to a mouse, one of the most harmless and least dreaded of animals in personal consideration. This she inherits from her mother. In her development there is nothing to indicate disproportional fear; and no fear is exhibited for other animals. The intellect

is more than sufficient, did the matter depend on reason, to combat and overcome the antipathy. The individual speaks rationally concerning it, but cannot resist feelings of aversion and terror that overwhelm her when the little creature is seen, even at a distance. The sight of a dead one, or an imitation, excites the feeling, though in a less violent degree. She starts and trembles when a dead mouse is accidentally seen in her path. It is not a matter of surprise that there should exist some fear of larger animals, in certain circumstances. That on meeting a herd of cattle uneasiness should be expressed, lest a bull be among them, is nothing singular. In the case under consideration, if a bull were tied, the lady would caress him with pleasure; but from a mouse in a cage she would fly. Even when a mouse is named she shudders. She does not now scream when the object of aversion first appears; but formerly she stood immoveable, screaming till the creature disappeared or was removed. She does not recollect having seen a mouse before she was twelve years old; or that she knew what it was when first she saw one. She rather thinks she did not know that the creature was a mouse. At any rate, at the first sight of one, the antipathy was in full force.

Though I cannot consider the organ of Cautiousness so much developed as to cause timidity, occasional disturbances of the feelings generally produce an affection of the organ which excites fear to a considerable degree, while no cause can be assigned in reference to any object of dread. I have some reason to think that at such times the organ of Wonder is at work, and excites that of Caution, and has some connexion with the antipathy. It is a somewhat remarkable circumstance, that one of the lady's brothers shows a very strong antipathy to cats. Whether accident, in such cases, determines the object of antipathy, I have not the means to decide; but the fact of brother and sister having strong antipathies, the one to cats, the other to mice, seems to exhibit a fundamental state or condition of a portion of the brain, which may be excited into action by different objects.

While no doubt exists of the effects of disease on any organ of the brain, in deranging its functions, it seems more than probable there are some marked effects produced by something in the composition, structure, or proportional development, of certain portions of individual organs. It is not unlikely that the direction of faculties depends nearly as much on something

of this sort, as upon the accidental presentation of objects to the senses. There can scarcely be a doubt, at least with those who have conversed with the blind, that ideas arise independently of external objects; because images arise unlike any thing known to us. We cannot indeed affirm, yet we cannot deny, that a portion of an organ of Cautiousness may be so constituted as that the sight of a mouse, or a more insignificant creature, shall affect it, and through it the whole nervous system.

It is a remarkable fact, that there is no dread of injury in the case before us; at least the intellect is perfectly satisfied that no injury is to be apprehended. Nor is there any desire for the destruction of the creature. If any one should pursue and kill the animal in the lady's presence, her feeling of benevolence would be lacerated. If destroyed out of her sight, she would feel satisfied, because there would be no risk of the animal again exciting the disagreeable feeling of antipathy. There is no hatred. In the greatest number of ordinary cases of dislike or danger, Destructiveness is roused, even when Benevolence is well developed.

There are other effects produced in cases of antipathy. It appears that the effluvia of animals and of various substances, though imperceptible to others, make the person subject to antipathy aware of their presence. I remember seeing a lady, after struggling against her feelings, carried from the dinner table when cheese was brought into the room. Some thought this was affectation; but it was unquestionably constitutional.

That acute disease produces antipathies to things which, in health, were not disagreeable, is daily observed. Whether we are to regard permanent cases as, in all instances, the result of chronic disease of an organ, it is not for me to decide. I have hazarded the notion that peculiar structure, consistence, or proportion of parts, may affect the functions of an organ as much as difference of size. The latter may, and does, cause variations of energy in all the functions, supposing the parts of an organ justly constituted and proportioned, whatever may be the bulk. Yet it seems consistent with observations already made, that individual organs may be disproportioned in their parts. For example, we find persons with very good verbal memories, not much disposed to talk; and others who talk incessantly, some speaking sense, others uttering a tissue of trifles, from a mere propensity to utter. All this we are accustomed to refer to the organ of Language. We can scarcely, however, say that talking or not talking proceeds from a morbid state of the organ. If we could, then every organ deviating from perfection would be deemed to be in a morbid state.

These considerations, though apparently of little moment, may, I hope, induce others to make observations on cases of antipathy, and, generally, of more than ordinary likings and dislikings. There are varieties of taste in every thing; and whether those are to be considered as originating in the condition or proportional constitution of organs, or in the mere proportion of one organ to another, seems to be a matter worthy of investiga

tion.

Accept my congratulations on the excellence of the first Number of the New Series of the Phrenological Journal; and I remain your very obedient servant,

11th December, 1837.

G. S. MACKENZIE.

[Note by the Editor.-Sir George Mackenzie has certainly proposed a subject in the above letter, which is abundantly worthy of minute attention on the part of phrenologists; but it is one that will require exact observations and a very careful analysis of the cases observed, before useful results can be expected. The laws of development in the structure both of animals and vegetables have latterly been greatly elucidated by a close study of monstrosities; so that almost new departments of science, in Botany and Animal Physiology, have been thus created. Antipathies, it strikes us, are to be regarded as one division of mental monstrosities, and their study may thus possibly lead to very important results.]

V. A Visit to Mr. Heldenmair's School, at Worksop.-Communicated in a Letter from Mr. JAMES SIMPSON.

SIR, As it is one of the inconsiderate objections to that sound education which it was the distinction of Phrenology first to point out, that it is impracticable and utopian, its advocates are called upon to furnish proofs of the contrary when these come in their way. Seminaries have from time to time been noticed in the pages of the Phrenological Journal, which were realising, in the most gratifying manner, an education in which all the faculties are exercised, or at least cared for,the selfish regulated, and the social strengthened. Infant education has been analysed, and its working, morally and intellectually, proved, in many schools, to be most gratifying, and even to exceed the most sanguine expectation. The ulterior or juvenile stage of elementary education, from six to

fourteen, has also been brought satisfactorily to the test of several years' experience. Mr. Cunningham of Edinburgh, and his successor Mr. Little (Mr. Cunningham having been compelled through ill health to relinquish his charge), Mr. Dorsey of the English Department of the High School of Glasgow, and several others, have been adduced in proof. I beg leave now to bring forward another seminary, which, in an interval of my recent educational labours in the great towns of Yorkshire, I have had much pleasure in visiting; I mean that at Worksop in Nottinghamshire, under the charge of Mr. Heldenmair. Sixty or seventy boys, from six to sixteen years of age, most completely and somewhat elegantly lodged and boarded, receive their instructions in handsome and commodious apartments, and are exercised in gymnastics and calisthenics in extensive grounds, large enough for cricket and other athletic games. The branches of instruction are such as to exercise all the intellectual powers, and to impart all the branches useful and ornamental, which are addressed to these faculties: -reading, grammar, writing, accounting, drawing; the knowledge of the surface, structure, vegetables and animals of the earth, in geography, geology, botany, and zoology; the knowledge of the atmosphere and the heavens, in meteorology and astronomy; the composition of the substances of the material world, and the changes produced by their action on each other, and their mechanical powers and relations, in chemistry and natural philosophy; the sciences of measurement and number, in geometry and algebra; English literature, with the history of nations and biographies; and vocal and instrumental music. Religious instruction is statedly given, the Bible read, and morning and evening worship performed by the assembled school; and as there are places of worship of different persuasions in Worksop, the parents can have a choice to which of these their children shall go; the Establishment being the resort when no other is stipulated for. Besides the thorough elementary education above described, both classical and modern languages are taught, in a manner that does not encroach upon more useful studies. German and French are much spoken in the School, most of the teachers being from Germany or Switzerland. They are also read and learned by the little-toilsome mode of direct translation and incidental parsing. Latin and Greek are wisely delayed till late in the curriculum, and are more rapidly and more efficiently studied in consequence.

The intellectual department being thus provided for, up to the most modern improvements, permit me a few words on the moral system of the place. No pupil has previously had the great advantage of the training of an infant school. The age

years

of

is not yet wise enough to extend this best of all human means of improvement, beyond the children of the poor. It is yet too good for what are called, by a title daily becoming more questionable, the better classes. Much, however, is done at Mr. Heldenmair's School to compensate for this early deficiency. As it is a Boarding School, the pupils residing in the house, and most of them far from home, pains are taken to give to the system as much as possible the character of a private family. Pupils are there at so young an age as five and six years. These no doubt, in most cases, bring with them the faults arising from the utter blank in anything like moral training which most nurseries exhibit, and not a few of the ill habits which positive nursery training instils in so many instances. Yet much may be done, by system, to moralise and refine even after six age. The system of benevolence, kindness, gentleness, -in short, love, reigns paramount in Mr. Heldenmair's Establishment. Look what way he may, the new-comer sees it influencing his teachers and his playmates, and no choice seems left him but that of conforming to it. Coarseness and violence are in such jarring discord to the key-note of the establishment, as to be felt to be bad taste and absolute singularity. The excellent head-teacher and all his assistants become necessarily objects, not of fear, but of love. They all join in the outdoor sports. It happened to be Mr. Heldenmair's birth-day, and a handsome present was made to him, for which all the boys had secretly subscribed. The presentation was really affecting, and could not be exceeded in filial affection, by children on a father's birth-day. By way of a father's return, the whole party set off next day, in various conveyances, on a day's excursion to some beautiful scenery; their teachers with them, to turn all they should see into utility as well as pleasure. They enjoy many shorter excursions in furtherance of health and knowledge. But there is another feature in the establishment, of a beauty and novelty which yet remains to be described. Mr. Heldenmair is married to a most amiable lady of his own country. Mrs. H. and two of her sisters, one of them wife to another of the teachers, have departments of great importance in the establishment. All three, especially Mrs. Heldenmair, take not only an interest, but a part in the education of the pupils of all ages. They are seen in the class-rooms of the elder as well as of the younger boys, assisting in the studies and encouraging the students, and evidently exercising a sort of maternal influence upon every member of the numerous family. This is perhaps the greatest novelty in the advanced education. I had seen it before, with equal pleasure, in the excellent establishment at Bruce Castle,