The native American., 1839-08-10

lower features as only conforming according to the
general harmony of nature; the physiognomst
considers them all Of equal importance, and even
extends his observations to the hand and other
parts of the body II does not follow that because
| cannot 90 the whole with Lavaer or DR.. Gail,
that must declare all their observations imPos-
lures, and broadly maintain that there are no signs
or indications of mental qualities, propensites, or
passions, when my judgment is daily and almost
invountarily exercised i'll deciding upon them
The advice Of the poet not to put too much faith in
appearances may be very WE'LL but TO put no faith
in them at all would be out Of the power Of the
poet of Mr.. Adams, Mr. Keith, DIR. Sewa.l, or
anv. one else. Mr.. Adams and Mr. Keith seem
TO be of opinion, that the form of the head or
the features, or what we call expression of the
countenance are matters OF total indifference,
form no indica of the mind, and are perfectly
cidental, without the least connection with the in
tellec,ual character; and this contrary to their
every day experience. 70 believe this requires
much more credulity than to believe in the Wild
est theory. For what was this body, and these
exquisitely formed physical organs given to usby
the creator, unless TO obey the will of the mmor-
tai mind? And do we not know that there are
different degrees of perfection both in mind and
body, and is it unreasonable that the higher order
of the mind may be provided with a more perfect
physical organization? Is there any thing to for
bid this supposton in the laws of the creator
So far from it, l think it is confirmed by the uni
versal harmony which prevails throughout all
his works. When we look for the man of great
soul and towering mind. do we expect TO find
his head like that of an individual whose physl-
ognomy forms link between the lowest of the
human race and the monkey tribe, or do we look
for the majestic brow Of a IIomer,* Franklin, a
W ashinglon, and much nobler form, that as
signed by Christian people 10 him that ras more
than man ? think the tendency Of the doctrine
ust named, is to degrade and disparage the phys
lca form of man, who was made in the image Of
his creator. Between the anxiety Of the one for
the dignity of the five senses, and the fears of
materlasm in both, they lay themselves quite as
much open to ridicule as the phrenologsts.
have read the work Of DR.. Sewall with as
much attention as have devoted to the system
he controverts. and think it highly credtable 10
his skill surgeon, but no further. In his mode
Of inquiry he differs from the phrenologists in
tl:s important parcular-they set out without
any preconceived theory or system; but collect,
or observe facts, and afterwards arrange and class
them, but without attempting 10 investigate the
reason of the correspondence between the out
ward form and the intrinsic quality. They thus
establish the fact that the correspondence is not
Facts are all they aim at, they therefore proceed
according TO the most approved mode Of modern
research. Dr. Sewall on the contrary, sets out to
prove that the inductions from, or rather classif-
cations of mere facts, are incorrect and he does
not do this by setting up otherseries collections
of facts, with the exception of few instances,
capable Of explanatory but goes to work like
surgeon, dssecting knife in hand, to prove that
there can be no connection between the outward
form, or the shape of the scull and the brain
which it contains. As he cannot discover such
connection, and cannot understand how the soft
matter Of brain can, by its enlargement and con-
traction, affect the size shape Of the hard mat
ter that encloses it, he concludes that phrenology
is an imposure. 1t is The DR.. who is the real
materialist. The phrenologists do not pretend to
have discovered connection between the organs
OF the brain and its exterior covering, acting and
reacting on each other-they merely regard the
shape or size of that covering, as an indication
or mark-all beyond this is mystery to them.
The idea of the different temperamen,s, the bill
ious, sanguinious, melancholic, &c. indicated by
complexion, color of the skin, of the hair, the
eyes, and outline Of the features, very ancient,
is one Of the foundations of Lavater's system of
physiognomy, and is also attended to by the
phrenologiss, but what connection can there be
between these, and the passions or the character
of the mind ?-Dr. Sewal's disseclng knife
would laugh at their nonentity, and Mr.. Adams
five senses would turn up their noses at them with
scorn.
The most ordinary experience will show, that
there external indications in almost every OBJ
ject in nature, which have no susceptible con-
nection with the properties they indicate. Is not
jockey who purchases horse a phrenologist.
and does lie not carefully examine the form of
the head, and body, and even the color Of the
hair or skin No experienced jockey will pur-
chase sorrel with white face, and four white
legs, at least for his own use, and can the dis
sectng knife prove the non-exisence of the prop
critics thus established by the observation of ten
thousand subjects! dairy maid prefers COW
with yellow skin forrich milk, and despises the
white skin but the dssecting knife tells us there
can be no connection between the mere tinge on
the epderms and the organs by which the milk
is formed or secreted. Even the orchadist will
tell the quality of the apple by the shape of the tree,
the form of the branches, and especially by the
color Of the bark, and what connection can there
be between these and the vessels through which
the sap is elaborated? These observations are