Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-01

can effect it; and that, if Phrenology be false,
no danger can possibly arse from 1t to any thins
that is true. This sort Of dread saws little Tor
the stability Of religious belief in those who tee'
and express il: and as little for that Of the rei'
gion for which fears are entertained. So whIm-
steal is the hostility to Phrenology, that nave
been abused for having expressed nv conscien'
tious feeling that it strongly supports Chr'stian'
tyt The President Of the Psychological 80
ciety is Clergyman.
No fact connected with human nature is more
remarkable than the endless variety Of form in
the human countenance. So familiar is this fact,
that we do not give ourselves time to consider
the wisdom and benevolence of the Creator in
having ordered that no two individuals should be
exactly alike. Nor is that Supreme wisdom and
unbounded benevoIence less conspicuous 10 the
infinite variety Of mental power and character
with which mankind are endowed. What would
be the state of society were all men alike? The
plain answer is, that society could not exist Ii
every man felt alike; If every man had the same
pursuits-the same desires; II there were no
difference of opinion no division of mental Ia
bor.-lfe would be vapid: we should all be her
mits: the progress Of knowledge would BE- i'm.
perceptible: the human race would stand stil;-
and If there could be any enjoyment OF Lille. 1t
would be pndigni6sd, selfish. grnveling. This
is a sufficient answer to those philosophers who
have assumed that different modes Of thinking
aud of acting are derived. not originally from the
hand Of the Creator. but from habit The slight
est look at man uverthrows the speculations ct
the closet, and proves that no one can Set him.
self up as a standard. The Ethiopian cannot
change his SKIN. nor the leopard his spots; mel
ther can man, by habit or effort, change his con-
formation. mental or corporeal. Bur Is man ne
yer to inquire into the manner in which he is
consttutedl Is he neCer to make anv attempt
to trace the means which the Creator has EN-
pluyed to produce such infinite VARIETY IN his
constitution! Is he to conhne his Efforts to the
ANALYSIS of inanimate matter, and to varying
the applications Of mechanical power? Are ana
tony and physiology to belimited to the cure OF
bodily disease, and not to be extended - the
philosophy OF mind? Is man never TO inquire
into his own nature with the view To improve II!
Even the enemies of Phrenologv would blush to
affirm, that the mind was not destined for end
less expansion-that. however limited individual
advancement NAV be, the race VAS not ~ improve.
And vet they condemn, as absurd. the only ra-
tional attempt that has ever been made To disco
yer the cause Of diversity Of character; an at.
tempt which, in due time. will be rknowrdged
bv the whole world to have been great ana trl
umphant one. The name Of GALL will yet be
hnnured as that Of the greatest philosopher. AID
Of the creates. benefactor of the human race
This su>tains phrenclosis's amidst the storms oil
abuse with which they have been assaied: and
their philosophy happily confirms The Christian re
CONNIE ndaiion of meekness and forbearance. -
They are certain that every weapon aimed a,
them will recOil on the head Of the assaiiapt; but
this iniuses M jov into their minds. They wish
TO convince, not to re'alia'e.
Notes
Sir Geo S Mackenzie was. also, the first
author on Phrenologv in Great Britain, and hi.
work is yet held in high esteem by PhrenOog lists
though i, has, in great MEASURE. been super
seeded in ITS usefulness by the later works oil
Spur zh.im, Cnmbr. and others.
Sir William II ,milton. Professor Of Anato
my in the University OF Edinburgh. BY thi!
effort the learned professor of this famed insti
tuition disclosed his superficial acquaintance with
some of the collateral branches. peculiarly ap
pertaining to the chair Of his professorship, par
ticuIarly in Os,eol"gy. Neurology, SC. Vide
Phren. Journal, No II.
Hereafter, Spurzheim's views on this sub
ject will be presented at large
TO BE CONTINUED.