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ing of a very beautiful one, in the possession of an honourable person in this neighbourhood, and send it you, along with a few further remarks, if possible, before the publication of your second number. Yours respectfully, J. M. Stockbridge, March 17, 1817.

THE CRANIOLOGICAL CONTROVERSY.

Some Observations on the late Pamphlets of Dr Gordon and Dr Spurzheim.

MR EDITOR,

No speculations have engaged more attention, or have more frequently afforded a topic for conversation, since the time of Joanna Southcote, than those of Drs Gall and Spurzheim. Your readers, I presume, have heard of these gentlemen and their doctrines, and perhaps may be amused by a few remarks on the craniological controversy. One of these learned persons, who lately lectured in this city, has been remarkably active in the promulgation of his new system, and has devoted many years to its explanation, in all the principal cities and towns of Europe. Of this system it is unnecessary here to give any detailed account. Its outlines have been made so generally known by the unwearied eloquence of Dr Spurzheim, in his writings, and by his lectures, that I beg to refer the very few persons who have not heard the latter to the perusal of the former. I shall here offer only some general observations on a treatise lately published on the subject by Dr Gordon, and on a pamphlet by Dr Spurzheim, intended as a reply.

The craniological system of Drs Gall and Spurzheim has been very fully detailed and discussed in all the literary journals of this country, and they have been very unanimous in deciding on its merits. The Edinburgh Review stood foremost in opposition to this new system, and pointed out more fully and clearly than the rest, the anatomical errors on which it was founded. Dr Spurzheim, encouraged by his success in England, relying, it may be also, on his personal address, and on the plausible sophistry with which he explained his system, for its ready reception with the multitude of readers, who were of course incapable of detecting its errors,-resolved to visit Edinburgh;

and there to repress the voice of opposition by the influence that might accompany his immediate presence.

On concluding his lectures at Bath and Clifton, he there announced his intention of visiting this northern capital; at the same time exciting the sympathy of his audience, by declaring, "that he was going amongst his enemies." At Clifton, particularly, he had gained many proselytes; and so occupied were the ladies there in from the bumps on each other's skulls, settling the manifestations of mind that carefully to braid the hair in order to conceal wrong propensities, became a matter of very serious attention. The following fact, which actually occurred at a party in Clifton, will shew with what a nice accuracy Dr Spurzheim had taught his fair disciples to discover in their neighbours particular manifestations of mind ;— and I give it as a short lesson of caution to their sister craniologists in Edinburgh, of which there are not a few. A lady in a large party remarked pretty audibly, that on a certain head very near her, she perceived a suspi cious bump. The lady to whom the head belonged, hearing this observation, turned to the informant, and, declaring that she would instantly remove this organ which had excited a suspicion of a wrong propensity, immediately took from her hair a small comb, which, lying concealed, had caused the manifestation.

Dr Spurzheim arrived in Edinburgh soon after the commencement of the last summer session at this university, He gave several demonstrations of a calf's and sheep's brain in Dr Barclay's lecture-room; and as soon as he could procure a human brain, he began his demonstrations on that organ in the class-room of Professor Thomson and Dr Gordon. Here was a fair opportunity to put to shame the critics of Edinburgh, who had so severely ridiculed his system. This was the time to support his written discoveries by actual demonstration. His new and superior mode of dissecting the human brain, could now readily be made manifest by a public exhibition of his skill, before some of the most eminent professors and practitioners in the kingdom. A human brain was placed before him ;-that organ on which his system was founded, and his alleged discoveries respect

ing which had already gained him such celebrity. The interpreter of mind took up his scalpel, and the learned men of the city sat around in .silent expectation. In such a situation, there was one course which, it might be imagined, Dr Spurzheim would certainly have pursued. As the colleague of Dr Gall, he had been accused, in no very ambiguous terms, by the Edinburgh Review, of wilful misrepresentation, and of gross ignorance in a science which he pretended to have enriched by new discoveries. These accusations, being anonymous, he certainly was not bound to notice. Convinced, however, as he must have been, that such heavy charges against him were well known to his audience, he surely must have felt peculiarly anxious to do away any bad impression they might have made, by a minute and clear exposition of his leading doctrines, and a decisive demonstration of the correctness of his anatomical views. Strong in his own integrity, and in the soundness of his system, we can conceive him gladly preparing to confound his enemies, by appealing to the testimony of their own senses, and claiming, for an actual exhibition of new anatomical facts, a belief in the theories which he had deduced from their existence. How Dr Spurzheim availed himself of such an opportunity is well known to all who witnessed his dissection. Far from establishing his claims to pretended discoveries by actual demonstration, it appears that he involved himself and his system in further discredit, by his visible inability to display the new structure he had so confidently described. He left very little doubt, I believe, on the minds of his audience, as to the merits of craniology. In order, however, still further to obviate misrepresentation, and to place the claims of Gall and Spurzheim in a proper light, Dr Gordon drew up a treatise, entitled, "Observations on the Structure of the Brain, comprising an estimate of the elaims of Drs Gall and Spurzheim to discovery in the anatomy of that organ." On the title-page of this treatise he placed his name. This, let it be observed, was no anonymous attack which an individual could pass over without notice. It is a treatise in which the author personally brings forward accusations most direct and

pointed, and which, if well founded, go very far to affect the credit and character of Dr Spurzheim.

This gentleman and his colleague have asserted, that no anatomist before themselves believed that the brain was, throughout, of a fibrous structure. This, therefore, they claim as a discovery peculiarly their own, and considering it one of high importance they style it, "La premiere et la plus importante des decouvertes, celle sans la quelle toutes les autres seroient imparfaites." Dr Gordon proves very satisfactorily, that from the time of Malpighi in 1664, downwards, such a fibrous structure was believed to exist every where throughout the cere bral mass. To such proofs Dr Spurzheim, in his pamphlet, returns no answer. This first and most important of their discoveries turns out, therefore, to be no discovery at all,—and it will be seen that all the others are indeed " imparfaites."

Drs Gall and Spurzheim wished to appropriate to themselves the method of scraping the brain, as a mode of dissection peculiar to themselves, and best calculated to display its structure. Dr Gordon asserts that this method was not invented by them. To this assertion Dr Spurzheim assents by his silence.

One of the most important points in his and Dr Gall's anatomical discoveries, concerns, as we are told by Dr Spurzheim, the two orders of fibres, viz. diverging, and converging or uniting. It is in fact upon the existence of these peculiarly arranged fibres, and upon the proof of a statement which has been positively advanced, that the brown matter secretes the white, that the whole system of Drs Gall and Spurzheim depends. I beg your readers particularly to notice, that it is upon the communication between the brown matter and the white medullary substance, to which it serves as a covering, that the doctrines of craniology depend for their chief support. Imagine no such communication to exist, and the brown capsule of the brain, and cerebellum, is nothing more than an unconnected covering to the white substance beneath. Now, in this case, if mind can be manifested by external signs on the head, these signs being caused by swellings, or a peculiar conformation of some substance within the cranium,-that substance must

be the brown matter, and the brown matter alone. The white medullary substance, with all its curious cavities and arrangements, has nothing to do in such mental manifestations, and the whole nervous system is alike excluded. Dr Spurzheim, however, maintains, that the whole medullary substance is secreted by the brown, and that a communication can be shewn to exist between them by a system of diverging and converging fibres. Surely he must have discovered these fibres by an actual dissection-his writings assert this ;-their existence is a sine-qua-non to his whole system. Now Dr Gordon distinctly states that Spurzheim never did demonstrate such communication between the brown and nervous matter-he did not demonstrate these diverging and converging fibres when called upon to do so; and moreover, Dr Gordon positively denies that any such arrangement can be shewn to exist in the cerebral mass. How does Dr Spurzheim attempt to parry this home thrust, which goes to terminate his craniological existence? very simply, by an exclamation of "Hey ho! is it so?"

In another part of his pamphlet, indeed, p. 27, he offers to shew converging fibres to any one who shall procure "a fresh brain ;" and at p. 38, mentioning the "reinforcing fibres," which Dr Gordon denies are susceptible of demonstration, he offers "to demonstrate all these statements to any one who shall procure a fresh brain." Every one who knows the very great difficulty there is in procuring a recent brain, will easily perceive that Dr Spurzheim is making merry with his readers. He was provided at his demonstration with a brain in the most recent state,-why did he not then" demonstrate all these facts?"-he did not do so-he was unable to do so,-and his whole system falls to the ground.

"Upon every occasion," says Dr Gordon, "where he was called upon to make good those affirmations which constitute the leading features of his system, he endeavoured to excuse himself from the task, by denying that he had ever maintained any such structure to be demonstrable."-P. 114.

As a reply to such serious accusations, Dr Spurzheim produced a pamphlet, professing to be "An Ex

amination of the Objections made in Britain against the Doctrines of himself and Colleague." We sat down to a perusal of it with a considerable degree of curiosity, and we closed it, quite satisfied as to the merits of these far-famed craniologists.

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Never was there a more evident attempt to evade the overwhelming force of unwelcome facts, than has been made by Dr Spurzheim on this " amination." Instead of meeting fairly and decisively the objections so strongly urged against him ;—instead of a clear refutation, or a manly confession of mistake and error,-there is little else in this pamphlet but a most general and unconnected repetition of his former theories and assertions.--We see in it only the signs of an imbecile irritability,-evidently sensible to reproach;-conscious that it is but too well founded,-but unwilling to confess its justice, and unable to avoid its sting.

At p. 37, Dr Spurzheim wishes to "amuse" his readers by an anecdote, which we must not forget to notice. It is an account of a dissection which took place in the royal infirmary_last December, and it will be seen how slyly a very formidable accusation is brought forward against Dr Gordon. We know that this gentleman was present at this dissection; but, it happened not to be the week in which his official duty as one of the surgeons to the infirmary would have given him the superintendence. This duty belonged to one of his colleagues, the next in seniority. Dr Gordon had therefore no necessary concern with this dissection,-it was a point of etiquette not to interfere with it. We can assert, that the presence of Dr Spurzheim in the theatre was known neither to Dr Gordon nor to the surgeon who presided: no intentional obstruction could therefore be offered to his views by either of these gentlemen. We regret with Dr Spurzheim, that a dissection so interesting as this really was, afforded, as we are compelled to acknowledge, so little gratification or improvement to the students who crowded the anatomical theatre. Why were the whole posse-comitatus of the hospital,

clinical and surgical clerks,-assistant-surgeons, apothecaries, and dressers, permitted to stand round the dissecting-table, and totally to prevent the students from seeing the body?

The lower seat which surrounds the area is particularly for the accommodation of this medical suite, but on this occasion it was unoccupied; and with heads and bodies, forming a pretty opaque circle over and around the table, the view of several hundred students was completely intercepted. Since the brain has had its day as the basis of a system, we see no reason why that organ in the human body, which is popularly supposed to be the seat of passion, shall not in its turn serve to amuse the credulity of mankind. Why may not the human heart be registered in a good sized quarto volume, with plates and references, and be made the basis to a system of CORDIOLOGY? Some enquirer may arise, who is fond enough of travelling, and sufficiently anxious for a transient reputation to run over Europe, and give lectures on its fibres and emotions. He may surely discover such a difference in the twisting of these fibres;-in the curvature of its valves ;-the sweeping of its arteries; or the arrangement of its nerves; as may afford a very amusing explanation of human passion. The heart, indeed, is not just as open to examination in the living subject as the skull; and we doubt whether any lady could be found sufficiently in love with science, and a new system, to expose her heart for the sake of either, to the manipulation of a cordiologist. But comparative anatomy will supply us with data, and there needs but a a little inference, a little reasoning from analogy, and a great deal of supposition, to help us out. From the form of the chest we may presume the structure of the heart within it; -we might have some good manifestions of passion by the jugular vein; and a great many mysteries commonly referred to the human heart, may probably be explained by peculiarities of palpitation, caused by a modifica tion in the shape or bumpiness of its apex; or in the arrangement of its transverse fibres.

Such patch-work systems of conjecture and speculation are fortunately destined by the immutable and eternal laws of truth, to last but for a season. Craniology has almost "lived its little hour." In this city we are certain, that, with the absence of Dr Spurzheim, and the introduction of some ether novelty, as a French dance or a

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MANY of your readers must be aware that Mr John Watson, Writer to the Signet, bequeathed a sum of money to trustees, to be applied, " at the sight of the Magistrates of the city of Edinburgh, to such pious and charitable uses within the said city," as the trustess should think proper; and that the trustees, after announcing it to be their final and unalterable resolution to apply this bequest to the establishment of a Foundling Hospital, declared, That upon their decease, the management of the charity should devolve upon the keepers and commissioners of the Writers to the Signet. Mr Watson died in 1762, and his widow in 1779. The Writers to the Signet became possessed of the trust-funds, according to the destination of the testator's trustees; and after much litigation with the Magistrates of Edinburgh, their right to the management was confirmed by our Supreme Court. These funds, originally small, have been so well employed that they are said now to amount to more than £60,000.

Now, my object is to know whether this sum is to be applied to the estab lishment of a foundling hospital? and if it be, when it is intended so to employ it; or whether it be in contemplation to apply to Parliament to authorise its appropriation to such charitable purposes as may be thought, in the present circumstances of society and of public opinion, to be more worthy of encouragement?

From the litigation to which this part of Mr Watson's testamentary deed has given rise, and the very different opinions entertained as to the

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THE drama has formed an interesting and important part of the literature of every nation into which it has been introduced, and no nation that has cultivated literature at all is entirely without it. Among the Athenians, scenical representations were frequented with a degree of enthusiasm of which we cannot easily form an adequate notion. A successful play was the most certain and the shortest road to literary fame, and even to fortune and preferment in the state. The dramatic poets were men of eminent genius, and not more remarkable for the qualities of mind that form the poet than for those that constitute the philosopher. Euripides was the disciple and the friend of Socrates, who saw the important moral purposes to which the drama might be applied, and the divine philosopher did not think it beneath him to aid the poet in the correction of his pieces. In the Greek theatre, not only was the taste of the people formed to a simple and natural style of composition, and their minds inspired with a love of virtue, but their piety and their imagination were equally improved by the unfolding of the beauties of a poetical mythology. It was not merely a place of public amusement, but rather a temple for the purification of the national manners, and the worship of the gods,-more moral in its tendency than their sacrifices and festivals. It is to be understood, that these observations apply only to tragedy, for the Greek comedy was often licentious and immoral.

It was fortunate for the Greeks that in their literature they had no mo

dels to copy. It was the growth of their own soil, rooted in their usages, laws, legends, mythology, and peculiar modes of thinking and conformation of character, and was native to Greece as the vine to her mountains. It was drawn directly from nature, and the likeness was pleasing, because it was the faithful copy of a fair original; not, as too frequently happens among the ancient Romans and the modern nations of Europe, a servile imitation-a tame copy of a copy ;-it was like nature herself, fresh, and rich, and vigorous, and unconstrained, ever varying and ever graceful.

On a first view of the Greek tragedy, what strikes the reader, if he is at all conversant in the drama of the moderns, is its simplicity. The characters are few, and the fable neither intricate nor the incidents surprising. Its whole interest arises out of the simple expression of natural feeling in situations of suffering and sorrow; yet scanty as the materials are, by their judicious arrangement a beautiful superstructure is raised. It may be likened to a fine painting, in which the figures are correctly drawn and skilfully grouped,-the costume appropriate,-the drapery easy and graceful, the expression of the passions such as naturally flow from the circumstances of the actors,-the story perspicuous, and the lights and shades disposed with such art as to give to the whole the most pleasing effect.

It has been often repeated, and as often acknowledged, that the composition of a tragedy is one of the most difficult of all the efforts of human intellect. It requires a knowledge of the nature of man, and of those general laws by which he is governed in every stage of society, which is the portion only of a gifted few,-of those main springs of thought, and feeling, and action, that are universal, and of all the varieties of their modification produced by his moral, physical, and political state,―the temperature or severity of climate,-the purity of religion, or the grossness of superstition, the exaltation of liberty, or the degradation of slavery. The dramatic writer must be endowed with the eye that can unveil the human heart, detect the passions in their source, and trace them in their intricate windings, and give to all fit utterance. He must be possessed of a pliancy of mind, by which he may

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