each requiring a separate faculty by which we are enabled to estimate them. Motion is a fact learned through the medium of our senses, and experience tells us that motion is the effect of force applied. We farther learn, that force is communicated by motion; and perhaps we may say that motion is force in action after having overcome resistance. I now begin to be sensible that my powers will not enable me to carry on this analysis farther, and I must leave my ideas of resistance and force being cognizable by two distinct faculties to the consideration of our highly-gifted Phrenologists. Whoever will consider what is necessary for playing billiards, cricket, fives, foot-ball, &c., must come to investigate the faculties I have supposed, and it will give me very great pleasure should their speculations lead to any essentially useful research. I am, &c.

M.

ARTICLE VI.

QUESTIONS TO A PHRENOLOGIST, WITH ANSWERS.

Question 1.-" ARE the exterior elevations of the cranium, which denote the different faculties and passions, perceptible to the eye, or only to the feeling ?"

They are perceptible to both. The power of perception, however, differs greatly in different individuals. Some perceive at a glance what others less gifted require some time to explore. Again, some will mark both position and size with perfect accuracy by the eye alone, while others will need the aid of touch to satisfy them. The percipient powers of the observer must, therefore, be taken into account, as well as the appearances observed. Actual measurement affords an unerring standard by which to judge of both absolute and relative magnitude.

Question 2.-" Are the limits of each clearly perceptible

to any eye or hand, or only to those of an adept in the

science ?"

The absolute locality of each organ being established, it requires only observation and practice for any one to determine its site; but a facility in this respect, as in all practical arts, is to be acquired only by practice and experience. It is an error, to which inexperience is liable, to conceive prominence of organ to be the only indication of fulness of development; and hence arise many of the misconceptions of those who are unacquainted with the science. General full development, however great, will present no partial eminences. The Phrenologist measures the peripheral expansion, and the actual depth of the brain from the surface to the centre, and is influenced in his judgments by the quantity thus proved to

exist.

Question 3.-" Is it certain that there are internal concavities in the cranium corresponding to the external convexities ?"

It is certain that the outward surface of the cranium represents with almost perfect accuracy the surface of the brain. The points of mere osseous prominence are few, and wellknown, and have no tendency to obscure or falsify the general results of phrenological inquiry. It is not unfitting here to remark, that it is in fact the brain itself which influences the form of the cranium; though the one is soft and yielding, the other hard and unbending, yet there are ample facts to prove that the osseous covering accommodates itself in every instance to the size and shape of its pulpy inmate. Not only does the cranium expand as the brain increases in size, but the converse has been fully demonstrated. A maniac at Paris suffered a considerable wasting of certain cerebral organs; the cranium in course of time subsided so remarkably as wholly to alter the outward form of the head. The agency by which such processes are carried on is familiar to every one acquainted with animal physiology. Bone, like all organized animal matter, is in a constant state of waste and re

pair, the absorbent vessels continually carrying off effete matter, the nutrient vessels as continually bringing a fresh supply. Further illustration must be needless.

Question 4.-" Can any Phrenologist venture to pronounce, with any certainty of success, on the character of a head submitted to the touch in the dark ?"

This involves two considerations, the perception of development by touch alone, and the estimate of the character resulting from the organs developed. On the perception by touch alone; this must depend greatly on the special power possessed by the person examining. If qualified by practice to examine, and possessed of accurate and discriminating touch, I have no doubt whatever that such a one could with perfect accuracy pronounce on development even unaided by sight; though why an imperfect mode of examination should ever be resorted to, when a more perfect one is attainable, I am unable to conceive. On the capability of pronouncing, from such examination, on characters, more is to be said. Character results not from mere existence of certain prominent faculties, but from the combined and reciprocal influence of the whole assemblage. To judge of the mere existence or the relative development of organs, is a very humble exercise of perceptive powers; to infer from the organization the prevailing character of the person endued with it, requires a profound exercise of the reasoning faculties: a faculty of observing form and magnitude will suffice for the former, the soundest ratiocination is requisite for the latter. An ordinary Phrenologist endued with power to judge of size and form, by the sense of touch, may, even in the dark, pronounce with tolerable accuracy on special development; it would require an accomplished and acute Phrenologist to pronounce on the resulting character with all the aid that vision can supply.

Question 5.-" Is there an organ of Imagination? Is that one organ, or are there various organs, according to various tastes for music, sculpture, painting, &c. ?"

For such queries the simplest answer would be to refer to any elementary treatise on the science, where the several organs and faculties will be found specifically described; it may be replied, however, that there is an organ which may be considered xaritox, the organ of Imagination, although the Phrenologist does not so denominate it. In his vocabulary it is called "Ideality." It is the organ of Poetic Genius, and is modified in its prevailing tendencies by the co-existent faculties. Combined with Language it creates the poet; with Form and Colour, the imaginative painter; with Music, the ardent and impressive composer. In the various arts derived from faculties directly subservient, creative powers may be evinced to which the term Imagination may be loosely applied. These powers do not result from the phrenological organ of Ideality: this organ delights in grouping ideas derived from all the other in fanciful and visionary combinations; it creates new worlds,-peoples them with new existences, all derived from the materials of ordinary life, but combined so as to outstrip reality. I know not that I can answer this question more distinctly.

Question 6.-" Are the elevations of the cranium perceptible in children ?"

Certainly; though, from the immature state of the brain, the manifestations connected with organization are in them less determinate; still, even in infants, organization and sentiment, or passion, will be found to correspond.

Question 7.-" If a head should be submitted to a Phrenologist in the dark, will he answer any specific question concerning the character of the individual submitted to him, without indulging in any vague generalities, which may in some way comprehend almost every variety of human char

acter ?"

Perhaps this is already sufficiently answered in the reply to question 4; I must, however, repeat my opinion, that I can see no object to be served by mere palpable observation,

unaided by sight. As a mode of examination, it is less perfect than when two senses are allowed to act; while, as a test of the Phrenologist's precision, it can prove nothing beyond the acumen of the person so exhibiting his skill. A failure in such case would be no slur on the science, as it might proceed solely from the incompetency of the person making the examination. Were an enlightened Phrenologist of sound reasoning power to condescend so far as to exhibit this test of his practical skill, I have no doubt that he could, with much accuracy, both state the actual developments and pronounce on the resulting character; but I must repeat, that to do so under such disadvantages would require a combination of talents far exceeding that of ordinary minds. In my mind, however, all such trials would be derogatory to both parties; it might become the Phrenologist so to display his tact and discernment, if his object were to mystify instead of elucidate, to astonish instead of improve, to apply his knowledge so as to excite wonder and catch applause, by keeping the principles of his art secret while displaying the results, instead of, as he has uniformly done, communicating freely the principles themselves for the instruction and benefit of mankind. Phrenology deals in no sleight-of-hand, no legerdemain tricks; it explores natural truths, reducing them to fixed principles. By the laws of philosophizing alone, can these be confirmed or disproved; if the alleged facts on which it is founded be not true, let it be at once suppressed by demonstrating their falsity; if its inferences be unsound, let this be shown, and its claim to the dignity of a science in consequence disallowed; but let it not be assailed by objections which have no tendency to invalidate its principles, nor subjected to tests which can never establish the negative for which they are designed.