The native American., 1839-08-10
THENATIVEA AMERICAN
From the Ne,C York Star
PHRENOLoGY-J @. ADAMS-BR, sEWALL-
Mr.. KEITH.

recently published on the subject of Phrenology,
and addressed to DR.. Sewall, of Washington city
In this letter he denouaces the Phrenologlsts
as downright imrosiors, accuses them OF being
materialists, that is denying the immortality oil
the soul, and treats the idea of the character OF
the mind, or passions, or temperamenls, being IN
dicated by exterior marks, or signs as altogether
absurd. Mr.. Keith also writes letter, the
amount Of which is that he considers The pretend
ed science, as directly opposed to the immortall-
ty of the soul and otherwise of exceedingly dan
gerous and mischievous tendency! | must say,
that the want Of correct ideas on the part OF BOTH
with respect to that which they condemn is in
deed surprising. The received opinion hitherto,
has been, that the brain is the seat of what we
call intellect. or mind, but now it is discovered
that this notion leads to materialism, and Mr..
Adams thinks that the mind is composed OF the
five senses. Now, | would ask which of these
notions approaches nearest to maerlalism! Very
learned and pious men, and meaphy ysclans, have
considered the brain divided into three distinct
faculties, or organs--the memory, imagination,
and the Judgment, and such is at the present day
the most common SYSTEM and this without any
imputa;on of materialism; and why may there
not be thirty organs as well as three. Or why
should the unfortunate phrenologst, or physiog-
nomst, call down the interdic, Of Cato the censor,
or the still more dreaded anathema of the Church,
Let those systems be well or i'll supported, do
not like this mode of putting them down Hitherto
it has been supposed that the senses were the mere
servants to do the will of the brain, but Mr.. Adams
has discovered that the brain is very uuimport-
ant organ, set of organs, or at most, that the
head is mere contrlvauce for the accommodate
ton of the eyes, ears, and nose ! Mr.. Keith goes
further, in his apprehenslons for the immortality
OF the soul, he separates mind from matter en-
trely, and if he be correct there ought to be no
difference, SO far the mind is concerned, be-
tween dead body and living one. have met
with no phrenologist who has been led bv his pur-
suits to disbelief of the Immortality Of the soul
and itcertainly is not one of their doctrines. They
believe that the soul, while connected with the
body, acts through certain organs, but how ii acts
is mystery to them, second only 10 the mystery
life itself,
Mr.. Adams relates the witty saying Of Cicero,
respecting the Roman augurs, or soothsayers.
Cicero wondered how they could ever meet, and
look each other in the face without laughing
They were undoubtedly impostors, and mutually
aware Of their tricks on the ignorant and creCu
lous. But is this the case with eminent phre-
nologists? cannot believe that DR.. Gall,
Spurzhel'n, or Mr. Combe, and many other learn
ed men, and the numerous converts To- phrenolo-
gy, generally among the learned, to be regard
ed as impostors and dnpes. From want Of
time, or inclination, | have not given sufficient
attention to the SYSTEM to be thoroughly acQuaint-
ed with it; but have seen enough to convince
me, that its professors arc honest and sincere and
have brought forward powerful body OF proof
In support of it. Like Others | have often made
ajoke of the bumps and protuberances, bu, no,
without mlsglvings that they were not to be des-
pised. l think i: likely, that when the idea of
the antipodes was first suggested, the possibility
of man standing, and walking, with his head
downwards, was an excellent Jest and perhaps,
when the circulation of the blood was first dis
covered by Harvey all the physicians Of the day,
above forty years Of age, who are said1o have re-
jected it, made the subject Of Jest and wit,icsm
perhaps the elder clergy denounced it, as tend.
ing to materialsm and inconsistent with the i'm
morality o! the soul! There are many secrets
In nature, we have not yet discovered and there
are some that never shall discover.--'rhe at
traction Of gravltation, for instance, which may
be considered as the great law of nature, is onl V
known fact. but its remote cause is still a
mystery to us, and TO be ranked among those
which we must refer to the tnldiate agency of
the deity.
As the authority of Cicero has also been used,
will also appeal to it, The peculiar philosophy
OF that great man, perhaps the greatest of an
Nqults, was Heltief W DeleVe, nor ulSDelleVc,
with too much haste or confidence. He was not
exactly sceptic, bu. occupied the space between
the sceptic and the vulgar creduity of his
,ine--if he doubted, it was with view TO en-
quiry. Such was also the philosophy Of Bacon
When any theory or system is supported by a
great variety Of facts, and is taught by men Of
eminent talents, who have laboriousy devoted
their lives to its study, and we can believe that
they are not acting the part Of wilIu impostors,
we ought at least 10 hesitate, to keep the subject
open for further inquiry, instead Of condemning
In supercious manner. The system may be i
wholly groundess, it may be 50 only in part II
may have some truth in it. The tricks Of alchy-
my, astroogy, and augury, to which Mr. Adams
uyustly compares phrenology, are noted. self
evident lmpostures, among all enlightened men
but is this the case with phrenoogy, or physiog-
nomy! Are these merely tricks, designed for
the deception of the vulgar! The amable and
pious Lavater might have been an enthusiast, but
he was not despcable juggler. The anecdote
of Socrates, is familiar-a certain physiognomist
having pronounced very unfavourably of him, his
friends were indignant, but he declared the scru-