The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-12 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE ZOIST • a .Quartezly Journal of Cerebral Phy-,
siology and .11;resmerism, and their Applications to flu-
man Welfare. Bailliere, Regent-street. ,

We have observed with much gratification the pro-
gress of this able periodical, the filth number of which is
now before us. It is devoted, as its title implies, to the
kindred sciences of mesmerism and phrenology—kindred
in so far as both relate to the nervous system ; phreno-
logy applying exclusively, indeed, to one portion—the
brain, while mesmerism seems to .embrace not only the
brain and the nerves arising more immediately from it.
but, in addition, all the other nerves of the body ; and
the two sciences, when fully carried out, may be ex-
pected to constitute a complete physiology of the nervous
system. In the prospectus, after speaking of the two
sciences separately, the editors say:—
" The extraordinary phenomena elicited during the
excitation of the cerebral organs by means of mes-
merism, and establishing a connection between the two
sciences, constitute another department, demanding the
most serious attention and investigation ; and the ulti-
mate results of which may transcend in value and utility
all that man has yet dared to hope frum science. Let,
what many facts render probable, be once established,
viz., that this state of increased activity can be rendered
permanent and carried into the natural state, and who
does not catch a glance of a mighty engine for man's
regeneration, vast in its power, and unlimited in its ap-
plication, rivalling in morals the effects of steam in me-
chanics ?"

The first number contains a powerful article on Phre-
nology, or Cerebral Physiology, as it is more appro-
priately named ; an equally powerful article on Mes-
merism • several minor Original Communications on
both subjects ; and a pretty full report of the Proceed-
ings of the London Phrenological Society. The leading
articles in this number are introductory, and will hardly
bear curtailment. The second number has an admirable
article on " Our Criminal Code," advocating the moral
treatment of criminals, in opposition to the system of
punishment now in operation, and denouncing particu-
larly the punishment of death—" With our present
knowledge, when we look back, it does appear strange
that society should have been so long occupied in
punishing men instead of searching after the causes of
criminal actions," &c...." That the judge and jury should
investigate all the circumstances occurring during a
long course of criminal conduct. unanimously express
their abhorrence of the particular crime for which the
prisoner is arraigned, by returning a verdict which ne-
cessarily consigns him to the gibbet, and yet never ask
themselves the question why does this man differ from
us?" &c...." The punishment of death is one of the blots
which still characterise our semi-civilised condi-
tion."..." We take not our ground on the inex-
pediency of retaining the punishment of death in our penal
code, but we proclaim the immorality and injustice of
such a proceeding. It is immoral, because it is our duty
to endeavour to reform and improve our brother, and
not to destroy him. It is unjust, because we can pre
vent him from committing crimes, by adopting other
measures ; and because we have no right to destroy a
being who is acting according to organic laws, in other
words, whose actions are necessary. On what ground
is it continued ? It is not beneficial to the criminal, for
he is destroyed. Neither is it beneficial to those who
have not committed crimes. The latter may be divided
into two classes ; one composed of beings who are a
law unto themselves,' and who under the ordinary
temptations attending their career, never commit what
may be called a criminal action ; the other composed of
beings, who, from an ill-balanced brain, and the addition
too frequently of most unfavourable external circum-
stances, are disposed to recognise no law, but to have
recourse to force and cunning upon all occasions, and
adopt proceedings suggested to them by this organism,
and for which society, ignorant of the natural laws, con-
demns to various kinds of punishment, and frequently to
the scaffold. What good effect is gained by such a
course ? An execution excites no feeling of terror
amongst those predisposed to commit a crime similar to
that for which the unfortunate being is suffering. The
security of the social state is not increased. Man is not
to be reclaimed by exciting his fears ; the hypocrite
may become more hypocritical, and te coward and
demon more slavish and wily, but surely such a con •
summation is not to be desired ; this, certainly is not
the aim of judicious legislation. Destroy the sinner,
and you destroy the tendency to sin in his neighbour !
Torture and kill an individual in the presence of as-
sembled thousands, and affectionately tell them to be-
hold his agonies, and to reap moral instruction I Can
greater ignorance be manifested ? Yet this is the
course pursued in civilised Britain. Does the specimen
of legalised destructiveness, exhibited by an execution,
excite the moral organs in those witnessing it ? Quite
the reverse ; it is a direct stimulant to the animal
organs. Ilow absurd then the notion of elevating
and improving man, by presenting to his notice the
destruction of most unfortunate, pitiable, and de-
graded specimens of his species. Ferocity and barbarian
ruthlessness still characterise our criminal law. Ignor-
ance and indifference are still personified on the judicial
bench ; for there physiological science is not studied,
and moral promptings are uncared for."
"It may be asked, if this punishment is abolished,
what do you propose to substitute ? On what principle
do you intend to govern men, and to punish offenders?
Individuals who have committed actions which are op-
posed to the safety and stability of the social compact
should be confined ; not for the purpost of punishment,
but solely with the object of reformattn. A Govern-
ment framing laves for the regulation and control of a
people, should have the power to seclude those indivi-
duals who break these laws ; and, during the seclusion,

those measures should be adopted most calculated to
enable the offender to recover and retain his lost station
in society. Those who have committed crimes against
life, or those whose actions and cerebral conformation
prove them to be incapable of free intercourse with their
neighbours without the committal oqcrime, should be
confined for life, and be considered moral patients,
more fitted for the wards of a moral infirmary than for
the treadmill, the solitary cell, or the scaffold," &c.
These extracts will suffice to show the general bear-
ing of the article, for the more complete working out
of which, we must refer our readers to the work itself.
This, and the Third Number also, contains cases of the
cure of a variety of diseases by means of mesmerism
from Dr. Elliotson. After stating that for six years he
had " carefully and constantly investigated the powers
of Mesmerism over different diseases," and had 'employed
a former pupil at University College to mesmerise for
him during the whole of that period, Dr. Elliotson says,
"I have found it one of the most important remedies,
and accumulated a great amount of decisive evidence of
its marvellous powers, even when all other means have
failed in the hands of the most noted practitioners. This
evidence I shall gradually send to your publication. It
would probably not be received by the medical journals,
and I should indeed be unwilling to transmit it to any
medical journal or society, since the conduct of the me
dical profession has been so disgraceful, both intellec-
tually and morally. My statements will, I know, be
relied upon. They are not only true to the letter, but
are the result of the most patient and careful labour,
gone through with no view to emolument or reputation,
but for the love of acquiring and disseminating know-
ledge. I have never receive a fee and never will, for
practising mesmerism, from the humblest or the highest.
Reputation is:out of the question. The
medical profession being totally ignorant of the subject,
have thought proper to stigmatise me as a fool, a
visionary, a madman, aye, and a quack, for under-
standing something of it. Their ignorance and
conceited obstinacy have been my disgrace. From
being thought a ' careful and conscientious ob-
server,' a most skilful physician in ascertaining the real
nature of a disease, and in employing remedies ;' a great
contributor to the improvement of the medical art,' and
worthy to have the largest and most leading practice ;'
destined to divide the town with Dr. Chambers, who
was to be the Halford and I the Baillie of the day,' pos-
sessing the highest claim to be physician in ordinary to
the Monarch ;' styled the first physician of the age,' in
letters brought by patients without end, the only effect
of which was to make me work the harder, that I might
one day really deserve such commendation, I was all at
once considered destitute of all my previous knowledge
and skill, incapable of observation and investigation, and
unworthy of any practice," &c. The Doctor goes on
in this and the succeeding Numbers to detail some highly
interesting cases of insanity, St. Vitus' dance, palsy,
and deafness and dumbness cored by mesmerism. We
have not room for any further extracts at present, but
shall return to the subject on a future occasion.

A LANDSCAPE IN SOUTH AMERICA.—A new and
surpassingly beautful landscape burst suddenly upon our
view, seeming to dance in the transparent atmosphere.
On either side mountains, those on the left in deep
shadow, those on the right standing forth like colossal
figures of light, in a beauty and splendour that seemed
really supernatural, every tree, every branch shining in
its own vivid and glorious colouring. There
elhaL:
of
valley in its tropical luxuriance and beauty, one
trees, that shot up, some of them 150 an
bloom and blossom up to the topmost crodwrsooffetleitehpiaglim).
the fern to the
bignonias, nendrobiums, climbing
the branches and sum-
Thousands and millions of comf,roolvmoluses, paulinias,
tree trunks, from the trunks to
gain falling gracefully
to the mangroves and
clingingon us like a scene of en-
granite. It burst up
blocks of
down,mits o and ntdhceattrcehei trees, and
aaandd thence
a
as we emerged. from the darkness of the
ht and colouring of that eh antai.eetnet
f?reesst:elley.—
'the dazzling lig
...
rious Tho Nights in Mexico," in Blackwood. •
" PEA-GREEN HATNE."—The Bank of Manchester
h
pretty well known, many and various
pledges,avn as
is
some of which it has found, and still finds, it
difficult to convert into the " ready," has, however,
hit on an expedient, within the last few days, of
i
ridding itself, though perhaps not at its full cost,
of a most splendid dressing-case, once the property
of the well-known Mr. Hayne, better known, no doubt,
as " Pea-green Havre." This splendid affair has
. come off," this week, in the shape of a lottery or raffle.
The estimated value h said to have been 1,000/. The
habit took, so says the report, twenty shares or tickets,
and its manager, Mr. W. Smith, also one ticket, which
proved to be the lucky one; so that it is probable we
shall witness another lottery cr raffle in due, purse.
This splendid article of the toilet has been on show,
and those only who have seen it can duly appreciate its
richness and splendour.—Liverpocl Chronicle.

DESTRUCTIVE FlRE.—Last evening, the tar and
naphtha distillery at Bromley-common, the property of Mr.
Bethell, was destroyed by fire, together with a considerable
quantity of valuable materials used in the business. The
origin of the calamity is not ascertained; but the flames
made their first appearance in the counting-house, and,
owing to the inflammable nature of the property, all the
efforts made to stop the conflagration were unavailing. ➢ir.
Bethell was not insured. _ - .

THE CROPS.—We rejoice to state that the wheats
on. the Cotswolds present a remarkably vigorous and
healthy appearance. The oldest farmer never remem-
bers a better prospect.,-Gloucester Chronicle.