a knowledge of their profession is given. The comparative disregard of the one redeeming point in Oxford studies, Mathematics, is remarkable enough; for amongst the students who obtain "honours," about five earn classical, for every one that acquires mathematical honours. The excessive contempt in which useful knowledge is held by Oxford, is glaringly apparent in its bestowing the degree of Master of Arts. "În this course," says the British Annual, after explaining the examinations requisite for obtaining a right to put M.A. after a name, "two things appear most peculiarly striking; one is the limitation of arts to a knowledge of three classic authors, with the option of either logic or Euclid, but of no other science; the second is the extraordinary anomaly of making a knowledge of religion a part of the faculty of arts." This "extraordinary anomaly" has been forced (or nearly forced) upon students of medicine in London !

Phrenology and Political Economy." Now every genuine political economist of the fashionable school will tell you that supply is, in itself, an evidence of demand. It will thus be evident-albeit a large portion of these gentry are opposed to Phrenology, in consequence, I presume, of the demonstration which that science gives of the erroneousness of most of their principles,that the purchasers of phrenological busts must be extremely numerous to call for such a very extensive and continued supply."—(Smith's Reasonableness of Phrenology, page 12.)

Note. The above passage is quoted, in order to append a comment in dissent from the parenthetical part of it. We are not at all aware that Phrenology in any way demonstrates the erroneousness of most of the principles of political economy; and we regret to see the friends of our science thus unguardedly speaking in terms likely to injure it in the eyes of others. The injurious effect of such remarks in public lectures is twofold; first, by exciting prejudices in the minds of political economists, against a science calculated to give them some useful aid in their investigations; and secondly, by misleading superficial auditors into a belief that the two departments of science are really incompatible. Mr. Smith should show (not only say) that the supposed principles of the two sciences are at variance, and that Phrenology can refute those of Political Economy. The cultivators of the latter devote themselves to investigations of very high importance to the interests of mankind, and in return they meet with much apathy and some obloquy on the part of the public. Phrenologists may say the same of their own labours,

and should thus learn not to condemn those of others without some cause shewn.

The Laws of England.-"Legislators may labour and laws may be enacted, till, as at present in this country, the volumes of the statute-book become a burden to our shelves and a national disgrace; till the actual law is contained in ponderous tomes which can be numbered only by their thousands; but until human nature is studied and is understood by legislators and by the administrators of the law, such accumulations can tend only to increase the sum of human iniquity,—instead of lessening that sum; to render still more uncertain the glorious uncertainty of the law,'-instead of rendering that law, as every law by which citizens are bound ought of right to be, more definite and plain, and easy of apprehension. When legislators and administrators of the law shall have studied and shall have made themselves acquainted with the true principles of human nature, they will see that the due direction of the various impulses and motives by which man is impelled to action, the right education of the various mental faculties, and thus true civilization, virtue, morality, and happiness, are to be obtained by means very different from penal enactments and complicated codes." (Smith's Reasonableness of Phrenology, page 32.)

Note. We understand the writer of the above-copied paragraph to be a barrister, and on this account esteem more highly the sentiments expressed in it. But let the writer bear in mind, as one of them, that the lawyers, not the nominal legislators, thus encumber our legal code. Legislators usually strive only for the end, are commonly incompetent to judge of the means whereby that end is to be attained, and for the most part leave the manner of seeking it to the judgment of professed lawyers. If the laws and law proceedings be written in a verbose and scarcely intelligible jargon, it is the lawyers who manage this. If the administration of the law be incumbered with useless and costly forms, it is the lawyers who bring this about. If the practice in our courts consists of efforts to gain a decision for a side, rather than to arrive at truth and justice, it is to the established usages of the Bar and Bench, that we must look for the origin and explanation of this monstrosity. Let the duly qualified lawyer, desirous of earning posthumous fame, although at the expense of immediate loss and obloquy, or overflowing with true philanthropy, devote himself to the formation of a simple code, adequate to fulfil the ends of our present system, but expressed in brief language intelligible to all concerned. Let him appeal to the nation, by publishing his sim

plified code and explaining its superiority; in which case, the plan, if not the code itself, may come into popular favour and be adopted-after the present generation of lawyers has disappeared from the earth. In thus speaking of lawyers, be it understood, we do not find fault with them, either individually or as a class of men. They are now unavoidably trained to a bad system, the slow growth of centuries; and after having laboured hard to acquire a knowledge of this established system, it is not to be expected that many of them should desire to sweep it away, and begin afresh. Nor do they see how it is faulty, or how it is to be amended. For instance, Mr. Brougham talked eloquently of amending our laws, and Lord Brougham has done about as much to effect this as a single nibbling mouse might do towards removing the rubbish of a falling castle; yet the sincerity of his wishes can scarcely be questioned. The plain language of the Spectator Newspaper describes the evil in a few words, and as briefly states the remedy. "Our statutes,' says this periodical, "are too voluminous for any one to read, too obscure for any save the initiated to understand, and too contradictory for even the appointed expounders to reconcile." The remedy suggested is, "by a skilful and careful consolidation, which should reject the useless, the absurd, the unjust, and retaining only that which is valuable, present it to the people in an intelligible form." This is good so far as it goes, and as applied to those legal transactions between man and man which do not come under the head of crimes. But it does not state the fundamental principle from which all criminal legislation should start,the actual prevention of crime. It is true, our criminal laws are professedly framed for the prevention of crime; but it is equally true that they do not prevent it. If the intention be good, and yet fail of success, evidently the fault of inefficacy must be in the means adopted; and an intelligent phrenologist will understand why the means must fail to complete the intended result. They fail, because based on the the gratuitous assumption that criminals have qualities of mind with which nature has not endowed them. The framers of these err through taking their own minds as types. Hence our criminal laws are tolerably well adapted to restrain good and prudent men from lapsing into crime; but they are calculated rather to increase than to diminish the crimes of the vicious. They have this glaring defect in addition to the faults of complexity and mutual contradiction common to our whole system of laws.

V. SHORT COMMUNICATIONS.

Progress of Phrenology. It is interesting to phrenologists, to meet with evidences — and these are continually occurring of the gradual diffusion of ideas derived from phrenological sources. Amongst other popular works in which instances of this kind appear, those of Mr. E. L. Bulwer contain frequent allusions or descriptions, suggesting to his readers that the author has some little acquaintance with the facts or doctrines of Phrenology, and adopts them as correct representations of nature. His recent novel of Ernest Maltravers affords a fair example of this, where the author is describing a country banker, not destitute of good feeling, although more largely endowed with the animal propensities, than the moral sentiments, and who keeps up appearances with the world by a constant observance of the usages of society, and of the ostensible proprieties of religion. In the course of the description, the two following passages occur, penned in such language, and in such connexion with each other, as would scarcely have been hit upon without the aid of phrenological observation, either by the author or by others from whom he has learned the connexion : "Alice saw before her a tall dark man, with a head bald in front, yet larger behind than before, with spectacles upon a pair of shrewd penetrating eyes." "From nature, this gentleman had received an inordinate share of animal propensities; he had strong passions, he was by temperament a sensualist. He loved good eating and good wine he loved women."

.....

Pensions to literary and scientific men. -- Much discussion has lately occurred on the subject of granting pensions to persons distinguished for attainments in literature or science. Many of those who have contended in favour of the pensions have spoken of the literary and scientific men, as if they were urged to their pursuits solely by patriotism or philanthropy, -as if they were persons sacrificing themselves for the benefit of their fellows. But it must be obvious enough to any one who studies the mental characteristics of others, that men devote their time and talents to literary or scientific labours, for their own good pleasure and personal enjoyment. Why, then, should they be paid out of the public purse for walking in the path which is most agreeable to themselves? If they can make

merchandise of their scientific knowledge and literary creations, by sale to individuals willing to purchase these commodities, the laws allow them to do so, and protect their property therein. What further claim have they? On moral grounds, none at all. On any other aspect, the granting of pensions, as rewards for success in literature, seems to partake of the same sound policy as the giving of bounties to encourage commerce.

The Ourang-Utang. Phrenologists frequenting the Zoological Gardens, in the Regent's Park, should avail themselves of the opportunity now afforded, for watching the mental manifestations of the little lady recently introduced into those gardens under such an euphonious name. Some of the periodicals have described the expression of her face as being "pensive" and "reflective." We have yet made only one very short call on the attractive brunette in trousers and jacket, but so far as a quarter of an hour could enable any fair judgment to be formed, her expression seemed to be the very reverse of what has been thus attributed to her, and should rather be called the vacuity of idiocy than the calmness of reflection. The creature was sufficiently observant of persons and things around it; but at the same time had very much the aspect of a child bewildered by a number of strange objects or of events not intelligible to it. In addition to this, there was a sulky expression, such as children assume when fear is mingled with anger. Its screaming and knocking about of its chair, when the door was closed upon it, were just the actions and even tones of an angry child. It was with much regret, that we observed the conduct of the keeper who appeared to have charge of the animal. He stood by it with a formidable whip, threatening it, and commanding it in a harsh and disagreeable tone of authority. If this is allowed to continue, the full and natural manifestations of the creature's instincts will be repressed, and probably enough its health will be impaired. We should suggest an association with some other animal, and an injunction to the keepers to treat it with the utmost gentleness and forbearance.

Dread of Innovation. Mr. Bingham told us of another similar fact, in his lecture a short time since, that when Turnpike roads were first introduced, the City of London petitioned Parliament against them. I knew an old man who told me he could very well recollect when the mail-coach, in going to London, always carried a spade and a pick-axe slung at the side, in order to dig the wheels out of the ruts on the road. I have heard my father say, and he is now upwards of eighty