tempt, but ridicule and contempt are no longer relied | my friend Mr. Brownlee invited me to attend a dissec- Spurzheim. I availed myself of this opportunity of We have said thus much on the subject, by way of introducing to our readers the first lecture of Mr. Combe, which we propose to follow up by the remainder as soon as they reach us; and we feel fully persuaded that we cannot offer any thing more acceptable to the readers of the Messenger. Even if they fail to convince-of one thing there can be no doubt-that those who read them attentively will have their prejudices against the science greatly subdued, and will not hesitate to accord to Mr. Combe the possession of great powers of mind applied to the illustration of a new and most interesting branch of human knowledge. We take this occasion to say, that we transfer these lectures to our own pages from the "New Yorker," published in the city of New York, and conducted with distinguished ability by HORACE GREELY and PARK BENJAMIN, Esqrs.] Ed. So. Lit. Messenger. LECTURE I. When a young man, I paid much attention to the prevailing theories of mental philosophy, frequently meeting a number of friends for the purpose of discussing the opinions of various metaphysical authors, hoping to obtain some practical views of human nature which would be serviceable in my intercourse with society and in the pursuit of my professional avocations. But all my study proved fruitless of beneficial results, and I ceased to pay attention to the metaphysicians. Hoping to obtain some more satisfactory notions of the mental functions from the physiologists, I attended the lectures of Dr. Barclay. All parts of the body were beautifully described, and their uses clearly explained, till he came to the brain; then was all dark and confused. He took that most important organ, cut it up in slices like a ham, confessing his ignorance of its functions and intimate structure. The physiologists satisfied me no better than the metaphysicians. From the 49th No. of the Edinburgh Review, I received my first information concerning the doctrines of Phrenology. Led away by the boldness of that piece of criticism, I regarded its doctrines as absurd, and its founders as charlatans. For twelve months ensuing I paid no attention to the subject; indeed, such was the unfavorable impression made on my mind by the Review, that when Dr. Spurzheim came to Edinburgh, I neglected to attend his first course of lectures, and should probably not have attended him at all, but for a fortunate circumstance. Coming out of court one day, I immediately commenced to attend the lectures of Dr. Spurzheim; and, independently of his physiologi: cal views, I found the explanation he gave of mental manifestations to be greatly superior to any with which I was acquainted. This was a great point gained, and I determined to pursue the study by an appeal to nature. Accordingly I purchased books, and sent to London for a large quantity of casts. They arrived in three large puncheons; and when taken out, they covered nearly the whole of my sitting-room floor. But when I saw them there, seemingly all alike, my heart sank within me, and I would gladly have stuck them into some hole to get rid of them. However, my friends heard of my collection, and I soon had a great many to visit mesome to examine, and some to quiz. I took a couple of them up to examine them, and soon found that heads apparently alike were in reality very dissimilar. This encouraged me. I pursued my examinations, both of the casts and of the heads of living persons, and gradually became firmly convinced of the truth of the new science. The meetings at my room, to hear my explanations, became more and more numerous, and in 1819 I was prevailed on to take a room and give public lectures. Thus, without the slightest intention on my part, I became a lecturer on Phrenology three years after first attending to the subject. Of this narrative I wish to make two applications: 1. I desire to show you, that in taking up the phrenological doctrines, I was not led away by enthusiasm. 2. I wish to impress on your minds that it is not by attending a course of lectures, that you can become fully acquainted with Phrenology. I deem it impossible to make you so acquainted in a hundred lectures. I come here, not to wage war upon your opinions, but to invite your attention to an important subject; not to convince you of the truth of all the details of Phrenology, but to show you how to study and observe for yourselves. I admire not the mental character of those who have too great facility of belief; and Phrenology asks nothing but fair play, and candid, scrutinizing investigation. Phrenology means the philosophy of the human mind, as manifested through the medium of the brain. This philosophy, as you know, has been opposed with great violence; and the opposition has not yet ceased. In being so opposed, however, it merely shares the fate of all new truths. "In every society," says Professor Playfair, "there are some who think themselves interested to maintain things in the condition wherein they have found them. *** Even in matters purely intellectual, and in which the abstract truths of arithmetic and geometry seem alone concerned, the prejudices, the selfishness, or the vanity of those who pursue them, not unfrequently combine to resist improvement, and often engage no inconsiderable degree of talent in drawing back instead of pushing forward the machine of science. The introduction of methods entirely new, must often change the relative place of men engaged in scientific | the brain: it is the recipient of all their transmispursuits, and must oblige many, after descending from sions; the stations they formerly occupied, to take a lower position in the scale of intellectual improvement. The enmity of such men, if they be not animated by a spirit of real candor and the love of truth, is likely to be di- 5. Certain substances, as opium or ardent spirits, rected against methods by which their vanity is morti-disturb mental manifestations by operating on the 4. The nerves of motion and the nerves of sensation are all connected with the brain: it is indeed the fountain of impulse and the reservoir of sensation; fied and their importance lessened." Dissertation, part | brain; II, p. 27. It is well known that Harvey was treated with great contumely, and lost much of his practice, on account of his momentous discovery of the circulation of the blood. Professor Playfair, speaking of Newton's discovery of the composition of light, says: "Though the discovery had every thing to recommend it which can arise from what is great, new and singular; though it was not a theory or system of opinions, but the generalization of facts made known by experiments; and though it was brought forward in a most simple and unpretending form, a host of enemies appeared, each eager to obtain the unfortunate preeminence of being the first to attack conclusions which the unanimous voice of posterity was to confirm." 6. Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness, occasioned by recession of blood from the brain. But we have still more direct evidence. Richerand attended a woman whose brain had been laid bare. One day he pressed upon it a little more forcibly than usual, and the patient became silent and unconscious in the midst of a sentence. On removing his hand, consciousness immediately returned. As no pain was felt, he repeated the experiment several times, and always with the same result. Similar cases are related by many other writers. Sir Astley Cooper relates one of a seaman who had his skull fractured and brain compressed by a fall. For thirteen months he remained totally unconscious. On Sir Astley raising the skull, consciousness immediately returned. The last thing the man recollected was the object of his attention at the time of his fall. But the most striking instance, perhaps, of reckless and unprincipled opposition to newly discovered facts, was the opposition made to Galileo's discovery of the But it may be asked how pressure on one part sussatellites of Jupiter. This discovery was made simply pends all mental manifestations, if, as Phrenologists from Galileo's having invented a telescope, by which say, the brain consists of numerous organs? Let it be bodies invisible to the naked eye were brought into recollected that the brain is composed of a pulpy mass, view. One who violently opposed him he invited to having numerous blood vessels ramifying in its sublook through the telescope, and see for himself, "No," stance, and is enclosed in membranous sacs, the pia said his adversary; "should I look through the tele-mater and the dura mater. It may be likened to an scope, I might perhaps see them; and then how could India rubber bag filled with fluid. Now it is a law of I maintain the view I now maintain ?" This well illus-hydrostatics, that pressure made on one part of a fluid trates the course pursued by the opponents of Phrenology. The truths of our science are sufficiently obvious; but many fiercely vituperate, yet refuse to look through the telescope. Formerly Phrenology was much opposed by the religious portion of the community. In this country I have not witnessed much of this. Wherever the religious man places himself in opposition to natural truth, it is deeply to be regretted. All truth is from the same eternal source, whether it be the truth of Philosophy or the truth of Revelation. It is impossible to destroy a fact-it remains forever; and in opposing it, religious men will always be ultimately found in the wrong position. That is, in God's name they will be found to have opposed God's truth, and to have set variance between His word and works. affects all parts alike; consequently, when pressure is made on one part of the brain, all are equally affected. "But," say objectors, "how is it that the brain does not manifest structural derangement after death, when the individual has been afflicted with insanity?" This question was more confidently asked some years ago than now, more accurate investigations have shown that in the great majority of cases such derangement is demonstrable; and if it be not always the case, this is not more remarkable than what takes place in other parts where there may be derangement or destruction of function without the anatomist being able to discover organic change. Thus some poisons destroy life, without any structural alteration being visible in any part of the body. Again, to show that the mind is independent of the I recollect that in my youth I was taught to repeat body, it is said that the mind often fully manifests its the catechism of Dr. Watts, in which is this question-faculties to the last moment of life, even in lingering dis"How do you know you have a soul ?"-which is thus answered-"Because there is something in me that thinks and feels, which the body cannot do." We are not conscious of the operation of the brain; but numerous facts with which we become acquainted by means of observation, prove that without its agency we can neither think nor feel-that it is in short the organ of mind. In support of this proposition, I may remark : ease. This is not true. It is important to distinguish between functional and organic derangement and simple weakness. Suppose I cut the muscles of my arm across, there would be organic derangement, completely incapacitating me from using my limb. Suppose I should bandage my arm tightly and keep it motionless for six months; at the end of that time I should be able to move it in the usual manner, but not with the usual force; the structure would remain the same, but the size and power would be greatly diminished. So when the brain is but secondarily affected, the mode of manifestation may remain unchanged to the end of some 3. The nerves of the senses are all connected with fatal malady, but the energy will be greatly lessened. 1. If the brain be not the organ of mind, its uses are unknown; 2. It is better protected and better supplied with blood than any other part of the body; Thus, in discase of the lungs, the brain merely suffers, I beg to state that in Edinburgh my Phrenological like other parts, sympathetically and from badly exag-course occupied fifty lectures of one hour each. Your gerated blood. At the commencement of the disease, time will not permit this. I therefore limit my lectures the mind may act with its usual vigor. During the se- to sixteen. As in sixteen hours, however, I should be cond month the patient thinks but little on subjects unable to do justice to the subject, I must beg your at requiring mental energy; during the third month he tendance on two hours of each evening. But, inaschooses novels or light reading; during the fourth he much as two hours continuous attention would be prefers newspaper paragraphs, as requiring little con- fatiguing, I shall always pause for five minutes at the tinuous attention; and afterwards he ceases to read al- end of the first hour. And I hope you will stand up together, and does little more than answer simple ques- during that time and disengage your attention from the tions; yet, because he answers these questions correct- subject. In this way you will be greatly relieved, and ly, his mental manifestations are said to be unimpaired. be enabled to bear the two hours' exertion much better No mistake can be greater. than would at first appear likely. Again, when a part is actively exercised, blood rushes to it with rapidity; and if the brain be the organ of mind, there should be to it a rush of blood during mental action; and this is found to be the fact, as many writers testify. Dr. Pierquin observed a patient in one of the hospitals of Montpelier, part of whose skull had been removed. In dreamless sleep the brain lay motionless within the cranium; when she was agitated by dreams, the brain was agitated and protruded; in dreams reported by herself to be vivid, the brain was more protruded, and still more so when she was awake and engaged in active thought or sprightly conversation. I hope you will attend faithfully to the observations which form the introduction to my course. You will hereafter find that they have a most important practical bearing on the subject of education. We next come to the question-Does the mind in every act employ the whole brain, or are separate faculties of the mind connected with distinct portions of the brain as their respective organs? Is the brain single or multiplex? That it is multiplex may be proved by a number of considerations. Analogy would lead us to this conclusion. Thus, in all ascertained instances, different funcEvery act of the will, every flight of the imagination, tions are never performed by the same organ. We every glow of affection, every effort of the understand-have, for instance, a distinct organ for each sense, and ing, is, in fact, manifested by means of the brain. And it appears to me clear, that to feel puffed up with pride, this proposition is acknowledged by the greatest anatomists. "We cannot doubt," says Dr. Cullen, "that the operations of our intellect always depend upon certain motions taking place in the brain." Dr. Gregory remarks that "although memory, imagination and judgment appear to be so purely mental as to have no connection with the body, yet certain diseases which obstruct them prove that a certain state of the brain is necessary to their proper exercise, and that the brain is the primary organ of the internal powers." Blumenbach, Magendie, Arnott, nay, even the Edinburgh Re-tinct organs, is furnished by the spinal marrow. This view, in the 94th number, as well as numerous other authorities, give like testimony. and to feel great deference for others, are manifestations of functions as distinct as those of smelling and hearing. Some parts appear to have several functions, but on analyzing them each function is found to be performed by its peculiar organ: thus, the tongue moves, feels and tastes; but then it contains a nerve of motion, a nerve of feeling and a nerve of taste; and it may be deprived of any one of those functions, without the other two being impaired. But the most interesting example of distinct functions being dependent on dis is composed of two double columns-the anterior being appropriated to motion, the posterior to sensation. It is worthy of observation, that the general notion This, Sir Charles Bell clearly proved in the following of the mind's independence of the body is quite modern, manner: he cut an anterior nerve at its root in an ass, the offspring in fact of philosophical theories sprung up and the parts through which it ramified lost the power chiefly since the days of Locke. Shakspeare and the of motion, though feeling remained unimpaired. He older writers frequently speak of the brain as implying cut a posterior nerve in another, and the parts through the mental functions; and, to the present day, the no- which it ramified lost the power of feeling, but retained tions of the vulgar are more in accordance with nature that of motion. Their distinctness is now universally than those of polite scholars of the old school. Thus a acknowledged-and here I would make an important stupid person is called a numbscull, a thick head, or observation: it has been objected to Phrenology, that said to be addle-pated-badly furnished in the upper to the organs of the brain we cannot assign distinct story while a talented person is said to be strong-boundaries; that we are unable to take a brain and headed, long-headed-to have plenty of brains; a madman is said to be wrong in the head-touched in the noddle. We find, then, that reason, fact, the testimony of the best physiologists, and vulgar notions, all testify that the brain is the organ of mind. And what does this proposition imply? Clearly that the state of the brain must greatly influence the mental manifestations, and that the perfection of those manifestations will depend on the perfection of the organ. How important, then, does the study of the brain become! isolate the organs with the dissecting-knife, showing precisely where one ends and another begins. But, mark, this objection holds equally against the distinct functions of the different parts of the spinal marrow : that one part is appropriated to nerves of sensation, and another to nerves of motion, no one doubts; and yet to point out the precise boundaries of the distinct nervous columns is absolutely impossible. Different faculties of the mind appear in succession: thus, affection for the parents or nurse appears before veneration, or the sense of justice, and the power of perceiving color and form before the reasoning power. the front they placed common sense, because it seemed the most appropriate place for receiving information from the eyes, nose, and taste. Fancy they placed on the sides of the head, because it has such great facility in flying off in a tangent. Reflection they placed at the back of the head, because, in reflecting, men throw the mind back on itself. Memory they placed in the cerebellum, because they thought it formed a nice little store I am told by mothers, that children manifest fear when cated them according to a fancied propriety. Here in two or three months old. If the brain be a single organ, these powers should be simultaneously developed; but this is not so, and the only true explanation seems to be, that the mind is composed of different organs, which come to maturity at different times. Dr. Johnson, indeed, remarked that the doctrine of a variety of organs was absurd, "for," said he, "the man who can walk east can certainly walk west." But it may be remarked, that walking east and walking west are but walking-house for the safe and snug keeping of ideas till they the exercise of a single function; whereas perceiving color, and reasoning, are quite distinct operations. Again, genius is always partial, which it ought not to be if the organs of the mind were single. I have seen it maintained, in one of your periodicals, that genius is always the result of an accidental exciting cause. Thus, Newton was made a philosopher by the fall of an apple, and Byron became a great poet because he was lashed by the reviewers and condemned as a poe taster. were needed. This, you will observe, was making man, not observing him. The brain, then, is not a single organ, but each particular function is manifested by a particular portion of the brain. NO. VI. BY THE AUTHOR OF THE TREE ARTICLES." But like causes produce like effects, and how CURRENTE-CALAMOSITIES; happens it that so many millions, before Newton, had seen apples fall without ever thinking of any thing but picking them up and eating them? And if a lashing be sufficient to produce a great poet, why are not great poets more numerous? Indeed, if critical flagellation had been sufficient, I should by this time have become a great poet myself. May, "the delicate-footed May," has come in upon us once more. She is suggestive of beautiful associations, and hence, chiefly, is she delightful to us, in this Dreaming can be rationally explained by Phrenology Northern clime of ours. For to us her sunny smiles alone. Were the brain a single organ, then would all are few, while her cloudy skies and rainy days are its faculties be asleep or awake together, and conse-many. Now you, my dear green-pea-eating editor, are quently dreaming be impossible. But this is not so. Cautiousness alone is sometimes awake: then are conjured up all fearful thoughts, and the dreams are of "hydras and chimeras dire." On the other hand, a number of the intellectual faculties may be awake and the sentiments asleep: then we may have a vision of friends long dead, but totally free from that awe or fear which their presence would inspire were not the feelings dormant. Were not the brain a congeries of organs, partial idiocy could not occur; yet, that it does occur we well know. Here is the cast of an idiot whose intellectual faculties were externally small, but whose self-esteem was large; and notwithstanding his utter imbecility, he had a very comfortable opinion of his own importance. I knew an idiot on the banks of the Clyde who could play on one or two musical instruments, yet in other respects he was so utterly imbecile that he had to be supported by the parish. Now if the brain were a single organ this would be the same as if a man had the power of walking east without having the power of walking west. Indeed, that the brain must consist of a congeries of organs, is maintained by distinguished physiologists otherwise opposed to Phrenology; as Foderé, and Sir Charles Bell. Such considerations as I have stated, have impressed men, in all ages, with belief in the brain's multiplex character; and particular portions of the head have been assigned to distinct faculties, from the time of Aristotle. This drawing represents a head published at Venice in 1562, by Ludovico Dolci. Now what is the difference between such an arrangement and the system of Gall? Simply this :-Gall discovered the seat of the various faculties. These older writers considered modes of activity as simple faculties, and lo enjoying, all this month, the most delicious and truly May-like weather; while our trees, in leaf as they are, it is true, have not, as I write, attained a tithe of that fulness and richness which yours have for weeks displayed. Oh! how beautiful are your Southern woods in May! Why are you not all poets or painters, under their inspiration? The green is so rich,—the tints so varied! The oaks put forth their new foliage of the same hue with that which fell a few months before, from their branches,-thus seemingly arraying themselves in their cast-off autumn garments: yet how softened is that sombre hue by the thick down which covers every folded leaf! And how slowly do they unroll themselves, as if they feared that the winds of heaven would breathe on them too roughly! and then with what dignity do the elder and larger of these noble trees stretch out their huge branches ;-with what stateliness do they receive the warm greetings of the Spring, as she flies gaily to meet them, imprinting kisses on their tender leaves, and making, the while, the younger saplings dance, and tremble with joy, at the salutation! The chesnut oak,-that rare and curious tree; how light and fresh is the tint of its foliage, and how saucily does it flaunt its new bravery in the presence of the fine old chesnuts, which are more slowly awakening into life! Is it not adding insult to injury,-after having stolen the shape of their leaves,to boast of being in greater beauty, at an earlier period of the Spring, which gives beauty to all, in turn? Boast, as this imitative oak may boast, of being mistaken by the careless observer for the veritable chesnut, the ripening acorn soon dispels the illusion, and shows it for what it really is: for the true fruitage (emblem of modest worth,) hides itself, you know, in a thick and impenetrable coat, as it grows to maturity. and its fragrance reaches farther; it is enjoyed, as the exotic is not, by the passer-by, and is better, because it is more natural, and does far more good! And see the silver birch; with every pointed leaf) fetched and his! But the simple flower smells sweeter, dancing gaily on its slender stem, before the approach of musical May! and the dogwood, so full of white flowers, tinged so delicately with pink,-and so profuse in their growth as quite to usurp the place of leaves, of which it has but few! And the tulip-tree, towering above all the rest like a giant,-its immense arms swaying about in the cool breeze, and seeming to be "coming the grand” over the whole green populace below! But the Fringe-tree! at this season, the very queen of all the wood! None of your Southern trees can compare with her, as I have seen her, in May, in the woods of old Fairfax! Yet, queenly as she is, she is withal most modest: (a rare trait in queens, which I commend to the imitation of the fair Victoria!) How gracefully hangs that drooping drapery upon her faultless form,-presenting her to our eyes, as the beautiful bride of the forest,-the Rosalind of trees! I remember seeing a vulgar taste most strikingly and somewhat amusingly displayed, in the arrangement of a garden, in one of the beautiful country towns, from which I have dated some of my communications to you. On the brow of a gently sloping eminence, a well-todo kind of person had set up the frame of an old barn, which he soon cobbled up into the shape of a very decent habitation, and which, as he viewed it, was the perfection of house-building. The lot of land he had chosen had the advantages of a rich soil, and a most favorable location. Along the front, or street side of it, there towered a line of gigantic sycamores, and wide, branching elms, and from these to the summit of the hillon the very apex of which the house was built, all was green meadow and arable. The view in front comprehended the wide sweep of one of our most lovely rivers, and, yet more distantly, the blue line of the ocean, which formed nearly one half of the horizon. In the rear, there were delightful prospects of deeply wooded hills, and sunny fields of rich and waving grain, or broad expanses of pasture land filled with browsing cattle. So much had nature done for the locale. See how the new-comer had improved upon all this! Yes, your woods are more various, more beautiful, more fraught with delicate and tender associations than our Northern forests. Yet ours have rich beauty, too many of your oaks grow abundantly with us, and then there are our maples, our elms, and sycamores, all of which we have communed upon in the pages of the Messenger, in years past;-but over them all there is a melancholy shade thrown by the pine,-whose deep and dark foliage, and whose tall First, he painted his house pea-green; a color constraight trunks, give a solemn grandeur to the northern trasting oddly enough with that of the rich grass and forest. The winds, as they play through the branches, beautiful trees, that grew luxuriantly around it. Then send a thrill of awe to the heart of the listener, as he he made a straight gravel walk from the front-door to starts at the shrill treble, or the deep diapason of this the main road, upon each side of which, all the way magic music. For the woods are Nature's organ, with down that beautiful slope, he planted a row of-yellow its million stops;--the winds of heaven are the play-sun-flowers! How their broad faces flamed at mid-day, ers, as they swell the deep bass among the mighty pines, or delicately touch the smaller trees in soprano; making such sweet music as melts the sternest heart into mute adoration. The thousand birds and the myriads of humming insects, which ever throng the woods' deep shades, are the choir, and so the woodlands are ever vocal, ever tuneful. But I am writing another "tree article,"--which is what I did not sit down to do. Return we to "May," once more! May is gardening-month. Every body of taste enough to love flowers, and who has a nook of ground big enough to display that taste, carefully cultivates it now. How much aristocracy one sees, at times, in a garden for this weed may grow there as well as elsewhere; and one can judge of the character of a person, and often of his rank, by the standard presented by a flower-garden. Flowers, though not aristocrats, themselves, are at least, never vulgar: and a poor man may evince as delicate a taste as a rich one, in cultivating them; though the former, may not have the means of displaying it to the same extent. They take the wild flowers from the heath, the sides of the river-rocks, the depths of the woods, and the banks of the streams, because they are free to them and to all. Nature is profuse and undiscriminating in these rich gifts. She will make the modest violet bloom as sweetly in the poor man's garden-nook, as in the midst of her own rich and wide domain; and the lily or the primrose outvies many a rare exotic in the hot-house or conservatory of the rich man, who values these because they are far while the fiery orb whose name they bore, was blazing in the midst of the summer solstice! "What a taste!" exclaimed every one who passed, as he involuntarily wiped from his brow the perspiration, which a single glance at this odd parterre had excited. There certainly is no great sentiment in a "Sunflower." It is not this flaring weed, but the "Heliotrope," which furnishes Moore with the beautiful simile; "As the Sunflower turns on her god, when he sets, The only relics of "May games," once so popular, which we, in America, have preserved, are "Going a Maying,” on the first morning in the month, and, in some of our cities, "May-balls." The weather is so precarious, generally, in this country, about that day, that the first of these amusements is more likely to fail than to succeed. It was so, in this part of the country, this year,-cold, easterly winds prevailing on that day, almost universally. Had it not been so, the schoolchildren of Boston would have enjoyed a most rare and antique mode of welcoming in that morning. The great flag-staff on "The Common," was converted the night before, into a real old-fashioned "May-pole,”— and the children were to have been carried thither to dance around it as their English ancestors were wont to do, years bygone, in the fatherland. But " May balls" are within-door amusements, and these, this year, were very joyously attended in certain places within our ken. "May games," used to be celebrated in England, very generally. The city of London clung to them |