New-York tribune., 1878-10-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

HHE LIFE OF GEORGE CoMBE. BY CHAnLEs GwBoN.
Two vols. syO. pp S95, 4O4. Macmillan a Co
The fading traces of George COmbe which
hnger in the memory Of the present generation are
chiefly TO his earnestness and zeal the cause OF
popular educ ltion as founded the principles OF phre-
nology He was bold and independent thinker, fully
emaucpated from the dominion OF prejudice Of singular
integrity in the formation and announcement OF has
opinions with profound and nnselsh interest In the
progress OF human improvements but his intellectual
endow mens were not Of brilliant original charac
ter OF tho ina ginatye faculty he was almost wholly
destitute an element Of the literal commonplace
entered largely into his composition. and his mind ha-
bually moved In q singularly limited circle OF inquiry
and speculation. The external life Of Mr. Combe was
uneventtul mostly passed IN methOdical aud placid
routine with little TO interrupt its quet uniformity
One OF the principal incidents TO vary it's regular course
was his visit TO the United States in 1888 He net with
eOrdial reception from best people in the country
upon his arrival especially in Boston, where he made
many valuable acquaintance, including William H. Pres
cott Daniel Webster George Bancroft, George Tcknor
and during tho latter part OF his soiOurn, Dr. William
Ellery Claiming. With Horace Mann he soon formed
an intimacy which ripened into afectonate and per-
Inanent friendship. Mr. Manu. who had Quilted the pro-
fesson Of Jaw secretary OF the Massachusetts
Board of Education found in him acongenia companion
and an enthusiastic feIowwOrker in the cause OF popu-
lar improvement, in which his own enthusiasm was
ardenty enlisted Mr.. COmbe freely describes his iu-
pressons Of people he met with, and in many cases
they possess considerable interest. or MIR. Mann he
writes: He is delightful companion and friend, ana
among all the excellent men whom we met win at
Boston none entwined themselves more deeply and
closely with our affections than Horace Mann" The
BOstOnians In general for large share OF his
approval His remarks OF the audience which attended
his lectures the highest style Of chronological COM
plment: "My eyes rested such collection Of
excellent brains SpurLheim's memory is warmly and
delightfully."- cherished by them, and they prepared
for me in every way. The hereditary descent of the
moral and intellectual organs has been favored by their
habits and institutions and they are the big-headed,
moral intellectual, and energetic Pilgrims, enlightened
and civilized" Dr. Claiming is described " a small,
fragile Of hftyeight with mOderate-szed BRAIN,
but fine development OF the moral organs, and good
intellect and high nervous temperament. His
is shy he asks questlons and only by degrees
begins 10 communicate his ideas His brain ia not
large enough give him the conviction Of his really
being great and secondly, his want Of philOs-
Ophy nature does not enable him to with full per-
ceptOn the certain truth OF bis principles His in
tellect is inspired by his moral sentiments. He is
great thinker. because the moral sentiments the
fountains OF truth, and he follows them He has faith,
but he appears 70 to that strong intellectual
conviction which the philosophy gives to He
has expression about the mouth and is delight
ful companion my only regret being that little
OF him. The general details OF the work winch is pro-
IoDgcd TO quite unreasonable length, will awaken the
interest Of the reader in proportion TO his interest in
phrenolOgy. Many OF the discussions with which the
volumes abound have lost their original freshness, and
In fact relate 10 points which have virtually become OBJ
sOlete The biography will claim attention for the most
part at the present day record Of uncommon worth
of character and life exclusively devoted to noble
purposes, but of too prosac cast to charm the imag
nation or to call forth a lively sympathy
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