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

If Sir Geo. s. McKensie's address. - Continued
However Interesting it NAV be to superior
minds seeking their own qualification. to trace
the progress Of metaphysical inquiry, they have
not found that metaphysicans have produced any
thing attractive on account of its practical ut-
lity, however ingenious. eloquent, and profound,
their speculations may have been. Up to the
present hour. We have nothing from them but
discussions about the origin Of the faculties; some
DENYING certain mental operations to be fac ulties
al all, aud insisting that mere habit produces Ia
lent. All admit that various powers are mani
Tested; bnt what are and what are not mental
op.ratiuns or faculties, has not been settled. -
The mos, important questions have been left un.
decided. and no truly scientific foundation has
been laid for morals or religion. Nor ha" educa-
ton received from them any improvement, ur
any right aud Ineligible direction; nor have the
labor. of metaphyslcians forwarded, IN any de
gree. the science of government To arrive at
mans nature. man must be observed; but only
the individual, mt the race, has been examined
by philosophers AMI even in the individual.
most important facts have been overlooked. He
has been studied only in mature age, while OBJ
servailun Of his progress from childhood would
have proved, that the faculties are developed 10
succession, and arrive at maturity gradually -.
Nor does the study of the individual elucidate
the prominent fact, that the mental endOwments
of no two persons are alike in power or proper
ton How strange! that the philosopher should
not have been attracted seeing in one the tears
Of pity flowing, and the hand Of benevolence
stretched out, while in another he beheld the
frown of malevolence shroudius the eve, and the
dagger filling the grasp of revenge. How strange!
that he should overlook, on the one hand, the mi.
ser gloating over his hoard, and, on the other,
the prodigal scattering his substance, and reduc.
ing himself to beggary! How could he regard
the vastness of one mind reaching into the very
heavens, aud rendering easy to our compreheD.
sion the wonderful system Of the planets, and
the narrowness Of another, unable to embrace
the simplest problem,-and not perceive that
this was yet to be accounted for? How could he
mark the fire Of the poets eye, and the vacant
idiot stare, and deem habit aud circumstances
the cause equally of the highest elevation, and
Of the lowest depression Of mental enersy?-
Contrasts innumerable present themselves to the
observant mind, and yet we are told that sys.
ten founded on observation. and offering not on
ly TO teach the elements Of thoughts, but to &C.
count Tor their varying proportions both among
individuals and among nations, is piece OF ab
surdity. 1t was highly honorable to Dugald
Stewart, that he saw the importance Of this
branch Of philosophy, though ne knew not how
to master it. He has said, in the Preliminary
Discourse to the Encyclopedias Britannica. that
8. the varieties Of intellectual (be might have add
ed moral and relisious) character among men,
present very interesting object Of study, which,
considering its practical utility. has not yet ex-
cited, so much as might nave been expected. the
of our countrymen." The sane phi
losopher nevertheless exclaimed, is there no
Arbu,hnot now to chastse the craniologstsl"-
aud thus he continued to follow those who roam
I'd about endeavoring to exiinguish inquiry into
the very thing for the calculation Of which he de.
sired inquiry to be made. What, then. has been
done by those who have heretofore studied minds
They have not observed the facts which prove
that organization influences the manifestations OF
mind. They have not observed that mental
power varies in different individuals, according
10 the development Of their bodies. They have
not even agreed about what are to be considered
rs primitive faculties, and consequently could
DO nothing in comparing the effects of various
of them. If they admired the 40.
lonlshIng tact Of Shakespeare as we do that Of our
Industrious President. in exhibiting individual
character strictly, in deIineatng the true effect