ARTICLE VI.

SIZE OF HEAD, NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL, OBSERVED BY AN EXPERIENCED HAT-MAKER OF LONDON.

To the following curious and unexpected communication we have more than ordinary satisfaction in giving a place. It was read to the London Phrenological Society; and from the very extensive field of observation enjoyed by its author, and from the manifest accuracy and even scrupulosity of his statements, we regard them as entitled to confidence, and as really valuable to the extent of demonstrating the fact of different sizes of heads belonging not only to different sexes and districts of country, but to different classes of society. This is a great step towards connecting general mental power with general size of brain; but a greater and more difficult still remains, viz. to determine the particular regions of the head in which the greatest relative size prevails in different classes and in different counties This cannot be accomplished by the efforts of one, but by the multiplied and corrected observations of many and we merely suggest it to our author, as a person likely to interest himself in the inquiry, and qualified to conduct it. We have made many observations on the relative developments of the different organs in heads of similar general size in different counties in Scotland, and only delay publishing them to avoid falling into mistakes by too rash an induction...We trust, however, that the following paper will soon attract attention, and lead to the acquisition of abundant information.-EDITOR.

Having, in my avocation as a hat-maker, for some years observed the various sizes of the human head, and satisfied myself that much peculiarity of shape exists not only in individual cases, but also in various classes of society, it may be believed that, upon attaining a knowledge of the first principles of Phrenology, I became the more easily a convert

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to its doctrines. My intention this evening is to present to the Society some facts with regard to variations in the size of the human head, the result of my own experience, confirmed by all the aid I have been enabled to obtain from others better-informed than myself. But I beg to state, that I wish to confine myself to the detail of mere facts, independent of phrenological inferences, anticipating that every information connected either with the form or size of the human head will prove acceptable to the friends of the science; I am nevertheless aware, that any conclusions I might draw as a Phrenologist, from partial information, would be liable to ob jection, as leading to dangerous errors; for size to the Phrenologist is but one point, and, singly, is inadequate to furnish the means of judging of mental capacity; how much more partial and unsatisfactory must be the mere measurement of a hatter. In the quality of general size, many of the most barbarous nations rank equally with, if not superior to, the more cultivated and intellectual inhabitants of Europe; while the Hindoo head, although small, is known to indicate a much higher intellectual capacity than that of many nations that are above them in mere measurement. The quality of head as well as the quantity must be attended to; and it is only in the proportions of the several regions joined to general measurements that a knowledge of the latter becomes useful. Mr Combe states, with regard to size, page 44, " General "size is no indication of particular power; an individual may "wear a large hat, indicating a large brain, and yet have no

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scope of intellect, no ability in the general sense of the term. "If the large hat is requisite from the great development of "the animal organs, the individual may be a powerful, animal, 66 and at the same time a weak man. It is only when

great size pervades the whole three classes of organs, propensities, sentiments, and intellect, that Phrenology authorises us to expect "a character vigorous, comprehensive, and profound."

Inquiring into the general size of the head in some national cases, but more particularly confining myself to the various classes of society, and to different provinces of this kingdom, it will be necessary to state the mode of a hatter's measure

ment, in order rightly to appreciate its value. Various me`thods are adopted, but the most general is to take the simple length and breadth of the head, which, although inadequate to phrenological purposes, is sufficient for ascertaining general size. The head being oval, the length and breadth are taken, the medium thereof being the diameter or hatter's measurement, from which the circumference is ascertained. For in stance, a hat 8 inches long by 7 broad, is 7 diameter, or hatter's measure; 7 inches by 6 is 6 medium, or diameter. Upon this principle, blocks are used in the manufacturing and measuring of hats to particular sizes, varying from 5 inches, the size of an infant, increasing by the of an inch B to 7, the general full size of men. In using the term size, or large and small heads, I must be understood to speak of hatter's measurement, applying only to the circumference of the head within the range occupied by the hat, comprehending the reflective organs to the middle of the forehead, forming an oval round the head, resting upon or covering a portion of the basilar region on the sides and posterior portions, so that the perceptive faculties and the coronal surface are out of its contact.

By this mode of measurement the range of the male head in England, at maturity, is from 6 to 7, the medium and most general size being 7 inches. The female head is smaller, varying from 6 to 7 or 7, the medium male size. Fixing the medium of the English head at 7 inches, I shall be enabled to distinguish the portions of society above from those below that measurement. Commencing with London, a perceptible difference will be observed between the higher and lower classes of society. In the former, the majority are above the medium, while amongst the latter it is very rare to find a large head. This is easily proved by the different qualities of hats in requisition by each, in the manufacturing of which a distinct difference in the scale of sizes is observed. Taking the two extremes of society, this rule will be found invariable throughout the country, the middle ranks of life forming a

medium between the two. Establishments at the west end of the town, confined exclusively to the service of the higher circles, require more large hats in proportion than other hatters whose trade is confined to the middle ranks; and again, the business with the lower class presents the same relation to the class above them, requiring a greater proportion of small hats than either of the other classes. These statements can be proved in a variety of ways. Take the average sizes of livery-hats for servants, the scale will be found less than their masters. The sizes observed in furnishing a regiment of soldiers are easily ascertained. Seafaring men, and individuals connected with shipping and on the water, wear a pe. culiar small hat; and the japaned leather hat, the dog-hair hats, worn by carters, waggoners, and the labouring agriculturist, the round-crown-shoulder hats, in use by coal-heavers, corn-porters, &c., and the common plated hats in general request by the working classes, present great facility for judging of general measurements for the lower orders, in all of which, as compared with the finest hat made, there is a striking and manifest difference. In the lower ranks of life, the majority are below the medium of 7 inches, and the higher classes of society above it. Not only a difference in size is observed, but also a variation between the two classes, exists in the circle of the head coming in contact with the hat, so as to in'fluence the measurement. The upper portions of the head, comprehending the reflective faculties Ideality and Caution, come in contact, to increase the general circumference of the hat in the higher classes of society; but the same effect is not observed in the lower walks of life; the circle round the head in immediate connexion with the basilar region, the hat resting upon, or covering the ear, will show that the size is more to be ascribed to that fraction of the head than to the upper region. The slanting off of the lateral súperior circumference much decreases the general measurement. The weavers of Spitalfields have extremely small heads, 64, 65,

and 65, are prevailing sizes. In Coventry, almost exclusively peopled by weavers, the same facts peculiarly are observed.*

Leaving London, to the north and north-east, in the counties of Hertford, Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk, a greater number of small heads will be found than in any other part of the empire. Essex and Hertfordshire are the most remarkable for requiring small-sized hats-7 inches, the medium size given, is here, as in Spitalfields or Coventry, a full size-63 and 61 are prevailing sizes, and 63 the usual size for a boy of the age of 6 years, is here often to be met with in the full maturity of manhood. Crossing over the Thames to Kent, Surry, and Sussex, we observe an immediate increase in size of the usual average; and the inland counties in general, I believe, are upon nearly the same scale; but, as I in

This correspondence between size of head and class of society, is a fact of interest, and we earnestly recommend to the author to extend and sysmatize his observations upon it. It is established phrenological doctrine, that size of brain is just that power of character which will extend the influence and advance the rank of its possessor. It is, or rather it was, by no means essential that the size shall be an intellectual, or even moral development. As society is constituted, a very large endowment of the selfish sentiments of Selfesteem, Love of Approbation, Firmness, added to the propensities of Acquisitiveness and Secretiveness, which gives tact, or savoir faire, with Combativeness, and no very troublesome impediments from size in the regions of Conscientiousness, Benevolence, and Veneration, all keeping in activity, good knowing faculties, will be found the fittest endowment for what is called pushing the individual's fortune. In rude times, when, be it remembered, the most valued high rank was established, such were many of the heads which achieved crowns and coronets. Such was the head of Bruce and Napoleon, both far above average size. By the universally-admitted laws of propagation, the type of size is likely to remain with the descendants of these large heads to an extent sufficient to mark the class, although, in many individual cases, intermarriage with inferior heads, may diminish the size. Such degenerate heads, if not supported by artificial means, such as entails, will descend again in society, and are doing so every day; while larger heads are rising from the lower to the middle, and from the middle to the higher ranks; "the descendants of those who rode in coaches are changing places with the posterity of those who sat “ on the boxes." It would be very interesting to observe, on a minute examination into the actual development of the middle classes, as compared with the higher and lower, whether there is ground in superior moral endowment for its proverbial moral superiority. Keeping in mind what has already been said, that a very scrupulous moral endowment, as society is yet constituted, is rather an impediment to a great ascent in life; and this, notwithstanding that great intellectual power, as in Napoleon, is more in request than it was in the days of Bruce.-EDITOR.

VOL. IV.-No XVI.

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