for sensations so very different from each other as those of the five senses; and disease, which depraves a sense, still leaves a sense though depraved, and does not destroy it altogether, as would happen if the disease were in the nerve; while the other senses are not depraved, which would be otherwise if one organ served them all; as that organ could not be both sound and diseased at the same time.

Although not in his work, Sir G. M. was the first to desiderate an organ for the appetites of hunger and thirst; and to point out convolutions for these in the base of the brain, which subsequent observation makes it almost certain he pointed out aright. Dr Hoppe of Copenhagen has improved upon this suggestion, by naming the propensity, not that of hunger and thirst, these being mere uneasy sensations, which would never lead to their own cure, more than any other bodily pain, but the instinct for food, which prompts the new-born animal to take the means of removing the uneasiness called hunger. The propensity is liable to disease, and voracious gluttony is then the manifestation. We have heard of a We have heard of a person in whom a paroxysm of voracity comes on at the sight of food. Dr Hoppe has shown some ground for the belief, that the organ is externally developed on a part of the cranium, on the spot in a line between Destructiveness and the temple. This is obvious in the cast of Pallet, who called for food at the moment even of his apprehension; and we have seen it in several gourmands.

The author adds seventeen good plates to his work, well worth the student's attention; and accompanies them with descriptions, which afford excellent practice to the beginner. He gives a very good account of the skull of Bruce, written soon after that hero's remains were exhumed. There are very correct heads of Watt and Playfair; but nothing is said about the largeness in them of the organ of Weight or Resistance; its essentiality to mechanical skill not being then suspected. The Admirable Crichton's is a splendid head, and, if we had a doubt that there did exist such a universal genius, would decide for us, as Phrenologists, that controversy.

Sir G. M. concludes with some examples of combinations in sketching character from development; a practice which, although now as easy as the alphabet to every ordinary Phrenologist, was then considered an effort of talent and skill nearly allied to magic.

The Illustrations have one fault, which, we fear, has considerably impeded their usefulness as an elementary work, namely, that of presuming too much previous acquaintance with the subject in the reader; the organs, for instance, are referred to throughout by the numbers instead of names, and frequently mere results are stated without any elucidation of the principle on which they depend. We select the following as examples :

"Those men who take the lead in societies and in public "affairs will be found, almost uniformly, to have more of 19. " and 29. than of 30. and 31.; and in every case a very consi"derable development of 10. and 11. and frequently much of 5.

"Those persons who study natural history, and are deeply "versed in any of its branches, will be found to have 19. 20. "25. 29. and 30. well marked. Natural philosophers have all "from 19. to 31. inclusive, and for the most part 7. Metaphy"sicians have 30. and 31. largest, but not always the latter. "Poets have uniformly a large development of 16. to 29. and "their writings will tell when they may be expected to have "other organs largely developed. Mimics and good actors will "be found to have 9. and 33. large.

"In the orator, 29. will be found prominent; and the style of "his speeches will be guided by the development of other organs. If he reasons closely, and sticks to the facts of his case, "the lawyer will possess more of 19. and 31. than of 16. If his speech be ornamented, 16. will be prominent. No 9. gives fa"cility in arguing a case, of the merits of which the pleader may "not be quite satisfied; and, indeed, to make an accomplished "lawyer, the savoir faire is indispensable; and all the higher "faculties are necessary to him."

cr

We know that, in spite of a distinct table of reference at page 203, to which of course nobody is at the trouble to turn, considerable disappointment was experienced by uninitiated readers on perusing this and similar passages, although to advanced Phrenologists nothing could be more plain. Sir G. Mackenzie's work, therefore, was really, as formerly obVOL. III.-No XI.

21

served, in advance of its date; and many persons would peruse it now with pleasure and profit, who pronounced it meagre and unsatisfactory at its first appearance.*

At page 450 of this article, an error has inadvertently been committed, in ascribing to Sir G. M'Kenzie the suggestion of the organ of Cautiousness as the seat of Hypochondriasis. Dr Spurzheim made the same remark, and in almost the same words, in his Physiognomical System, published in 1815; to him, therefore, the credit is exclusively due. We need scarcely add, that neither Sir G. M. nor Dr A. Combe lay any claim to the originality of the suggestion.EDITOR.

ARTICLE XI.

DUNDEE MECHANICS' PHRENOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

The following excellent letter is addressed to Mr George Combe, and is published with consent of the writer. We sincerely rejoice to learn that the mechanics have begun to direct their attention to Phrenology, for we are convinced that it is calculated to be highly useful to them. It will one day be an honour to Dundee to have taken the lead in this

cause.

Dundee, 2d May, 1826.

TO GEORGE COMBE, ESQ. RESPECTED SIR-The members of the Dundee Mechanics' Phrenological Society request me to transmit you their most sincere thanks for the interest you have taken in their welfare, by sending them, through Mr Galloway, a copy of your System of Phrenology at a reduced price. At the same time they wish me to give you some account of the motives which induced us to form ourselves into a society for the purpose of obtaining a knowledge of phrenological truth; the chief of which was, the education of youth. It has long appeared to a few of us, that the present systems of education (I use the word in its widest sense) are deficient, because they do not seem to be founded upon a true knowledge

of the nature of man, by presupposing equal natural abilities in all, and holding, that education alone is competent to make a youth a mechanic, a lawyer, an orator, or a divine. But, experiencing in our families the truth of the poet's observation, that

"The hand of Nature on peculiar minds
Imprints a different bias,"

we resolved to study Phrenology, and finding it (as far as our limited observations went,) to be in accordance with nature, we formed ourselves into a society, that we might the more easily obtain the necessary books, busts, and apparatus, and, by our united observations, aid each other in sooner acquiring a knowledge of the science. We have now procured your "Elements" and "System," a "set" of busts and callipers, and two or three of our number are finishing craniometers for our use, which will enable us to take more correct measurements. We have drawn up a few regulations, but have not yet printed them, hoping we may procure a copy of those belonging to your society, which might suggest some new mode of procedure, as it is our wish to have every thing as wisely ordered as possible to disarm our opponents, of which we are honoured with a few, who industriously circulate Gordon's critique upon the science amongst themselves,—a work which, I am told, is as full of opprobrious epithets as of sound philosophy. We have chosen the name of Mechanics, &c. partly because it is a true designation, and partly to distinguish ours from the one formed by our "patricians," who will doubtless contribute to throw new lights upon Phrenology by their discoveries; while we, from our stations, must be content to receive its lights, happy if we succeed in rendering them practically useful for restraining the propensities, nourishing the higher sentiments, and training the faculties of our youth into activity, thereby rendering them useful and virtuous citizens, fitted to adorn

Should

"The mild majesty of private life,

Where peace with ever-blooming olive crowns the gate."

your other avocations permit, we would feel proud

of a continuance of the countenance with which you have already honoured us, which, I beg to assure you, would be gratefully received

By, respected Sir,

Your very obedient servant,

ALEXANDER TAYLOR, Secy.

ARTICLE XII.

MASTER GEORGE ASPULL.

THE precept of the Latin poet, Nil admirari, is, like most general precepts, subject to qualification, and neither to be followed nor rejected absolutely. It is the business of sound philosophy to enable us to view things in their true light, and to attach to each its due portion of estimation; to prevent us from being caught with outward shows or deluded with vain pretensions, and to attach us to that which possesses solid merit. While, on the one hand, therefore, we would be far from recommending the gaping wonderment of stupidity and ignorance, we would be as far from approving the cold poco-curante-ism of selfishness and indolence, and would conceive that it may be possible to err as widely in admiring nothing as in wondering at every thing.

To speak phrenologically, our Maker has, doubtless for the best ends and the wisest purposes, placed in the brain of man an organ of Wonder, the feeling annexed to which is of itself blind and indiscriminating, and which requires to be enlightened by the intellect, in order to lead it to its proper objects. One legitimate end of this feeling seems to be to excite in us a proper sense of the greatness, variety, and per