The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-23 00:00:00

PrIRENOLOGY.

Dr. Spurzbeitn delivered his sixteenth lecture on the science of
beganPhren Phrenology, gy
statingat thetat Coreo wpnr
principal
lAonb
object
of t
, onh
lecture
to direct ..he attention of his auditory to the practical utility of
Phrenology. It was at this stage that the study became difficult,
ditlareY last
would Id Ifsb
particularly when they came to make application of its principles
.to individual,. They would readily conclude, when they saw that
one part of the cerebral mass was mere developed than the rem,
that that power was the most active; but it would be more dif-
ficult to speak of its modifications. The difficulties wore indeed so
numerous that he was almost afraid to mentioa them; but he
would do so because he was more apprehensive of the support of
ignorant friends than of any opposition be could receive teen
the inteersaries of the science. There were too many attempted is
mike appli eation of phrenology without sufficient knowledge to guide
them, and in this manner they did infinite mischief. It was the
same with those who professed to practice medicine without that
thorough knowledge of the art which was essential to success.
Nothing in sheet, in his opinion, was so dangerous to mankind ad
ignorance. The beat way of learning to apply the science was; when
they saw a partieular development of an orgar,m inquire of the person
whether Its did not feel the correspondent propensities strong f
The answer would be found uniformly to agree with the appearance
of the organ. But when they came t t consider the actions of men.
a different course was necessary. The Processor earnestly insisted
en what he had stated in a former lecture, that hi speaking sod
judging of others we must rot think that all had the same view of
the same nbiect that we ourselves had. We meat not, he repeated
it again, judge of others by ourselves.. This was an error, not only
in judging of man, but also in legislating for him. This was so
natural, that man represented the Supreme Being as endowed with
those qualities which lie thought necessary to hi,nat f. For pros[
of these assertions it w.s only necessary to examine the writings a
those who had spoken In the name of the Alti.ighty, and they
would find the Supreme Being always &len with the character
and pitasions of the writer. Alan was only to be judeed by the
standard of nature, and according to that standard the different.
modifications would not be difficult to be distinguished. He then
proceeded to show in what manlier the powers existing in each
individual might be modified. Each power did not act by Itself,
but in combination with others. Suppose an individual with the
organ of Self.esteeni much developed. We might immediately
conclude that he had a good opinion of Maisel. But was that all
that was to be considered? Certainly not. The question then
was, how this man would apply his self.eateent in his conduct in
society. It would first he necessary to consider other circumstances.
The powers were not active simply in proportion to the size of the
organs. A man might hare a particular organ very much de-
"eloped ; but, if he was not generally disposed to activity, he would
not be active in that particular quality. A man on the other hand
might have a linedl development of a particular organ, and yet if
Le was active in his general habits, that organ also would be active.
Another circumstance was to be taken into consideration, viz. t
the education or circumstances of the party. A man of the most
noble qualities might be formed with the organ of Self.estzent
strongly developed, and so might the most ignoble; but it was in
the different manner of showing their self-esteem that the distinction
of character would be seen. In fact, nobleness of mind could not
exist without a certain portion of self.eneetn. The Pro.
fester thought this branch of the subject so impel-Ant that
he gave several illustrations of it. The same act might be
done by two men, and yet front very different motives. In
the case of persons going often to divine worship, it might be
expected that the organ of Veneration would be very much dove.
'mod ; but this consequence did not necessarily follow. biome
might go from vanity, and a desire to display themselves, and
others from different motives. In the example of charity they
would perhaps find, that many persons who gave large sums
would have the proper organ ; but there would be many that had
it not. These latter persons, it might be safely affirmed, did not
act so from real motives of charity, but front some other motives.
The Professor then adduced several other illustrations of lila posi.
tion of the necessity of Combination. The instants he had ad.
dueed he thought sufficiently calculated to teach them to combine
the different powers, in order to find the true motives of action.
He had before stated, that most dramatic performers had the urgan.
of Secretiveness; but it did not follow that it was essential to have
it very prominently, In order to become eminent. An actor who
had to play a part that had cunning in it, must, to represent the
character well, have this organ strongly developed, for he could not
represent well what he himself did not feel. This was the reason
that some actors were very fine in one particular line of acting, but
i totally failed in another; and the reason was, that they themselves
had not the feelings they attempted to represent. A woman might
be a very good mother, without having the organ of Philoprogeni.
tiveness; and an actress might very well represent a mother in
distress, without the organ of Secretiveness ; but she would not be
able to play any part in which slyness, revenge, and avarice were
depicted. An author, in the same manner, only drew those cha.
ractem and pinions well that be had within himself, for he could
not draw a character of which he bad no idea. Shakespeare doubt.
less had this organ, or he would not have been able to trace the in.
dividual powers and lower passions so well as he had. When the
combination of powers, good and bad, In each individual was eon.
sidered, it showed the danger of forming a judgment from Oct
organ only ; for in the instance of Shakspeare, they knew thlt
he had higher powers in conjunction with that of taccr,tiveness.
Let them look abroad into the world, arid they would perceive that
everybody who had acquired wealth and influence by his industm
would have the organ of Secretiveness well developed ; but aI.
thirugh this was the case, it did not follow that this alone would
suffice: on the contrary, it required combination with other powers.
There were some men who at first sight would be pronounced
peevish arid tetchy, and persons would in consequence be on theft
guard in their conversation with them ; not but that they might be
very good men generally speaking. Such a man had a great desire
of approbation, Joined with a smaller development of the organ of
Self-esteem. Now, a man that had the organ of Self.esteem more
developed, and that of the Desire of Approbation less, would be •
great deal better received in society, because he would be more see.
defied with himself, and not be so subject to ill-humour upon slight
occasions. Now, the great difference in two such men resulted
from that slight difference in the combination of their powers.
There were gay, serious, and religious characters, and the difference
between them only resulted from some such slight variety in the
combination of their powers. Some children were of a serious and
grave character from their infancy, and were often supposed not us
have such good parts as children who shovel themselves to be of
• more lively temperament; but when they were sent to school it
generally happened that the serious boy had the superiority : but
it was the lively boy who would make his way in the world, for he
would please everybody on Ant acquaintance, whereas the other
would be kept in the back-ground. He thought tills subject se
important, that he should punioe it farther in his next Lecture.

ENGLISH AND BRIS7'OL CHANNELS SHIP
CA .V4L.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

Brl,—The question between Mess % King and Lukin and my..
self is, in reality, whether the House of Lads will allow their
Lordships' rules and orders, relative to contracts entered into by
subscribers, to be rendered a dead letter by a transfer of shams r
men of straw.

In asserting that the subscribers who signea the Contract would
continue responsible for future instalments, notwithstanding a
transfer of their shares, I concluded that the contract was framed
according to the true intent and meaning of the standing order of
the Ilouve cf Lords, No. 19-2, which declares, " that no Bill foe
any suc.i purposes (a Canal being one of them) shall be read a third
time in this House, unless four.fifths of the prohable expense of
the proposed works shall have been subscribed by persons under a
contract binding the subscribers. their heirs, executor., and admini-
straton, for payment of the monies so subscribed, within a limited
time. nor unless there shall be contained a provision in such Bill,
that the whole of the proliable expense of such work shall be sub-
scribed in like mentor before the powers and authorities to be
given by such Bill shall b.. put in force."
It is or course powilde, either by express words or implication,
to render any deed of no effect upon a given event ; and perhaps
Messrs. King and Lukin't deed may be so framed as to become
inoperative upon a transfer of shares after the passinf of the Act,
but then arises the qnestiln, whether such a deri will be a too-
pliance with the Lords' order., and I have thought it right to take
the advice of two banisters of eminence upon the point, who'd'',
both given an opinion (which I shall be happy to show any gentle.
man who may favour me with a call) that it will not, as the object
of the standing order is to obtain a security for the cotopletioa of
the work.

It follows that the House of Lords will, if they allow the pram
contract to stand, and its effect be as contended for, insist upon the
insertion of a clause in the Bill, rendering the contractors perms.
nently liable, and whether such contractors are liable as the deed is
at present framed,' is of little consequences, because they mil un-
doubtedly be so when the Bill passes into a law.
The charge of gross misrepresentation, I treat with utter con.
tempt.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant.
Green's Hotel, Linenln's-inn-'ields, MC. BROADMEAIt.
22d April, 1825.

The Piedmoatese Gantette of the Itth inst. mentions the
departure of their Majesties from Turin, on the 9th, on
their way to Genoa.
We have seen an intelligent Gentleman who left Corfu
on the 14.1 t of March. Ile has no doubt whatever of the
ultimate success of the Greeks. lie has fought in their
ranks, and he declares that he has seldom seen bett_r. dis-
ciplintsl or braver troops.
It is ealeulatril that not less than 300 Octlf. will have
been paid during the present Bessie'', to Solicitors and
Couusel,for drawing, alvocatinp„ and orposin6 the different
schemes broug'it ;•erere Pi;liament.
We understand that a Judge's warrant has been issued
from York to arrehend Mr. Roberts, of Burnley, that he
Roberts., his wife, about. a month sv.s.u. It will be reruns-
may be brought to trial on a charge of killing Mn.
bered that the Coroner's Jury, at the time, brought in*
verdict that the &ceased died in a fit of passion ' • but mama
ercumstanees must have been communicated to the ledges
to induce a belief that her death was occasialwal My tie
iolt•nee of her husband. Mr. Roberts, we believe, hi IN
been heard of in the neighbourhood sines the pima ke
his apprehension was iasuedoseis littsitigneter.