The Sun.
London, England, 1828-09-30 00:00:00

VISIT TO DR. GALL.

(From a communication to the Birmingham Journal.)
Most of us find some amusement in tracing, on
Fancy's tablet, the portrait of a person of whom we
have heard much, and particularly after we have
read many of the works of an author, but with
whom we have had no personal acquaintance. It
generally happens, however, that our portrait is not
correct, when we compare it with the original—
thus it was with myself. I found Dr. Gall (in
1826) to be a man of middle stature, of an outline
well proportioned-- he was thin and rather pallid,
and possessed a capacious head and chest. The
peculiar brilliancy of his penetrating eye left an in-
delible impression. His countenance was remark-
able—his features strongly marked, and rather large,
yet devoid of coarseness. The general impression
that a first glance was calculated to convey would
be, that Dr. Gall was a man of originality and depth
of mind, possessing much urbanity, with some self-
esteem .and inflexibility of design.
After presenting my letters of introduction to
him, at seven o'clock in the morning, he showed me
into a room, the walls of which were covered with
bird cages, and the floor with dogs, cats, &c. Ob-
serving that I was surprised at the number of his
companions, he observed, " All you Englishmen
take me for a bird catcher ; I am sure you feel sur-
prised that I am not somewhat differently made to
any of you, and that I should employ my time talk•
ing to birds. Birds, Sir, differ in their dispositious
like men, and if they were but of more consequence,
the peculiarity of their characters would have been
as well delineated. Do you think," said he, turn-
ing his eyes to two beautiful dogs at his feet, which
were endeavouring to gain his attention, " do you
think that these little pets possess pride and vanity
like man ?" " Yes," I said, " I have remarked
their vanity frequently." "We will call both feel-
ings into action," said he ; he then caressed the
whelp, and took it into his arms—" Mark his mo-
ther's offended pride," said he, as she was walking
quietly across the chamber to her mat, " do you
think she will come if I call her'" Oh, yes," I
answered. " No, not at all." He made the at-
tempt, but she heeded not the hand she had so
earnestly endeavoured to lick but an instant before.
" She will not speak to me to-day," said the Doctor.
He then described to me the peculiarity of many
of his birds, and I was astonished to find that he
seemed familiar also with their dispositions (if I may
be allowed the word.) "Do you think a man's
'time would be wasted thus in England'.' You are
a wealthy and a powerful nation, and as long as the
equilibrium exists between the two, so shall you re-
main, but this never has, nor cannot, exist beyond a
certain period. Such is your industry, stimulated
by the love of gain, that your whole life is spun out
before you are aware the wheel is turning, and so
highly do you value commerce, that it stands in the
place of self-knowledge, and an acquaintance with
nature and her immense laboratory." _

T. was delighted with this conversation, he seemed
to me to take a wider view in the contemplation of
man than any other person with whom I had ever con-
versed. During breakfast he frequently fed the little
suitors who approached as near us their iron► bars
would admit. " You see they all know me," said
he, " and will feed from my hand, except this black-
bird, who must gain his morsel by stealth before he
eats it ; we will retire an instant, and in our absence
he will take the bread." On our return, we found
he had secreted it in a corner of hi► cage. I men-
tion these, otherwise uninteresting, anecdotes to show
how much Dr. Gall had studied the peculiarity of
the smaller animals. _

I After our breakfast he showed me his extensive
' collection, which I find is purchased by an English-
man, and thus ended my first visit to the greatest
moral
philosopher that Europe has produced; to a
man, than whom few were ever more ridiculed, and
few ever pursued their bent more determinately de-
spite its effects ; to a man, who alone effected more
change in mental philosophy than perhaps any pre-
decessor ; to a man, who suffered more persecution,
arid yet possessed more philanthropy than most phi-
losophers.
In comparing the characters of two men who,
I from their associated labours, are generally spoken of
at the same time, we might say of Dr. Gall that he
possessed the greater genius, while Dr. Spurzheiro
is the most acute reasoner. To the former we are
indebted for the discovery of a new doctrine, to the
latter for its adaptation to useful purposes. Gall
astonished us by the vastness of his scheme of men-
tal philosophy, Spurzheim by the attractions with
which he adorned it. Gall possessed all the genius
that commands respect, and Sporzbeim the amia-
bility of disposition that ever ensures rt.—Birming-
ham, Sept. 19.

7
CHESTER CASTLE.—Thc Gencral Court-
-3t
hlae rdt ieafle
es
es e tonfb
jleodniNn thetGarLaoncdicJ, uEr,yq.l,to om in the Castle,
last week, resumed its sitting for the purpose of hearing
preferredH
o f
against Fusileers,
f
t ityi•"LePide at
tlYit eenrnieaastolt ntelCVariousßegiment
charges,tl
IiuNTER BLAnt, who commands the Regiment. The in-
vestigation has been entered into at great length, and is
not yet concluded.
GLASGOW AGRICULTURAL MEETING.--
The agricultural meeting, general show of live stock, and
exhibition of agricultural implements,• roots and seeds,
took place in the Cattle Market of this city, and was nu-
merously and most respectably attended by the public in
general, and by all the Pgriculturisti in the adjoining (Its-
•
L trios, and by many from distant parts of the country.

EAST INDIES.

SUTTEE AT HOWRAH.

. The following are the particulars of the suttee
which took place yesterday morning at Sulkeah.
The 'widow was a young and interesting looking
woman, and-at the death of her husband, at his
bequest, had become possessed of a fortune of
three lacs of rupees. She was a native of Bala-
sore, of the Tampoli caste. Her husband was
a ,respectable man, in the employ of Government,
and possessed of considerable landed and other
property. From the moment of his death the
widow declared her dettrmination to attend him
on the funeral pile, a resolution which she has
kept hi a manner that seems incredible.
During the day she distributed to the poor
and to her
servants money to the amount of
300 rupee, • • •
besides dispersing all her jewels
among her relations ; and just before mounting
her will with perfect compo-
-5 froth
, bti
tsl
f
had ‘
stilt;reri
She vas
eo
oe m,; s
ited by many people on
endeavoured more or less
e
eorattli,
iie7 Sllch leercannot 1 objectnot
be recalled,i
Tier
had twined the holy toolsee branch in her hail,
and the world and all its concerns were to her as
sincerer,
oi
tdhiev
nought.
At an early hour on Saturday a lat:ge crowd
had collected ; the greatest order and decorum
prevailed throughout the immense multitude,
who, though certainly brought there by curiosity,
exhibited wondrous little of' that propensity in
their faces. " A stupid moment motionless
they stood," and might have stood for hours, or
until the important matter of cooking, &c. should
be despatched ; while the poor miserable object
of all this portentous preparation was to be seen
seated on a wicker frame placed on the ground
by the side of her dead husband, whom she con-
tinued still, as she had done all day and night,
to fan with a bunch of flowers.
As the sun rose, the poor infatuated creature
became most impatient for the magistrate's des-
swill, who, on these occasions, always attends
to prevent the employment of any constraint,
and see justice done. Seven o'clock came, and
eight, but no word of the necessary order. With
very different feelings, yet vith no less intensity
of anxious expectation, did the widow inquire,
from time to time, for this important person, than
does the Newgate criminal for the arrival of the
sheriff.

He came—a fine-looking man, with an im-
mense black beard and bushy eye-brows, which
hid from observation the penetrating glance of a
pair of very intelligent grey eyes. Carrying in
his hand the document which, under legal au-
thority, permits such things to take their cours
and in a manner the most forcible and touching,
he now pointed out to the Nvomaa the sin and
folly of the course she was about to follow,--ex-
plamed to her, by reference to their own shas-
ters, the absurdity (or at least the non-necessitY)
of such a proceeding—assured her of protectiL:n
if she should still incline to change—and appeal-
ed to the imploring faces, and the tears of her
people around, for a testimony of the truth of his
arguments.

The woman listened attentively, and replied
fully, calmly, and steadily. She treated such
motives as wealth, rank, and kindred, with
lain, and with much apparent reason appealed
to her total indifference to all sublunary things,
by the disposal she was about to make of them.
She argued for half an hour, apparently with
much earnestness ; and, but for the " recollec-
tions" to which she very fluently gave utterance
of previous existences, and previous immolations,
the conviction would have fastened upon me
that she actually believed her own future destiny,
as being perfectly fixed, since in most glowing
language and with a smiling countenance, she
talked of the glories and the happiness which
awaited her in the heaven of heavens, which she
was now going to enter trebly purified, as gold
three times tried.

When told that no compulsion should be em-
ployed to enforce the observance of her vows,
her answer was in disdain, " Upon compulsion!
No ! I shall leap into his arms."
Accordingly the body was now moved and
laid upon the pile, the widow carry ing the feet,
which she frequently kissed and placed on her
head. She then went down to the river to bathe
and returned dressed in a gay and expensive
scarlet satin tunic, and wearing a crown of beads.
Some momentary pangs heaved her bosom as
she saw the frightful reality of her condition
before her—her lips for a moment quivered, but
arm,nii d
I),
afromr parched
elIc; aii
lriNasi eccsiee)siu:
she speedily rallied, and with the most perfect
composure, and a hand already blistered to the
bone to show her courage, and of which not one
sinew quivered, she prepared a cake of rice and
plantains, which she placed on the mouth of the
corpse. She then poured some holy water over
his face, walked several times round the pile,
underthrowing
o
near
y' ewt the side.
rsiiileded
er.
her countenance the most perfect satisfaction with
tnom tvh
be
herself. She, without assistance from any one,
loci°ll:lll'l,:ePsr:hsaeitil(dsi 113;13) liclimbedaidcedclahsi s head on her arm.
A Brahmin threw a sheet over them, whi:,-
egdaeir
hteaes,tilayntdo
pile retired.up
i) e
Severalred a fewattendants words
the altar aid its sacrifice with logs of wood.
Some English gentlemen wlu ' were present.
indignantly interfered to prevent this, and a few
minutes elapsed, during which the right ar►n of
the devotee was raised, and continued steadily
beckoning to the crowd, as if in the exercise of
devotion.
- Oh I how the blood curdled at this renewed
testimony of her resolution, having tillornow
greatly doubted of the possible completroi the.
mortal sin. tlairl‘tie'lril'sibeclo(lsbyl exhibiting

'Tis fired—
All that of living or of dead remain,
In one wild roar expired.
Yet that came not from the flaming altar ; un-
shackled by 011 C cord, one straw, the victim';;
worshipping multitude) still
hand was seen amid the flames waving as before -
and her voice (had. it been possible amidst the
might have
been beard as before, calling
upon the name of
her God.
Invitum qui servat id • •
Dlowrah, April 6. em facit oceidenti."
yell of a

BLACKIE, W. S. ,
ay the copyright of the Ediizburgh
Weeki Chronicle newspaper was' sold by public roup, in
:I.l4El'or/es Rooms, Rayal Exchange, and purchased by D.
for 7501.—Edinburgh Obserrcr.
The hunters after literary novelty complain
that they never remember such a dearth of new Milks a,
at the present moment. -

About a fortnight ago a young man, son of
Mr. ROBERTSON, solicitor, in Edinburgh, who was bathing
in the river at Carron, had a piece bit out of his leg by a
pike. The piece was about one inch in length, by out..
sixth of an inch in breadth.
EXTRAORDINARY MUSHROOM.--A mush •
room measuring no less than one yard and a quarter in
circumference, and weighing 21bs. 4oz. Was found the other
(ay ii :he,
Ea t.
The mushroom produced half a pint of
grounds of Beighton fields, the property of B.
Biov, ni
s
catchup...—.slseffield Mercury.