The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-11 00:00:00

PHRENOLOGY.

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Dr. Spurzheim delivered his eleventh Lecture on Phrenology on
Thursday evening. lle began by noticing the many difficulties that
lay in the way of secertaitting the true size of the forehead. It was
bast judged, not by the front it presented, but by the profile. The
rn Itenlli point was the length of the radius from the car to the
middle of the forehead. lie then adverted to an erroneous opinion
that had gone abroad relative to the divisions of the head. It was
said that phrenologists divided the head into as many portions as
possible, in order to suit their own purpose. This he denied : the
division was not arbitrary nor dependent on the caprice of the
phrenologist. The front part of the head was divided into more than
twice as many parts as the back. It it bad been fixed arbitrarily
it would certainly have been more convenient to have made a more
equal division. The true reason of the inequality was, because the
intellectual powers were seated in the frontal part; and though they
were very numerous they were not as filly developed as the animal
propensities. In extraordinary individuals the intellectual organs
were easily to be discerned ; but in general it was mote difficult to
distinguish them t as in common life persons might possess
intellect sufficient to be useful members of society, and yet not
have any great development of any particular intellectual
organ. The understanding of man was exceedingly compli-
cated, and was not to be measured by the rules laid down
in the metaphysical schools, where the faculties of atten-
tion, memory, and judgment, were talked as if they were separate
and original powers; but it was quite certain that there were no
parts of the cerebral mass appropriated peculiarly to those powers
of the mind. This was ascertained by experience, as the organs
had been searched for in vain. It seemed to him that the mind
first acquired • knowledge of external objects, and then of their
various relations and properties, upon which acquired knowledge it
afterwards began to reflect and reason. The Professor then ad-
verted to the size and shape of the forehead, as connected with the
„manifestation of the intellectual powers. In those individuals who
gad a low forehead there was generally a great development of the
lower region of it. When considering the formation of the lower
part of the forehead, the situation of the eyebrows was material :
sonic were drawn downward'', others earned upwards, and others
again were horizontal. The variety was in abort so grreatithat it
would be hardly possible to find two individuals of the whole
human race who had exactly the same formation of the eyebrow.
In this part were developed the organs of form, size, and colour.
He would not in that lecture enter into the details of those faculties,
but content himself with taking a general view of the fundamental
pr triples. In some individuals it might be observed there was
great breadth between the eyes ; in others, the organs of vision made
a very near approach to each other. A particular conformation of
the head in that respect often ran through whole nations. In the
Frenth, for example, generally, the width between the eyes was
greater than in the English, and in the termer the organs of form
and colour were more clearly developed. This fact perfectly coy.
'responded with the national character. The French skull was more
elongated than the English, and as a people they had greater activity.
The English head was broad, and the national character was that of
greater steadiness, with more of reflection and reserve. Those in-
dividuals who had considerable breadth between the eyes would
hare more taste and skill in the Fine Arts than those who were
narrowly formed in that region. In those who had greatly exer-
cised their faculties of measuring sires and distances, a great
development of the organs between the eyes would be observ-
able ; but their powers, like all others, if they were too much
developed, would lead to error. There were individuals who
had a great talent in judging of forms in works of art
and in views of nature. There were, as he mentioned before,
more among the French who had this conformation than among the
English. Those therefore who were remarkable for this breadth
between the eyes would have great natural skill in architecture or
sculpture; in short, all the faculties that related to sight, and all ta-
lents with regard to forms and figures would produce a correspond.
ing development between the eyes. The organs of this part of the
forehead were more difficult to be seen in adults than in children,
and the reason seemed to be that children were, generally speaking,
inquisitive concerning every thing they saw, whilst grown.up
persons he supposed thought they had knowledge sufficient. The
consequence of the non-esemise of these faculties in adults was,
that those parts of the brain ceased to act, and cavities were fre.
quentiv formed, although the external surface of the skull re.
urethra nearly the same. Some persons had a very strong develop.
meat of these organs, and yet wanted judgment to direct their
powers. The Chinese, for example, were fond of architecture and
painting, yet they exhibited no judgment in either of those arts.
With regard to colouring among artists, the perfection of the eye
alone was not • sufficient guide. for there were persons whore sight
was excellent, and yet who could not distinguish what colours her.
sr.onized and what did not. Some individuals, it ass well known,
could not even distinguish colours ; and it was singular to observe.
that the colours the generality of such persons could not distinguish
were brown, red, and green ; but there were some that could only
see the difference that existed between white and black. The Pro.
tessor then proceeded to make some observations on the organs
situated immediately above the eyebrow. The English, he had
observed, generally had those organs very strongly developed; in.
sleel there was no nation that had them in such perfection. The
first organ to which he would call their attention was the calculat-
ing organ, or the organ of Order. Those who wished to see every
thing in its proper place, as mineralogists or others who had large
collections of small articles, would have • great development of
this organ. The consequence of a great development of that por.
lion of the brain elongated and depressed the eyebrow. This
would be found to be the cam with all great mathematicians.
This faculty, however, alone would not form a Newton, any more
than knowing how to mix two colours in a ',roper manner would
form a Raphael. In great calculators the eyebrows were depremed,
whilst painters generally would lie found to have a look of hilarity,
with the eyebrows raised. The Professor then alluded to the pecu-
liar disposition evinced by some individuals to wangler from place
to place, to be eternally migrating. A correspondent faculty of
tnivelling belonged to several species of animals. It clearly could
mat be by mere sigh: that pigeons, dogs, and other birds and ani-
mals, with which experiments had been made, found their way
!rein one place to another, at very remote distances, and by ways
previously unknown to the animal. Some persons were so fond of
seeing different countries, that to gratify their taste they sacrificed
all the comforts of horne,whilst there were others, who never, in the
whole course of their lives, had stirred beyond the limits of their own
parish. In conclusion, the Professor summed up the facts he had
irated in the coarse of the Lecture, and observed, that although the
organs he had noticed last evening were not seemingly of great
importance, yet it was impossible for him to take a more cursory
view of them. Ile should in his next Lecture, proceed to the
other organs of the forehead.
As he proceeded through the Lecture, the Professor, from time
to time, illustrated his arguments by reference to the casts and
plates lying before him.

DINNER TO Ma. BROUGHAM AT Eniesurtoff.--On
Tuesday last, Mr. Brougham partook of a dinner given to
bim at Edinburgh, as a testimony, on the part of his coun-
trymen, of the sense they entertained of his conduct in
public life. The interest excited by this festival was very
great, and the company numerous and highly respectable.
Mr. Brougham' in the course of his speech, said that the
project for the Establishment of a University in London
vas likely to take effect.
Law APPOINTMENT.—Richard Wilson Greene, Esq.,
the son of our worthy Recorder, has been appointed As-
sistant Barrister of the county of Antrim, in the room of
Conway Dobbs, Esq., who has resigned. We understand
the appointment was the spontaneous act of his Excellency
the Lard Lieutenant, and that neither Mr. Greene nor his
friends were at all aware that it was even in contemplation.
Freeman's Journal.
A Bill to relieve the Jews in the State of Maryland
from the constitutional disqualification to hold offices, has
passed both Homes of Assembly.
According to the law of France foreigners confined for
slebt may be kept in prison all their lives, if the debt be
not paid, and the creditor choose to continue the prison al-
lowance of SIJ francs per month. There is now an Ame-
rican in the prison of St. Pelagie, who has been there six-
teen years; and not long ago an Englishman, who had
been an officer in the army, was discharged, aft-it an impri-
sonment for seven years for a debt of about 2001. sterling,
which lie was unable suddenly to pay. His wife and two
children were with him in prison, and he existed only upon
the gaol allowance and a few charitable contributions from
his countrymen.
In the reign of FRANCIS I. the roll tax was introduced
into France—such people as had not the happiness of being
born gentlemen were to be subject to it ; they who were to
pay it, were described under the titlesofphysieians,surgeons,
husbandmen, manufacturers, and artisans; churchmen, gen-
tlemen of the sword, hiaterioes, and poets, were exempted.
The code of social regulations established by the present
Empress of Russia, put in contrast with the above, shows
the rapid progress which the human mind has made in the
course of two centuries in real knowledge. An architect or
a carpenter, is qUll'iflfft by his profession to rank as a gen-
tleman. In the same code, womeri of quality are forbidden
to get drunk ; and gentlemen must not beat their wives,
under the penalty of being degraded and excluded soeicty.
A communication with the Brazils, by means of steam-
vesrels. the first used for regularly crossing the Atlantic,
will take place immediately. The II ibernian steam-boat is
abeut to sail from Falmouth to Para, Maranham, Pernam-
buco, Bahia, and Rio de Janeiro.
Mr. Fearnley, of IVatford, who possesses the greater
part of the immense wealth of the late Mr. and Miss Whit-
tiat:stall, has obtained his Majesty's Royal license that
he and his issue may take the name and bear the arms of
Wittingstall. In addition, he is therefore now Edmund
re Tido. Whittingstall, Esq.
The York Assirei finished on Thursday. Both the
Judges left York in the course of the afternoon. 'l' he
tit 'y prirot es who has received sentence of death, and
e is left for execution, is Richard Holderness, for
wsli-
Iv' shooteg.

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