The Sun.
London, England, 1818-07-09 00:00:00

LITERAftY REVIEW.

The tHYSIOGNONIIST, a Novel, by Author of
" The -Ilaclfehir and the Married Man," 3 vols. tiro°.
losomAN, and Co.
We have long expected that striae Writer of
21tperior talents would attack with the isieapobs of
Nvit and humour the modern systein Of ICranio-
logy. We are happy to find our redicition vet',-
tied by tite Author of that very atn6ing novel,
The Bachelor ?Ind the il",trried Man, ‘Olo has
]rely prodocerl the Physiogoomiist. Tire osten-
sible hero of (Iris tssot4t is also a Barir.!lbr, hn-
inersell in the sublime 'study of human
who having -discarded one adopted heir 'ftir
pretoirned to mainta'in tin independent'ettilllic!ti
in the choice of a wife.) elects ahother proteg6,
whom he destines far a .lady, in whose us frontis
he discovers the most decided rapaities for moral
tud intellectual excellence. The character Of `this
%%Trek perlops savours too Mod% .of la'ece, but tire
Ifrlesipte.k occasionally 'relieved by th'e seriouss
lid the aittlror'exhibits, in a copy of Meg Merri-
lies, the ambiti'ons versatility of his talents.
Physiognomist trill at least afford light snowier
teadittg. The follwring sketch piesents a pair of
scientific Lovers, who have simultaneonsly been
initiated in the mysteries of Craniology and Count-.
ship:

" Mr. Gismo'', meanwhile, had attained the
$lll7lllllllll bOlllllll.
" Cyrits Bertie his young pupil, and Miss
Rand ii, his fair croup:anion—were rapidly ad-
vancing in the sublime science t they could de-
scant with as nruch leatniog and prolixity on the
beauty of the various fleihkss skulls find hideouts
busts, that adorned Mr. Ossman's ••t.tuctitnt sonc-
tornm, as he himself could do. Our hero was
above the petty feeling that endeavours to repress
the progress of the tyro, lest he should too soon
equal or surpass the preceptor. He calculated,
that whatever fame Mr. Brilie and Miss Randall
might hereafter acquire by their proficiency in
this science—awl that they would acquire much
reputation. did riot admit a douht*would, in the
natural course of thinus, reflect an added histre
on himself as their instructor and the original
discoverer of their extreme cap') lity to imbibe
every thing relative to physiognomy. Therefore
he would still be the primary orb of this system,
that imparted a poi tiim of its brilliancy to the
minor planets that revolved round it.
" Miss Randall--to use a technical term to be
found in the lady's vocabulary—Miss Randall
played her cards with the cautious skill of an adept;
end, therefore, it was perfectly just and natural
that the game should be her own. In short, Mr.
Cyrus Bertie had imbibed so pure a taste—a taste
so wholly different from the vulgar one—that be
preferred the physingnomically beautiful distor-
tions of Miss Randall's face to the perfect features
and love-beaming countenauces of the Paphian
deity's daughters.
" Cyrus wrote for his fathei's consent to their
union. Mr. Ossinau dipatched an accompany-
ing note, stating the amount of the lady's rent-
roll, and inviting Mr. Bertie, sroior, to visit
his amiable and learned daughter-in-law elect.
" Mr. Bertie senior, thought still unwilling
that his son should marry a woman whose reli-
.gious tenets differed front his own, yet accepted
the invitation. Miss Randall was prepared to
receive him ; and, attired in all the simplicity of
the Quaker's style, was bent 011 Waking a favour-
able impression.
" Cyrus, with All the pride of love—or of the
feeling that supplied the place of it—of physiog-
nomy—conducted his father into the presence of
the lady. Atter a visit of some length, Mr.
Bertie, senior, returned to OSSman Hall, and de-
sired a private interview with his son.
" Of course you will remember all the ra-
tional arguments that may be adduced in praise
of Miss Randall ; and how 111111MR/11S are they !'---
said Mr. Ossman.
" Do not fear time, friend,' replied Cyrus,
who had not yet adopted the more courteous style
of his present associates.
" Mr. Bertie, when alone with Cyrus, candidly
confessed that Miss Randall appeared to him any
thing rather than beautiful. ' lint,' continued he,
it is not the beauty of the person that is to be
regarded in an affair so momentous as the present:
a plain wife wilt perhaps constitute thy happiness
rather than one whom the world would call
comely. But there is a consideration I would not
have thee overlook : it is not seemly that the
wife should possess more years than the husband.
The superiority in every respect should he on the
part of the latter : seniority implies superiority in
worldly wisdom, in spiritual experience. Guist
thou then be contented to appear the inferior of
thy wife ?'
" Father,' returned Cyrus, thou considerest
this affair altogether in a wrong light. First,
Rachel Randall's countenance is pleasing to the
eye, and the lines of her face, from the occipital
extreme angular point to the extremity of the
nasal curve, from the highest part of the pericra-
nium to the lowest of the chin, are beautiful be-
yond the imagination or coL:eption of any but a
Physiognomist. 1 have dome contemplating those
faces which the common judgment pronounces
beautiful ; they are like the statues and foolish
pictures one sees of the Heathen divinity Venus,
which arc attractive to common eyes, but which,
thou knowest, are all empty within. Now, on
the contrary, the mind of the maiden, Rachel
Randall, correspondeth with her features. She
will be my friend and my companion one with
whom 1 can be contented to pass my life, after the
first mouths of passion are over. As to superio-
rity of age, thou mistakest in supposing Rachel
so much my senior ; and even if she were, she
would not seek that superiority over the thou
seemest to fear : the maiden bath wisdom,- father;
and thou kuowest that wisdom is better than
riches, and the gain thereof than fine rubies.'
Therefore, father, seeing thy arguments against
our union are altogether irrational,- give thy con-
sent for us to be made one, and thereby promote
thy son's happiness.'
" The argument was unanswerable, though
perhaps not convincing ; enfin, Mr. Bertie senior,
regretted, but no longer opposed, where lie saw
opposition would be unavailing, and Miss Ran-
dall gained the prize at which all her plans had
aimed—a husband !"