The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-30
NO. GLIB.
DEATH OF GEORGE CoMBE.

George Combe, the great champion of philo-
sophieal pbrenology, asd author of the .Con-
stiiution of Man," work exceeded in circnla.
ton, it is said, by only three others in the Ian
gosge-the Bible, Bunyan's =" Pilgrims Prog.
rest" and Robinson Crusoe died at the
Hydropsthic Institution at Moor. Park, Surrey.
on tie l4th inst. From the obituary notices
published in the English papers, we learn that
he was born in Edinburgh in 1888, where he
has always resided. he was educated for the
law, became writer to the signet, as the Scotch
attorneys are called, and practiced for twenty
years. The opinions of Gall and Spurzheim
attracted his notice; he studied them, and, be.
ing convinced that they had basis in nature
he pursued the subject, and in 1879 published
bis observations in Essays on Phrenology,'
under the title of " A System of Phrenoloey.,
IN two volumes. He and others founded the
Chronological Journal, which was afterwards
conducted by his relative, Mr.. Cox. In 1923
ne published The Constitution of Man, Con
sidered in Relation to External Objects" This
attracte great attention, and Mr.. HesderscS
ihought so highly CT it that he subsequently,
6equeathed sum of money to be expended In
the production of q very cheap edition of the
book. The novelty of this circumstance drew
to the subject an additional amount of atten
ton; the cheap edition sold almost without
precedent, $4,000 copies OF it having been print
ed IN Great Britain, besides large sales in the
United States. TRANSACTIONS have also beer
made into German, French, and Swedish.
IA 1888, George Combe married Miss Cecils
S.ddons. -Four or FIVE years after, he Quilted
the practice Of his profession, and in 1888 went
accompanied by Mrs. Combe, to the United
states, where he remained. lecturing and pre-
paring his Journal, till 1910. DR.. Ssurzheim
! had visited tho IIn;fa6 ,
there in few months; AMI the DISCIPLES he
hsd obtained, wishing for another master. inv;
ted George mbe to visit and lecture to them
The years after his return were varied by cont
mental Journeys, too often rendered necessary hy
failing health. The latter period of his life was
one OF very inirm health-the result, as he be
ieved, of the adverse influences which turned
his own and his brothers attention so strongl,
to sanitary subjects.
| The North British Mail observes:
without entering now upon any discussion
of the merits of the fierce controversy waped
respecting the orthodoxy of the Constitution
Of Man, there can, we think be little doubt tina,
prolonged study of one important branch OF
knowledge had led Mr.. Combe to give to pbvs.
ical law an Importance which all but yelled the
reality, and the at least equal importance of spir
ituai agency. A change has, in recent years
come over the higher thought of Britain, and we
believe that change has not been favorable to the
continued popularity of the philosophy of Mr.
Combe in those extreme and Objectionable as
poets. The great popularity which, about the
perlod CT the passing of the Reform bill, had
been given to his writings, and the eclat with
which in wide circles his name had become in
7ssted, induced Mr.. Combe, towards the clos,
Of 1888, to deliver course of lectures on DOB
ular education. These lectures, while smbody
ing most of his peculiar views, were the fruit,
Of solid studies and enlarged experience, ant
there can be no doubt they contributed not 6
little to give an impulse to what Mr.. Combe
had much at hesrt-the education of the peo
pie. With every wish TO be fair, and with al
the calmness of the philosopher, there vas abou,
Mr.. Combe constitutional inapiitude for form
ing an adequate conception of the purely spir
itual forces that ia certain great crises upheave
society,""