ations on the structure of the brain, which he supposes to militate against the doctrines of Phrenology. From the published reports which have fallen under our notice (those in the Athenæum and local newspapers) we cannot perceive that Mr. Carlile has any definite proofs in corroboration of his supposition. When his evidences are published, we shall feel it our duty to pay attention to his views. Professor Evanson was present, and is reported to have said "that these facts were inadequate to overturn the doctrines of Phrenology." We rejoice that Phrenology had so good a representative to maintain its cause, and one who would not shrink from a manly and honest avowal of his convictions. It is the fate of Phrenology to be frequently made the subject of misrepresentation and indirect attack in places where its enemies calculate on either doing this with impunity, or at least having a majority of hostile voices; and we are sorry to add, that some phrenologists allow this to be done in their presence, without opposition or correction. We have written to Dr. Evanson, requesting more definite information as to the phrenological bearings of Mr. Carlile's observations, but at the time of sending our MS. to the printer's, his reply has not reached us. The report seen by ourselves is that in the Athenæum ; -a periodical, by the way, not professing to be anti-phrenological, but one that takes frequent opportunity of alluding to Phrenology in terms indicative of a dislike to the subject, and which suggest to us a strong suspicion that some soreness of feeling-perhaps, a wound to the personal pride or vanity of some contributor-is at the bottom of its pettishness. We regret to see this in a publication for the most part ably conducted, and deservedly enjoying a wide circulation. Phrenology and the British Association.- Professor Evanson's good services to Phrenology, at the recent meeting of the Association, were by no means confined to supporting it against side-wind attacks. He presented a paper entitled " A Critical Analysis of the different Methods that have been adopted for determining the Functions of the Brain ;" and when called on to read it, he gave the spirit of the essay orally instead of reading. We lament that no report of the Professor's speech reached our hands before November, otherwise an abstract of it would certainly have been presented to our readers. As it is, we must refer them to the Athenæum, October Part, page 752. The subject of the paper appears to have been brought out in a very lucid and powerful manner, and the superiority of Gall's method shown in arguments at once brief and clear. It will be remembered, that Mr. Combe offered to give a demonstration on the national skulls, in the Museum of the Phrenological Society, at the meeting of the British Association in Edinburgh, and that his offer was passed over in silence. (See Vol. IX. page 120, of our former series.) We are glad that no mean spirit of jealousy was allowed to interfere with Dr. Evanson's purpose, though necessarily connected with Phrenology, and equally tending to show its importance in connection with Physiology. A Renegade from Phrenology! - Phrenologists have frequently vaunted that no one has recanted his belief in Phrenology, if conviction was the result of becoming really conversant with the science. After the speech of Dr. Evanson, mentioned in the preceding paragraph, Dr. Macartney said, "He was formerly a pupil of Dr. Spurzheim, and was a believer in the doctrines of Phrenology. Since then he had altered his opinion, and was now opposed to it." Was Dr. Macartney's belief adopted on good evidence of the truth of the doctrines to which he is now opposed? If so, is that false now which was true formerly? Or will Dr. Macartney confess that he believed the doctrines without sufficient evidence of their truth? In the latter case, phrenologists will be glad to see him in the ranks of their opponents; and they will be entitled to suggest, that the Doctor may also now believe the opposite of his former belief, on equally insufficient evidence. Dr. Macartney is assuredly in an awkward dilemma. Either he adopts opinions credulously, so that his testimony on either side is worthless, or he is now opposed to truth. On which horn will he rest? Professor Elliotson and the Phrenologists of Edinburgh. The second volume of the fifth edition of Dr. Elliotson's Physiology is just published. It contains severe animadversions on Spurzheim and some of the Edinburgh phrenologists, for neglecting to assign that credit and pre-eminence to Gall's works, which Dr. Elliotson conceives to be due. We are not sorry to see this subject openly brought forward by Dr. Elliotson, although we must regret that his earnest regard for Gall's reputation has induced a tone of expression scarcely reconcileable with philosophical calmness. Till the appearance of our next Number, we must be content with giving this notice of the fact, and repeating the wish implied in the motto " Fiat justitia.” Portraits of Queen Victoria. Our readers in the country will probably be looking with phrenological eyes upon some of the many prints sold as portraits of her Majesty. It has become the recognised privilege of artists, to make pleasing likenesses of the young and fair; and when youth and fairness happen to meet in the person of a reigning sovereign, it is not difficult to believe that some slight touches of improvement may be given, or, at least, that excellence will be heightened. Perhaps this may be the case with several of the published portraits, but in regard to one of them which is said to be the best to be "the portrait" indeed, we have to caution our phrenological friends not to rely upon it too implicitly in their cranioscopical estimates, as we are informed, through a channel likely to be accurate on such a subject, that after the likeness was secured to the satisfaction of the artist, in the original painting or drawing, some slight alterations were made, by the express desire of her Majesty; the effect of these changes being an increase to the apparent size of the intellectual organs in the upper part of the forehead. Animal Magnetism.-There are now so many evidences on record, and supported by such good testimony, that it would indicate more of unwillingness to believe, than of philosophical impartiality, in a physiologist who should shut his eyes and refuse to allow any degree of credit to the pretensions of Animal Magnetism. We ought rather to seek an explanation of the phenomena, in some natural law or cause, than to join with those who accuse all its professors of fraud or folly. The experiments lately performed in University College Hospital have excited both discussion and speculation on the subject; and an anonymous writer in the Lancet (No. 731, September 2, 1837) has suggested that the gestures or manipulations of the magnetisers have an effect on the brain "akin perhaps to the dizziness produced by the sight of running water. There are some difficulties in the way of this explanation, and it does not appear to be entertained by Dr. Elliotson, whose clinical lecture on the subject is reported in the succeeding Number of the Lancet. We mention the opinions of the writer above alluded to, because anything materially affecting the action of the brain is so far an object of interest to phrenologists. The practice of the art, however, appears as yet to be purely empirical in all instances; and without wishing to be uncharitable, may we not call it mere quackery in some of them? There are certain facts which cannot be denied ; but it is abundantly evident from the many unsuccessful attempts, that the magnetisers are themselves ignorant what is the real influence which affects the patient. The correspondent of the Lancet judiciously urges others to lay aside all feelings of the mystical, and to seek an explanation in some physical conditions. The experiments are again spoken of in more recent Numbers. Penny Cyclopædia and Phrenology. A few years ago we mentioned (Vol. VIII. page 286,) that the editors of the Penny Cyclopædia had declined to introduce an article on Phrenology into that publication, when it was offered by Sir G. S. Mackenzie; and we then expressed a hope that the editors might alter their opinion of the merits of our science. It now seems to be their intention, to take some notice of it at a future day; but they have postponed the introduction of it for several years. Under the word " BRAIN," the anatomical labours of Gall and Spurzheim were spoken of with respect, and, indeed, with encomium. For an account of the functions of the brain, the reader is there referred onwards to " NERVOUS SYSTEM." In the eighth volume, published last summer, "CRANIOLOGY " is introduced, but no notice of the subject is taken, except by a reference onwards to "PHRENOLOGY." We entertain little doubt that before the Cyclopædia is continued to the letter P, phrenology will be too well established, for the editors any longer to refuse it a due place amongst their " useful knowledge." In long anticipation we shall here use the freedom to recommend, that for any article on Phrenology, they should apply to a competent phrenologist, neither taking the misrepresentations of opponents who are too little acquainted with the science, nor the burlesqued accounts of quacks who only pretend to be the contrary. Meantime, let the editors remember, that they are passing over, in their alphabetical order, many important subjects connected with phrenology; the neglect of which will ere long be pronounced a great defect in the Cyclopædia, or must be partially remedied by an article on PHRENOLOGY, disproportionately long; very long, indeed, or very incomplete, must be an article which shall redeem the utter neglect of this subject till two-thirds of the alphabet have been passed through. - An Association of Phrenologists. We shall be glad to receive the suggestions of our friends, briefly expressed, on the best plan for attempting the establishment of an Association of Phrenologists. The adherents of Phrenology are rapidly increasing in numbers; but their strength is that of units only, owing to the want of combination. A well-managed Association would become a most powerful means of diffusing phrenological views, and would soon make opposition to them appear contemptible before the public. Local Statistics of Phrenology. In consequence of his request printed in a former Number of this Journal (No. 50, page 368.), Mr. Hewett Watson has received several communications on the local progress of Phrenology, which will probably be introduced into this department of our future Numbers, as opportunity offers. Though we are very glad to receive notices of the progress of our science in different places, it will often happen that such communications must be postponed to other matters of more immediate interest for the time being. American editions of Spurzheim's Works. We are told by English phrenologists, that they find difficulty in obtaining copies of the corrected editions of Spurzheim's works, lately published in America, and also of the Translation of Gall's 8vo work in six volumes. Of the latter, we saw a copy a few days ago which had just been purchased at Mr. Leslie's, Great Queen Street, and were then informed that it had been the last copy in his shop, but that he had still copies of Spurzheim's works, On Education, On Insanity, On the Anatomy of the Brain, including the Appendix, and On Physiognomy in connexion with Phrenology. TO CORRESPONDENTS. THE REV. E. W. is probably judicious in declining to send his objections to the views advocated in Mr. Combe's works, in an appropriate form for being printed and replied to in this Journal; but may we not respectfully suggest to him, that the reasons he gives for not publishing his objections, are also reasons for not entertaining them at all? We allude to his words, "having no pretensions to the knowledge either of phrenology or physiology which would justify the assumption, nor any inclination to write about what I so little understand." It is impossible that any complete judgment of Mr. Combe's writings and moral doctrines can be formed by those who are not at least moderately conversant both with phrenology and with physiology. We say impossible, because without such knowledge the certainty of Mr. Combe's data cannot be sufficiently appreciated; and hence it is, that we commonly see mere moral reasoners disputing Mr. Combe's premises, not the inferences drawn from them; and this is not unfrequently the case even where such premises are undoubted facts, admitted by all physiologists or all phrenologists. Received. The Philosophy of Human Nature; by Henry Mc Cormac, M.D. 8vo, pages 574.-The Report of the Directors of the Montrose Lunatic Asylum, &c. for the year ending June 1837. A pamphlet of 24 pages. - Liverpool Standard, September 19. Saunders's News Letter, September 18 and 25. Manchester Times, October 28. The Glasgow Argus, November 9. Several MS. Communications, for which we could not find space, in consequence of wishing to give examples of each of our proposed Sections, in the present Number. The essay, by Mr. M., on the Objections to Phrenology, is well adapted for reading before a Society; but as it is essentially illustrative of ideas heretofore promulgated in several phrenological works, and many of which have already appeared in the former series of this Journal, we are doubtful about the propriety of introducing the paper, although inclined to do so, if we can spare the requisite space in our next Number. S. C. on the Organ of Hope shall appear in our March Number. We are obliged to Mr. Cargill for his two communications, which did not reach us before the present Number was ready for the printer, so that we are compelled to postpone further notice of them at present. The following papers were likewise too late :- Mr. Simpson's Communication on Schools. Mr. Meymott's Reply to some Objections made against Phrenology. - Proceedings of the Phrenological Class of the London Mechanics' Institute. The Report of the Proceedings of the Glasgow Phrenological Society is unavoidably postponed, for the same reason. We thank Dr. Weir, for his offer of an Analysis of the Society's Proceedings during the present Session, and beg to refer him to our "Notice to Correspondents," on the cover, for directions relating to the transmission of letters and parcels. We also thank our fair correspondent for calling attention to the Note "tacked to an absurd paper" in Fraser's Magazine of October last. The objection has been made, and met, a hundred times, but still answers the purpose of tricking the ignorant. The difficulty shall be again explained in our next Number. T. R.'s letter has been received. We refer him to Mr. Combe's System of Phrenology, Vol. I. p. 126-7, and to The Phrenological Journal, Vol. X. p. 563. I. Suggestions to Phrenologists, on the Requisites for the Advance of Phrenology. A GES GES may perhaps elapse before Phrenology shall be sufficiently advanced towards its maturity, as a science, to entitle it to be ranked on a par, in point of perfection, with others included under the general terms of Natural History and Natural Philosophy. Much has been done; but much remains to be done. If we converse with persons yet altogether ignorant of the principles and applications of Phrenology, we are struck by the dogmatism and empiricism which characterise their ideas (provided they have any ideas at all) on the functions of the brain, on mental philosophy, and on almost all moral questions; and we see forcibly enough the necessity of having some ascertained and guiding principles, as data whereon to base our reasons of action. If we turn from their crude and often conflicting notions (in which gleams of truth may indeed be detected, but so mixed up with errors as to be nearly valueless in practice) to the clearer lights now yielded by Phrenology, we are surprised at the progress that has been already made towards explaining and solving many of the great questions of moral science. When tested thus, by comparisons between the precise, straightforward, steadily-based, and harmonising ideas of competent phrenologists, and the confused, doubtful, unsteady, and often jarring notions of others, we are always induced to estimate our science at a very high rate, and even to esteem it as approaching towards perfection. It is only after carefully examining in detail the numerous unsettled |