay of Warne is one of the best of its kind falling under our own observation. At present we have not seen Parker's Thoughts on Education, but may do so before June.

S. C. On re-examining the Essay on Hope, we find it so widely at variance with the views of our best phrenologists, that it cannot be introduced here without the name of its author being attached to it. If he will communicate this (as requested on the cover of this Number), the paper shall be printed; though we should greatly prefer one of half its length, in which the author would confine himself strictly to his own peculiar views and the evidence which he can adduce in support of them.

Mr. J. S. Olcott - The Phrenological Society of Edinburgh has received this gentleman's communication. He ought to submit to his own countrymen all the facts he can muster in support of his supposed discoveries. To us they appear contrary to admitted facts in Anatomy and Physiology, and his paper contains no evidence except simple assertion.

Kelso Subscriber. - We cannot introduce an anonymous letter, calling in question the veracity of any gentleman, in respect to a local circumstance which we have not the means of ascertaining for ourselves. We forwarded a copy of his letter to the gentleman, and have an explanation of the circumstances from him.

Dundee Subscriber.-A portion of his letter will probably appear in our next, and we can then explain our own views on the subject of it.

Mr. M.- We could not make room for the " Preliminary Paper." An extract from it is introduced on page 205. The paper was too long for its subject and our space.

"A member of the Working Men's Association."- We thank him. The Tracts shall be mentioned in our next. Meantime, his attention is requested to our remarks on Mr. Hodgson's Lecture (page 180) and to the paragraph in reference to Mr. Simpson (page 222).

Mr. Levison. — The paper on Wonder can have a place in the September No. if not long. If long we cannot positively promise space for it.

Mr. Grattan. The Phrenological Journal, as we hope, will in future be ready for publication a few days before the first of the month. If not received regularly in the country, the fault will probably be found to rest either with the country bookseller or with his agent in London, Edinburgh, or Dublin.

MSS. received. — Mr. G. T. Black, on Will, which we fear is too long for insertion. Mr. Hytch, on the "unascertained organ above Ideality.” Two very interesting pathological cases from Dr. Charles Cowan. - Another from Mr. Cull. - Mr. Rumball, on Wit.

Not received, up to Feb. 16. The expected paper from Professor Evanson. - Dr. Slade's Colloquies. — Dr. Verity's Changes in the Nervous System.

N. B. The MSS. received by us, together with the subjects upon which we are requested by others to write, would require more pages than our regular quantity. Some of these must be postponed or omitted; and to prevent unnecessary trouble to correspondents, in sending MSS., we beg them to bear in mind that a preference will be given to useful facts and intelligence, novelties, and papers on subjects of general interest; and that brevity of language, with legibility and accuracy of penmanship, are indispensable. We decline papers not sent in accordance with our own directions on the covers; and do not undertake to return those sent, unless we are directed to do so, either through the Post-Office or London Parcels' Delivery Company.

THE

PHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL.

No. LVI.

NEW SERIES.-No. III.

I. MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.

1. Dr. Elliotson versus Spurzheim and the Phrenologists of Britain.

IN noticing the new edition of Dr. Elliotson's Physiology, it was intimated (page 167. of last number) that the author had introduced severe strictures upon the late Dr. Spurzheim and other phrenologists; and we expressed regrets that the terms in which they were conveyed should be so harsh as to lead to the belief that the author's censures proceeded from the blind impulses of anger and enmity. At the same time, his own words, "I mention all this from my veneration for Gall, and my anxiety to see justice done him," induced us to give the author credit for being swayed by more worthy motives. Although we have found others not disposed to agree with us in this, we still think the prevailing tendency of Dr. Elliotson's remarks to be sufficient proof that their prime object was the exaltation of Gall over all other phrenologists, physiologists, and anatomists; and in so far these remarks were strictly in keeping with the motives avowed. But the anxiety to see full justice done to Gall might have been acted upon without the exhibition of injustice and virulence towards Spurzheim and others; and whatever may have been the intentions of Dr. Elliotson, we cannot close our eyes to the fact, that unseemly violence of language, and much unnecessary and undignified captiousness, are manifested in his mode of doing justice to Gall. Some of the charges and opinions advanced by Dr. Elliotson åre so little reconcileable with each other, that it is by no means an easy task to determine precisely what he would

VOL. XI. N. S. NO. III.