path of inquiry, it becomes a positive moral duty in us to expose its defects, and to warn the reader against being misled by an erroneous application of principles in themselves incontestably true, and of great importance to the conducting of investigation.

The informed phrenologist is well aware that the defect we have pointed out in Dr. Abercrombie's work, is not of a trivial nature, and it will not be difficult to make even the unphrenological reader understand its importance. The author's section on Memory, for example, abounds in excellent facts and reasoning, and is marked by a love of truth and a liberal spirit of inquiry; and yet its results are very imperfect, from his overlooking the influence of corporeal organization. He states, in the outset, that "there seem to be original differences in the power of memory, some individuals being remarkable for retentive memory, though not otherwise distinguished by their intellectual endowments;" and, as instances, he speaks of one person being able to repeat a long discourse after hearing it once; of another being able to repeat the contents of a newspaper, and so on, where the understanding was otherwise defective. He then refers to local memory, and to that founded on analogies, and admits that the one may be possessed without the other. These are facts, and therefore a solid ground for inquiry. The first question that presents itself, on contemplating them, is naturally, "what are the circumstances or conditions on which these differences depend; can we ascertain them?" On having recourse to further observation, and comparing the condition of the brain or organ of mind in those who are distinguished for the accuracy of any particular memory, and in those who are defective in the same kind of memory, we perceive a remarkable difference of developement in portions of the brain invariably corresponding, all other circumstances being equal, to the degree of power possessed; and we observe that one part of the brain is large in those who have the great verbal memory; another in those who have the local memory; a third in those who excel in remembering analogies; a fourth in those who excel in musical memory, and so on. These, then, are additional facts bearing directly on the point at issue, and therefore positively essential to the inquiry into the laws of memory. Instead, however, of proceeding in the examination by this most direct and philosophical way, and of thus building his superstructure on facts, as it is the object of his book to recommend, Dr. Abercrombie merely says, "The facts now referred to are matters of curiosity only. The points of real interest and practical importance in regard to memory, respect the manner in which it is influenced by the intellectual habits of the individuals, and the principles on which it may be improved.

These are referrable chiefly to two heads, viz. ATTENTION and ASSOCIATION."

Now it is manifest that the examination of the facts thus dismissed as matters of curiosity only, really constitute the most important part of the inquiry; and that an explanation of the conditions on which they depend, and of the laws which thus limit the memory to classes of objects, is the only possible mode by which Dr. Abercrombie's subsequent problem of the influence of intellectual habits can be solved. For example, we find that it is an intellectual habit of A to recollect every word of a poem or discourse which he has once heard, and of B to remember the appearance of every place he has ever seen; but that A cannot recollect places, nor B words. The real question then comes to be, what causes this difference between A and B? To say it is a peculiar intellectual habit, is to say nothing more than that each has had the power, and has exercised it from the beginning; and accordingly the author admits it to be "original," or a part of their constitution. The habit, then, being the consequence of the previous possession of the power, we are driven back to the conditions under which the power manifests itself; and these are, as we have said, certain states of the organ of mind which those deficient in the power do not present. This is tangible ground, and cannot be evaded.

Again, "memory," says Dr. Abercrombie, "is much influenced by ATTENTION." This is most true; but on what does the power of attention depend? Atlas supports the world, but what supports Atlas ? One person can devote his whole attention, with ease and pleasure, to a mathematical proposition, and yet fail to keep it alive for five minutes to a process of abstract metaphysical argument. Another may delight in concentrating his attention for days together on the productions of the musician, the poet, and the sculptor, and yet fail to command it to a simple arithmetical calculation. On what do these differences depend? Each may make the strongest effort to apply to the uncongenial subject, and yet his attention wander in spite of himself. Dr. Abercrombie resolves the whole into the effect of previous habits and pursuits; but then comes the query, what is necessary for forming a habit? We have all heard of instances in which every conceivable motive combined to induce a son to tread in his father's footsteps, and to become his successor in business, and in which the son has persevered for years in trying to acquire the habit of liking it; and yet, when released from these, has turned from his now habitual mode of life with aversion and disgust, and followed a different pursuit, in which, nevertheless, he has speedily excelled, because the new habit was congenial to his nature; while, in

attempting to form a habit of a different kind, he could never fix his attention upon what he was about. In such cases, observation shows that cerebral difference are invariably connected with the different powers of attention; and consequently a knowledge of these becomes essential to the philosophy of attention.

Every section of the work before us might be taken up in the same way, and the deficiency be seen to pervade the whole; but it is unnecessary to lengthen our detail. It is with pain we have felt compelled to go so far as we have done; but in proportion to Dr. Abercrombie's eminence and authority, a regard for truth, for the interests of science, and of the human race, and a sense of justice towards the discoverers of Phrenology, Dr. Gall and Spurzheim, whose labors have been thus overlooked, made the duty imperative; and it will give us sincere pleasure should the talented and amiable author afterwards take up the question, and, by facts, either convince his own judgment, or show that we have been in error. In the mean time, we are glad to say, that, notwithstanding the deficiencies we have pointed out, the work before us presents a great deal of information, and many curious and interesting facts which have come under the author's own observation, and which throw light upon many of the phenomena of mind. With his application of the rules of philosophical investigation to medical science, we were particularly pleased. It displays throughout an acuteness of 'observation, and a cautious soundness of judgment, which cannot fail to impress his readers. There is also much excellent matter in the last part, in which Dr. Abercrombie considers the qualities and acquirements which constitute a well regulated mind; and we know that the practical suggestions there made for the improvement of the mind, are calculated to act beneficially on the rational reader.

ARTICLE II.

APPLICATION OF PHRENÓLOGY.

No science is capable of a greater number or variety of applications than that of Phrenology. We have been often and agreeably surprised, in reading the various works published on the science, to find what a great variety of topics have already been discussed by writers on the subject; so much interested have we been in this fact, that we have collected a long list of the mere heads of topics which have been more

or less examined by different persons on phrenological principles. The Edinburgh Phrenological Journal from its commencement, in reporting the exercises and proceedings of various Societies, has usually given the titles or heads of the most interesting papers and essays read at the meetings of these Associations. Though very few of these papers have ever been published, the mere mention of their titles shows to what a variety of subjects the principles of the science may be applied, especially when examined and discussed by different persons. We will here present a list of the heads of such papers, the perusal of which may induce some persons in this country to write on the same subjects; or at least, it may furnish them with fruitful themes for meditation. We select only those of a general and interesting nature, omitting all that are of a local or controversial character:

The causes and nature of true happiness. The distinctive characteristics of different nations.-Oratory, music, free-agency and dreaming considered phrenologically Belief and accountability considered in connection with cerebral organization.—The influence of the Fine Arts on the Moral Sentiments.-Phrenological analysis of Virtue, Crime, and Insanity. The perfectibility of the human brain.-Socialism tested by Phrenology. The influence of luxury or sensual indulgence on numan improvement.-Comparative anatomy of the nervous system. Moral duties enjoined by Conscientiousness.-The influence of Acquisitiveness on society.-The philosophy of the external senses.-The influence of sound on the mind. The abuse of the propensities in religious controversy.-The comparative influences of organization and circumstances in the formation of character.-A phrenological analysis of patriotism. The principles which should regulate marriage and divorce. The classification of prisoners according to phrenological principles.-Laws of hereditary descent.-Criminal jurisprudence considered in relation to mental organization and social responsibility.— Importance of phrenology as applied to self-government and improvement.-Essay on the distinction between the power and activity of the mind.-Capability of negroes for civilization.-Osteology of the skull or the laws of its growth and decay.-Essay on general and special Providence as compatible with the laws of nature.-Civilization tested by phrenology. The principles of criminal legislation, considered according to phrenology.-Observations on the progress and prospects of universal peace.-Phrenological analysis of Robert Owen's new views of society.-Ventriloquism explained by means of phrenology.The philosophy of apparitions.-Effects of old age on the manifestations of the mental faculties.-Hereditary tendency to crime.-The causes of sea-sickness explained by means of phrenology.-The phrenological

causes of the different degrees of liberty enjoyed by different nations.Phrenological essay on grief; also one on taste.-The size of hats used by different classes in society.-Phrenological analysis of eloquence.Observations on mental derangement.-Remarks on the different kinds of memory. The causes and cure of stammering.-The nature and necessity of punishments es penalties attached to violated laws.-The importance of physical education, when it is considered that all the manifestations of the mind depend on cerebral organization.-Connection between phrenology and medicine.-Analysis of infant education on phrenological principles.-The nature of original sin considered physiologically and phrenologically.-Distinction between instinct and mind, or between brutes and man.-The philosophy or phenomena accompanying death. The standard of beauty considered physiologically and phrenologically. Effects of distortions of the body and compressions of the head on human life and happiness.-Application of phrenology to the fine arts.-Original sin or native depravity, in what does it consist? -The laws of free-agency.-National prosperity, considered in relation to intellectual advancement.-Happiness, its constituents, properties, and relations. Observations on phrenology as affording the best systematic view of human nature.—Advantages which naval and military discipline might derive from phrenology.-Essay on the best means of obtaining happiness. Observations on the differences in national crania.—Phrenology applied to education-physical, intellectual and moral.-Deficiences in the power of perceiving colors explained, phrenologically.The mode of studying the instincts of the lower animals.—Practical phrenology applied in the choice of servants.-The phenomena of somnambulism and spectral illusion explained on phrenological principles.-The causes of idiocy.-Application of phrenology in the selection of legislators. Thoughts on the true mode of improving the human race. The foundation and constituent elements of virtue, merit, righteousness, holiness, &c.-The ultimate bearings of phrenology on civilization.