The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-18 00:00:00

DEATH OF AIR. GEORGE COMBE.

(F. urn the ..Vorth 13riii.vh Daily Mail of yesterday.)
Mr. George Combe died on Saturday at the hydropathic
establishment of his friend Dr. Len-, Moor Park Surrey,
whither he had repaired abut a f tnight sg.,, more fir
the ph.fasure of the society to be found there then from any
special necessity otherwise. Mr. Combe was bo:n at Edin-
burgh, October 21, 1788, and vas the fourteenth child and
sixth son of a family which numbered seventeen in all
Both his parents were persons of superior intelligence and
integrity, in easy circumstances. After passing through
the usual preparatory studies, Mr. Corobe entered upon a
special course of legal training, and in 1812 became a
Writer to the Signet, a profession which he followed for the
next 23 years. When about the age of 30 the speculations
of Gall and Spurzheim attracted his attention. In 1816 he
became personally intimate with Spurzheim, then en a visit
to Edinburgh. The study of the system which he propounded
resulted in an ardent conviction not only of its ebstract truth-
fulness, but of its deep practical importance. To so great an
extent was be inspired with this conviction that it is no ex-
aggeration to say the whole of his subsequent life was devoted
to the vindication and propagation of phrenological science,
and the cognate doctrines with which it was in his mind asso-
ciated. Within three years of his meeting with Spurzheim, in
1819, he published his " Essays on Phrenology." This treatise
was subsequently expanded and elaborated in his "System of
Phrenology," a work which has passed through numerous
editions. In 1823 be established the Edinburgh Phrenolo-
gical Journal as an organ through which the leading lights
of the new philosophy might hold communion with the more
inquiring and more erudite of their followers. The establish-
ment of this journal naturally led Mr. Combe into not a few
rather tough controversies. With characteristic zeal, at once
from the platform and from the press, he defeaded his favourite
science against its numerous assailants. The most redoubtable
of the then antagonists of the system of phrenology were
Francis Jeffrey and Sir W. Hamilton. And though Mr. Combe
could not lay claim to the brilliant controversial powers of
Jeffrey, nor the trenchant logic and massive erudition of
Hamilton, he at least evinced, in quite as high degree as
either the editor of the Edinburgh Review, or the pro-
fessor of logic and metaphysics, the fitting temper of the
philosopher. In 1828 Mr. Combe published that work by
which he is best known—" The Constitution of Man con-
sidered in relation to External Objects." This work, based
upon the principles of phrenology, has for its leading object
to impress a deeper conviction of the stability of natural

law as regulating the physical universe, and as imperatively
necessary to be studied devoutly, interpreted justly, and
adhered to resolutely in order to ensure the well-being of
mankind. The earlier and more expensive editions of this
work were not much sold, but a philanthropic English gen-
tleman, impressed with the great importance of widely dis-
seminating the opinions advocated, devoted a handsome
sum to the production of a People's Edition, which
at once attained an immense popularity, not only
in Britain but in America. It was the sincere
desire of Mr. Combe to avoid as much as possible touching
upon topics which might awaken hostility, but the intimate
relation of not a few of the questions treated in this work
were so intervovea with and seemed to militate against re-
ligious views hitherto most surely believed among us, that It
brought Mr. Combe into bad odour with the religious press.
Assailed by antagonists of every variety of temper in the
religious world, Mr. Combe, nevertheless, continued unwa-
vering in his devotion to the new science—defending it with
vigour against the assaults •f those who deemed it little
better than covert Atheism, and who stigmatised it as sub-
stituting law fur God, and enthroning an iron necessity
where once had dwelt the Father of the Universe. Without
entering now upon any discussion of the merits of the fierce
controversy waged respecting the orthodoxy of the " Con-
, stitutiou of Man," there can, we think, he little doubt that
a prolonged study of one important branch of knowledge
had led Mr. Combe to give to physical law an importance
which all but veiled the reality, and the at least equal
importance of spiritual agency. A change has, in recent
years, come over the higher thought of Britain, and we
believe that change has not been favourable to the conti-
nued popularity of the philosophy of Mr. Combe in those
extreme and objectionable aspects. The great popularity
which, about the period of the passing of the Reform Bill,
had been given to his writings, and the éclat with which in
wide circles his name had become invested, induced Mr.
Combe, towards the close of 1833, N deliver a course of
lectures on popular education. These lectures, while em-
bodying mast of his own peculiar views, were the fruits of
solid studies and enlarged experience, and there can be no
doubt they contributed not a little to give an impulse to
what Mr. Combe had much at heart—the education of the
people. After making the tour of nearly all the more im-
portant cities of Britain in his capacity of lecturer, Mr.
Combe published his views on education in a volume which
obtain, d not only a wide circulation in Britain and the United
States, but was transla'ed into French, German, and Swedish
The same year of his success as a lecturer be was united.
in marriage to a daughter cf the celebrated Mts. Siddons
In 1836, Dr. Ritchie, Professor of Logic and Metaphysics in
the University of Edinburgh, havir,g resigned, that important
chair became vacant, and Mr. Combe was induced to offer
himself as a candidate. The rival candidates were Mr. Isaac*
Taylor, author of the "Natural History of Enthusiasm ;"
Mr. Musten, of Rotterdam, and his old antagonist Sir Wil-
liam Hamilton. In a private note, Mr. Combe engaged that,
if elected to the chair, he would deal tenderly with the pre-
judices cf those who were not quite prepared to accept whole-
sale his system of phrenology. Ths old ideas were not to be
outraged. The worthy councillor who proposed him in
the metropolitan municipal couLeil was, however, not so
considerate. Fresh from the study of a twopenny chart of
the science, he described the new doctrine as occupying a
most commanding position—as having lived down all oppo-
sition. The day for twitting about bumps, exclaimed the
worthy civic dignitary, has gone by. The claims of Sir Wil-
liam Hamilton were, however, too conspicuous to be any
longer successfully untested. The most eminent European
philosophers had borne the most emphatic testimony to his
merits; and the descendant of the hero of Drumclog was the
successful candidate. Neither the " Physical Theory of
Another Life" of Mr. Taylor, " Mutual Recognition in
the Next World," by Mr. Musten, of Rotterdam, which
some councillors had read with great delight, nor the
" Constitution of Men," apparently was able on this
occasion to shake the claims of the author of the
" Philosophy of the Unconditioned." So it was that the
Edinburgh University vas still continued the preserve of
the " Scottish Philosophy." Shortly subsequent to his
defeat as candidate for the chair of Dr. Ritchie, Mr. Combs
visited the United States of America. After a sojourn
extending over suncwhere about three years, he returned
to Edinburgh, aril there published the results of his tour

in three volumes, entitled "Notes on the United States of
North America during a Phrenological Visit." This work
is, upon the whole, one of the most just and faithful
estimates ever furnished by the British traveller. On his
return from America lie paid several visits to Germany.
" Notes on the New Reformation in Germany " was the
product of these visits. This work was by no means so
satisfactory as his work on America. With every wish to
be fair, and with all the calmness of the philosopher, there
was about Mr. Combo a constitutional inaptitude for form-
innt an orquree conception 'ef the purely spiritual furces
that in certain great crises upheave society. We presume
even his most ardent parti'ans will acknowledge. that is
work on the "Common Schools of .Massaehusetts,"publislied
that same year, was a more useful book than " Notes on the
New Reformation." In 1850, Mr. Cotube edited the Life
and Correspondence of his eminent brother, Dr. Andrew
Combe. The-boyhood and youth of the accomplished physi-
cian to the King of the Belgians had been spent under the
tuition of the phrenologist. Through life they bad ever
been warmly attached. As mieht have been anticipated in
such circumstances, the memoir in question is a singularly
interesting and affecting tribute to a brother's worth.
About 1851 Mr. Comhe published a letter on secular educa-
tion, and shortly afterwards interested himself in the
establishment of a secular school in the metropolis of
Scotland. Subsequently he visited Glasgow upon a kindred
mission. The great object of these schools is to inculcate
the prudent virtues, and disseminate among the youthhood
of the nation a knowledge of the natural laws. Not satisfied
with the region of the useful in which to illustrate his
peculiar philosophy, in 1854 Mr Cornbe published a work
entitled " Phrenology applied to Painting and Sculp-
ture." In addition to the extensive list of !realties
we have already mentioned, a legion of tracts and pamph-
lets, which space precludes us from enumerating, were the
product of his pen. Mr. Combe was also a steady and
highly acceptable contributor to the Scotsman newspaper.
Not until lest week was Mr. Combe considered decidedly
ailing. On Thursday and Friday his malady—an affection
of the chest—left no hope; and on Saturday morning he
joined the congregation of the dead.

A BRITISH GOVERNMENT:GUARANTEE
OF 41 PER CENT.

TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,--W by is the Red Sea Telegraph stock cmaranteed
41 per cent. by her Majesty's Government, only premium'
It ought to be at least 9 premium, to correspond %licit Con-
Soh at 96.—Yours obedien►ly,
Lombard-street, Aug. 18, 18.58.

JOHN HARRISON.

----------=—,„,_ p ,„
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—IDC wilowing
gentlemen, liavleg undergone the necessary examinations
for the diploma, were admitted members of the College, at
a meeting of the Court, of Exawiiiers (41 the IGth lost.,
viz.:—Messrs. Alexander 'Edward Bartlet, Ipswich ; John
Frederick Rcgers, Nev Grove-hruse, Bow-road; Daniel
O`Nial, Killaloe; John Lee,
.inn., Ashbourne, Derbyshire ;
V i l lTi The
John Frederick Micckreth,Keyingliato,.
kYsohrikrseb;irel.
following members of the College, having undergone the
lati Edmund liooystra
necessary examination, were admitted licentiates inmid-
wifery,at a meeting of the Board on the 14th lost
Hubert Beadles,
.• namely •
Croydon ;
11lessrs. Charles Senior, Bradfotd, Yorkshire;
Benjamin tiTinkfield, Bedford ; Jose
Nadin, Tipperary; Henry Stone Lambert,
Broadway,
Old Kent-road
;
Thomas Cayzer, Erith, Kent;
Worcestershire • Charles George Leopard,Plaistow;Hicks,Edward
Thomas Webster,
ornßaossw:rtihd husband Barfoot, Islington;
Parker, rd, m
uSnedv el;
eoga :Ins.;
Kensington ;
Robert Storey, Ashby-de.la-Touuscb ; George Frederick
Ileriot La FarguTeh,
bothom, Winclachea; Arid Alfred Woodward, Blcester.