To Messrs. Stith, Waddell, Webb, and Buck. GENTLEMEN, Permit me to tender you my thanks for your very courteous and flattering note of yesterday, in your capacity as a Committee, and to ask you to be the organ to express from me the same to the class of the Medical Institute of Philadelphia.

In whatever degree you and the other members of the class may overrate my abilities as an advocate and a teacher of Phrenology, it might be difficult to speak extravagantly of the extent of my zeal and solicitude on that subject. I have been long and anxiously engaged in endeavouring to diffuse through the United States a correct knowledge of the science “as it is,' not as it is groundlessly represented to be, in newspapers, reviews, opposition lectures by ignorant or prejudiced adversaries, and in steam-boat and stage-coach conversations, and fireside gossip. These are but so many sources of error and mischief; and their pernicious influence is increased not a little, by the swarms of shallow, strolling head-readers that encumber our country, and impose on its inhabitants. My wish is to extend the knowledge of the science in its genuine character.

What most surprises me, however, in this matter, is, the marked indifference, not to say hostility, with which Phrenology is regarded by the great body of the Physicians of Philadelphia. In no other enlightened city in Christendom does a scene so chilling and discouraging to anatomy and physiology openly present itself. For in its true character, Phrenology is but the anatomy and physiology of the brain,-the master organ and arbiter of the system. Yet do men who spend weeks, months, and years, in exploring the structure and functions of other and subordinate parts of the body, speak with affected contempt and in terms of reprobation of that science which treats of the structure and functions of the brain. That this should be the case in places overshadowed by ignorance and superstition is not to be wondered at; but that such should be the condition of things in Philadelphia, the seat of the two largest schools of Medicine in the Union, and the reputed emporium of general science, is truly amazing. In the words of the dramatist "there is something more than natural in this, if our philosophy could find it out." Even in Rome, where Phrenology is placed under the ban of the church and the anathema of the Vatican, it is much more attended to by distinguished men, than in the city of Philadelphia.

Look at London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Cork, Liverpool, Manchester, Paris, Montpellier, Berlin, Copenhagen, Boston, and every other populous and enlightened city that can be named, whether it contain a School of Medicine or not,

and mark the difference. In those marts of Science, Phrenology is taught, studied, and encouraged; while in Philadelphia it is neglected, scoffed at, and denounced — especially by those who lead and direct in the department of science to which it belongs. If any do study and favour it, they do not belong to the scientific magnates of the place.

On you and other young men of liberal views, ambitious spirits, and independent minds, who are engaged in medical and physical pursuits, do the cause and interest of Phrenology in Philadelphia principally depend. From physicians and others more advanced in years, who are enamoured of ease and social enjoyment, content with their present stock of knowledge, and cased in prejudice, it is plain that the science has nothing to expect.

That you may become thoroughly acquainted with Phrenology yourselves, charmed with its beauties as a science, and convinced of its usefulness as a means of promoting the interest of our race, and be instrumental in diffusing a knowledge of it through the community, is the hope and wish of Your obedient servant,

PHILADELPHIA, August 11th, 1837.

CH. CALDWell.

*

VIII. Correspondence between Mr. William Cargill and Dr. Knott, in reference to a public Discussion of the Merits of Phrenology.* -Extracted from Mr. Cargill's Report to the Phrenological Society of Newcastle, in capacity of Secretary to the Society.

BEFORE proceeding to read the papers that are promised for to-night, I will, if permitted by the chairman, allude for a moment to some transactions that have taken place in our town on the subject of Phrenology; which, although not in any way connected with this Society, yet are not the less interesting to those who may be wishful to obtain a knowledge of that science. I allude to three Lectures delivered by Dr. Knott to crowded audiences in the Music Hall. The circumstances under which

* Perhaps an apology is due to our readers, for giving undue importance to Dr. Knott's Letters, by printing them here. Our motives are twofold: first, to add another to the many examples of the extreme reluctance to fair and full discussion exhibited by anti-phrenological lecturers; secondly, we think the spirited and judicious steps taken by Mr. Cargill, in defence of Phrenology, are deserving of the gratitude of phrenologists, and should incite others to the same promptitude. -EDITOR P. J.

those Lectures were delivered render it an act of justice to the advocates of Phrenology, as well as to those who are not so, but who are desirous of investigating the evidence on which it is founded, that I should bring before you the following particulars; the more especially as a considerable number of very intelligent persons, including some medical men whom I could name, have considered that Dr. Knott pulled away the foundations on which that science is based. Considering the prejudices that still exist against Phrenology, in common with every other discovery, it is not to be wondered at, that in so large an audience as that which attended at the Music Hall, a certain number (although in this instance I believe only a small proportion) should be found to conclude that the attacks of the Lecturer were decisive, in the absence of evidence to the contrary. But I would suggest to those gentlemen and ladies who may be induced to come to a conclusion by so easy a road, that they should suspend their judgment until they hear a little said. upon the other side of the question; and when they become aware of the exact amount of anxiety entertained by the denouncer of Phrenology, to have all his arguments carefully sifted and laid before the public (which the following few words of correspondence, that I beg permission of the chairman to read, will enable you to judge of), perhaps it may operate as an additional reason for hearing the evidence before returning the verdict. By the expression, "absence of evidence," I do not of course mean the absence of all evidence on the other side; for I think every one who heard Mr. Fife's able replies will bear me out in the opinion, that more skilful or conclusive arguments could not possibly have been used, than those which the ridiculously limited time of ten minutes enabled that gentleman to employ; but as ten minutes to reply to an attack of an hour and a quarter's duration could scarcely suffice for the complete discussion of even a single point, and as the whole. nature of the proceeding rendered impossible an appeal to facts, which is the only argument that has weight in this question, I had determined to bring the whole matter fairly before the public. Dr. Knott gave me due notice of his intention to deliver the Lectures, and that Mr. Fife intended to reply to them. I afterwards learnt that it was proposed that five minutes should be allotted to Mr. Fife for dealing with the Knotty arguments of the opponent of the " Square Inch System," a space of time which was, however, magnanimously extended to ten minutes! I hereupon engaged a Reporter, who attended the three nights to take down the Doctor's objections in short-hand; and as in such discussions there is generally a good deal of unnecessary confusion about attributing wrong arguments, garbling state

ments, &c., which I resolved to avoid, I sent the Reporter's Manuscript to Dr. Knott, with a request that he would say whether any erroneous arguments were attributed to him, and, if so, that he would make such remarks as would enable me, in drawing up a fair copy of them for publication, to adhere strictly to what his objections to Phrenology really were.

Dr. Knott returned me the manuscript, with the following reply:

MY DEAR SIR, I have looked through the Report of Lectures on Phrenology, &c., and find it so incorrect, as to commission and omission, &c., that correction would imply recomposition. As to your request of a statement of my objections, I may observe, I could not do justice to myself and the question, without considerable expenditure of time in transcribing, and exertion of memory. My notes are so contracted as to be useless to any one except myself; and being in rather a delicate state of health, with the task of 100 Lectures on "Theory and Practice of Medicine," in the Medical School, 4 days a week from 2d of next month, I find myself, however reluctant, unable to accommodate you; and it was to guard against any deficiency of candour on my part, should any members of the Phrenological Society desire to reply to my objections, that I informed you, as their Secretary, of my intention to deliver the Lectures.

Allow me to assure you that I regret my inability to meet your wishes. I am much obliged for the work on Infant Schools, which I had previously seen with great pleasure. Such a system of education is beginning at the right end.

I am, &c.

SAMUEL KNOTT.

NORTHUMBERLAND STREET, Saturday Evening.

The following reply was sent to Dr. Knott on the 17th September, 1837.

-

MY DEAR SIR, I am sorry to learn from you, that the nature of the Report of your Lectures on Phrenology presents an insurmountable objection to their being printed in a form perfectly authentic and recognised by you, along with my reply, duly reflected upon, and which I should have illustrated by drawings of individuals, both of this town and elsewhere, that the cogency of the arguments and facts I might advance should be able to be tested by all who attended at the Music Hall, the whole manuscript of which I should again have submitted to you previous to putting it into the hands of the printer.

For this purpose I had already entered into arrangements with Messrs. Currie and Bowman, as to the printing and engraving, and with the cast-taker of Mr. Robson of Market Street, for procuring impressions of the faces and heads of as many persons possessing any marked mental faculty, in this town, as would consent thereto. Without, however, having an authorised copy of your objections, this falls to the ground. I may here remark, that I did not for a moment contemplate putting you to the trouble of giving me a detailed statement of your objections to Phrenology, as you seem to consider, in my former note to you. I meant a statement of your objections to the Report, in any way, however rude, from which I should have been able, myself, to draw out a true copy of what your objections to Phrenology really are. I should, then, again have submitted this to your inspection. And I think you will allow that I have consented to take a very reasonable share of trouble in the matter, when you consider that I am actively, and I may say even harassingly, employed in my business, during about ten hours of every day in the week, with the exception of Sunday.

This, however, is scarcely to the point; but if you will allow me to allude to the remark contained in your note to me, “that you had informed me, the Secretary to the Phrenological Society, of your intention to deliver these Lectures, lest any member should wish to reply to your objections." I presume by this you meant it was sufficient to reply at the time? If so, the arrangements made of allowing only ten minutes, to reply to an hour's discourse, puts the possibility of an effectual reply, even if Dr. Gall himself were the defendant, utterly out of the question; the more so, as a reply necessarily requires a longer time than the attack; seeing that, to make it clear, the objections should be stated again by the person defending, along with his reply to them.

But whatever time may be allowed for replying, I disapprove in toto of the method of investigating any subject by public disputation. Experience proves that the subject of Phrenology involves the most serious considerations both in Physiology and Pathology, as well as in Ethics; and is only to be proved, or disproved, by the examination of a host of facts, to bring the whole of which clearly before the understanding would require many months of lecturing, as well as an enlightened, not a mixed, audience. Surely you will not suppose me unreasonable, if I conceive that a "disputation" before the Members of a Mechanics' Institute cannot be conclusive? Under these circumstances, therefore, and considering it the most satisfactory way the nature of the subject would admit, I hired a Reporter to take down your Lectures in short-hand, in the regular