own. This great man was Lord Bacon, who pointed to Nature, and observed that man was her servant and interpreter, and knew nothing but what he derived by experience on the order of her phenomena; and maintained that all our knowledge must be acquired by observation.

To observe facts is, then, the first great business of the investigator. Facts may be divided into the presented and the produced. The first being such as Nature offers to our notice without any interference of our own; the second being such as occur in consequence of our putting in action causes and agents over which we have control. Those last named are usually called experiments, and their production and observation Lord Bacon terms "asking questions of Nature." Thus the increase of a child from infancy to manhood is a fact presented to our observation. But the conducting of a chemical analysis, to determine that a certain material contains properties, is a produced fact or experiment. It must, however, be borne in mind that if facts are well scrutinised and verified, they are of equal value whether presented or produced. But the presented facts are almost the only ones employed in phrenological investigation.

Observation, then, being the only true method of laying a foundation for the discovery and establishment of truth, we should dismiss from our minds all preconceived notions of what should be or might be, and try carefully to ascertain what is.

It may be well to notice that the invention and construction of the mathematical instrument named the PHRENOPHYSIOMETER are the productions of my own mental and physical labour-so also is the MODEL HEAD. The illustrations are from photographs taken by myself to a reduced scale of one-fifth the natural size: every care has been taken to render

these perfect, so that a correct estimate may be formed of the natural size of each head, and the relative and absolute quantities in position of the various sections of the diagrams, which will be found of great practical value to the reader in arriving at a clear view of the geometrical department of the subject.

In the course of my investigations I found it necessary to make a practical examination of every branch of knowledge, both artistical and scientific, that was at all likely to afford me any assistance in the development of my views; and so far I have little to regret, although the labour has been very great.

The work, then, is given to the public with the hope that it will be read with candour, and that the facts adduced, though not presented in the most perfect manner, will have their proper weight.

To the examination of an intelligent public, therefore, the work is respectfully committed by

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

THE great favour with which the first edition of this work was received, not only by the public but by the press, has been extremely gratifying to me. The rapid sale of the first large impression indicates an increased and increasing attention paid to the subject.

In giving my views to the world, I did so with a full conviction that society was willing to receive new truth with candour, when fairly presented; and the very cordial reception the work has met with has far exceeded my most sanguine expectations.

THE AUTHOR.

PHRENOLOGICAL INSTITUTION,

MOUNT PLEASANT, LIVERPOOL.

PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

THE Author is willing to admit that he reproduces this work not without gratification that a new edition should be called for, but in reproducing it he has taken the opportunity of submitting it to careful improvement. His extensive experience since the work was first given to the world has more fully confirmed him in the truth of his views, and of the practical importance of his method of treating the subject.

The method in which Science should be prosecuted does not form an indifferent circumstance. It is a condition that effects results upon fixed and determinate principles, and is not an arbitrary matter, or one that can justly be modified according to the caprice of individuals or the age. Method of investigation is, to the secrets of Nature, what a key constitutes to a treasure that is locked up. If we would not, in the latter case, vainly attempt to gain possession, the key must be employed that is fashioned for the intended purpose ; and so, in the instance of scientific researches, we are required to follow the method that, in its nature, is calculated to lead to the knowledge which is sought. Nature will but disclose her secrets when rightly invoked.

With these last words this work is once more issued, and it is earnestly hoped that its success may be attended with the dissemination of Phrenology.

THE AUTHOR.

PHRENOLOGICAL INSTITUTION,

63, MOUNT PLEASANT, LIVERPOOL,

December 8, 1876.