The Wilmingtonian., 1823-11-27
CRANIOcOspY.
Walter Scott, Lord Byron, Wads,corth
Moore, Jeffrey, Campbell. &c. &c.

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The following remarks are from the pen
of DR.. Morris, devoted disciple of Gall
and Spurtzheim, being the result of an ex-
animation of the skulls of the distinguish
ed poets and writer's above named:
After various attempts, | have at last
succeeded in making, what am inclined
to think very fair sketch of the head of
Mr.. Walter Scott. send you copy of
it in pen and ink, on the other side of my
sheet, and would hope you may consider
it worthy Of the postage. have made
various drawings of him. both in more So
lemn and more ludicrous moods, but
think the expression of this comes nearest
the habitual character ofais iace. Study
|it we'll for few minutes, and then listen
Ito few of my remarks on the organiza-
Ition of this remarkable man.
In the general form, so very high and
conical, and, above all, in the manner in
which the forehead goes into the top Of the
head, there is something which at once
tells you, that here is the lofty enthusiasm
and passionate veneration for greatness
which must enter into the composition OF
every illustrious poet. In these respects
Scott bears some resemblance to the busts
lof Shakspeare-but much more close
resemblance to those of the great Cor
nellie; and, surely, Corneille was one Of
the most favoured of all poets, in regard
Ito all that constitutes the true poetic soar.
ling of conception. No minor poet ever
approaches to this conformation it is re.
served for Earth's giant sons alone. II
lis lower down, however, that the most pc
Iculiar parts Of the organization are to be
found--or rather those parts, the position
of which, close beneath those symbols Of
thigh Poetical impetus, gives to the whole
head its peculiar and characteristic ex-
lpression. The development of the or.
gan of imitation is prodigious, and the
contiguous organ Of pleasantly is scarcely
less remarkable. This again leads off the
swell into that of imagination, on which
the upper region rests, as on firm and
capacious basis. do not think that tht
head is so long from stem to stern as lore
Byron's, which probably indicates some
inieriority in point of profound feeling
Like Lord Byron's, however, the head is
in general, we'll brought in every quarter
and there is freedom in the air with which
lit sits upon his shoulders. which shows
that nature is strong in all the aifferen
.|regions-or, in other words, that natura
balance subsists among the various part
of his organization. | have noticed, OF
the other hand, that people whose strength
lies chiefly in one direction. have, for th'
most part, a stiff and constrained way 0
holding their heads. Wadsworth, for in
stance, has the back part of his head-th,
seat of the personal feeling-small ant
little expanded, and the consequence is
that there ia nothing to weigh against thu
prodigious mass of mere musing in 'front.'
so that his head falls forward in any thing
but graceful way; while, on the othe
hand, the deficiency of grave enthusiasm
allows the self love in the hinder parts o
MIR. Jeffrey's head, to push forward hi
chin in style that produces punv sor
of effect Tom Moore has no want of en-
thusiasm, but it is not quite placed as !
should be-or, at least, with him also tn,
sinciput predominates to an Irresistible
degree. Now Scott and Byron are dis
; tinguished from all these by fine secure
swing Of the head, as if they were prepa
/ red at all points. Lord Byroh's head
, however, is, think, still more complete
: all throug hout. than that Of Mr. Scott
The forehead is defective in much tina
-iScott's possesses, but it is very fine up
, wards. and the top Of the head is wonder
fully capacious. The back part in both o
their heads,is manly and gallant looking
Had they not been lame (by the way wha
singular coincidence that is y | have nj
!, doubt that they would both have been sol
diers-and the world would have wantet
Marmion and the Corsair. Lord Byron'
head is, without doubt, the finest in Ou
,Itime-l think it is better, on the whole
than either Napoleoh's, or Gothie's, O.
/ jCanova's, or Wadsworth's. The chin
Hips, and neck, are beautiful-in the mos
, noble style of antique beauty-and thu
nose is not unworthy ofkeepng them com
pany-and yetthat Of Wadsworth is more
!. perpendicular, and belongs still more
strictly to the same class which the an
!, clents, having exaggerated it into thu
Ideal, attributed to Jupiter. It'is better
tIsqaped in the ridge, than any nose of mo
. .|dern times have seen. 1t comes dowr
so straight from the forehead, that thu
, ,Ieyes are thrown quite back into the head
as in the ]oftiest antique. Coleridge ha!
a Grand head. hnt verv iii balanced. anf