Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

This note was delivered to a second phrenologist, who had not the least suspicion of its being fictitious, and he was requested to write out his opinion of the talents and dispositions which it indicated. The following dialogue took place on the occasion :

2d Phren. This is a fearful combination; but not told me in what sphere of life he moves.

you have

1st Phren. He is an officer in the army, of inferior rank. 2d Phren. Of what rank? A serjeant-major or a commissioned officer ?

1st Phren. Not exactly either; but you may hold him to be an ensign.

2d Phren. Is he educated?

1st Phren. Not much.

2d Phren. What is his age?

1st Phren. About 40.

2d Phren. What is the size of his head ? the force of his character depends on this.

1st Phren. It is an average size.

At this conference, a third gentleman, also a phrenologist, was present, who shortly afterwards was intrusted with the secret, which he scrupulously preserved. A few days after this, the second phrenologist met him, and said, that it was a dreadful development he had got in hand, and proceeded thus:

2d Phren. Do you know any thing about the individual? Shall I be safe to write what I think of such a wretch?

3d Phren. I know him as well as Mr (the 1st Phren.); you are perfectly safe, and may freely write your ideas without fear of his resentment.

2d Phren. Was he at the battle of Waterloo ?

3d Phren. No; I don't think he was.

2d Phren. Was he in the Peninsular war?

3d Phren. I am not quite certain; but it is probable he may have been in Spain.

2d Phren. Well, I shall state exactly what his development indicates, whether it be agreeable to him or not.

3d Phren. Do so by all means; and I again assure you that you are quite safe from his resentment.

The second phrenologist next day called on the gentleman who had given him the note of development, and put into his hands the following sketch :

[ocr errors]

"I can hardly imagine a case, where a firm belief in the truths "of phrenology would be productive of more beneficial consequences than in the present; for this is, without exception, "the most unfavourable development I ever saw. Phrenology is eminently practical, and the present sketch is attempted not so "much with a view to the illustration of the science, as from a real "desire that it may be useful to the individual who is the subject of it, by laying open to him the hidden springs of his actions and "conduct. He must, therefore, be prepared to hear the TRUTH, "and with all plainness of speech,'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

6

[ocr errors]

"Selfishness will here reign with a predominating sway.-Totally "indifferent to the rights and feelings of others, he will pursue his "own selfish ends and gratifications without once being turned "aside by the calls of benevolence, justice, or friendship; he never gave a penny in charity in his life. He would pass by on the "other side,' and witness, with indifference, a case of distress or out"rage, adding, perhaps, with a growl or a curse, Why did they "not take better care and be d- -d to them.' He will utterly despise and condemn those who act from noble and disinterested "motives. It will indeed be extremely difficult for him to conceive "that this is possible, and hence he will be prone to regard them as "hypocrites; but if satisfied that this is not the case, he will assuredly turn round and esteem them fools and blockheads. He is "not one of those who will seek reputation at the cannon's mouth, "-not he. The thought and the feeling will ever recur cui bono? "And such as do so will be added to the aforesaid catalogue of "fools. In action (for I understand he is a military man) he would "tremble at every joint before the battle commenced; and though "by no means a coward, he would take especial care not to run un"necessarily into danger. But wo! to the hapless victim whom his "sword should strike to the ground! his cries and his tears for 66 mercy would be heard and witnessed in vain,—he would be trans"fixed with multiplied wounds, and expire without exciting one "emotion of pity. He would take intense delight in witnessing "the destruction of his foes-every rank and battalion, swept by "the cannon, would be viewed by him with ecstasy. And though "capable of perceiving and appreciating the advantages and excel"lence of skilful manoeuvres, these would give him comparatively "little pleasure, if they did not lead the enemy into a situation "where they might be destroyed and cut to pieces, and, if by the "artillery, so much the better.

[ocr errors]

"He will be remarkably distinguished by a talent for humour, I should rather say, satire, which will be characterized by its

or,

"being biting, severe, and sarcastic. He will spare neither friend "nor foe; but I am wrong, he never had a real friend in his life. "He can veil himself and his doings in the most impenetrable se66 crecy ;-no human being will ever be able to extract from him "that which he has determined to conceal. He will be proud and "revengeful, and will never forgive or forget an injury. He will "be prone to amours, and an adept at seduction. It is in this lat"ter mode that he will most delight to gratify his passions.

"He has no taste for poetry. He will wonder at the folly of "mankind for taking delight in such trash; and marvel ex"ceedingly, that men are to be found who would give two guineas "for a copy of the Lady of the Lake. His anticipations of the fu"ture will never be delightful, but always full of apprehension. "He cannot be happy.

"This is a melancholy picture, and, as I am totally unacquainted "with the individual who has sat for it, I have drawn it, not in 66 anger, but in sorrow. There are scarcely any redeeming points. "He will not, however, be deficient in respect for his parents, and "he will be decidedly loyal; and yet, alas! even in this excellent "feeling, Self-love will display itself. It is his own company, his "own regiment, his own king, and his own country, as such, that "will render them the objects of his respect and regard; and will "lead him to treat other nations, particularly the French, with "sovereign contempt. The French! Why, the very name of "that, to him, detested race, will excite all that bitterness, hatred, "and contempt, which the vehement, unrestrained, and combined "activity of Self-esteem, Combativeness, and Destructiveness, can produce. And the manifestations of these will be powerfully aid"ed by Language, Wit, and Secretiveness. Altogether they will "generate a rancour and an abuse, which, if the head had been "somewhat larger, would have been as uncontrollable as they would "have been tremendous.

66

"He will not be indifferent to music; but he will take no delight "in that which is of a gay, cheerful, soft, or melting kind. Mar"tial music, the national airs of God save the King, Rule Britan"nia, &c. will be felt and appreciated.

"He will be an attentive observer of every thing that is passing "around him. He will have an excellent memory for facts and "occurrences; but he will have great difficulty in recollecting faces " and persons.

"I am not certain how the very ample development of the reflec"tive powers will manifest themselves in such a combination of the "sentiments. They will however discover themselves; and I infer "that he will be acute, penetrating, and even profound.

"The large endowment of Cautiousness and of the Intellect are "invaluable in such a character. Indeed, but for these, he must "long since have committed crimes which the justice of his country "would have avenged. But let him be on his guard-these may "not always be sufficient to restrain him from evil. And let him "not despond; if he shall seek after virtue, and strive to maintain a

ON THE FRONTAL SINUS.

"virtuous conduct, great indeed will be his praise, I would in "that case place his attainments beside and on a level with those "of the greatest and best of mankind. Let him cultivate his "faculty of Veneration, and direct it to its noblest ends; he may "ultimately obtain strength from on high to cheer him in his "arduous course. *"

We add no comment on the complete reflection which this sketch exhibits of the character of Iago as drawn by Shakspeare. Every reader may find amusement in comparing the two; and the thoroughly-instructed phrenologist will reap much pleasure in tracing in his own mind the principles on which the author of the sketch proceeds in drawing his inferences of character from this combination of the primitive faculties. In a subsequent Number, we may perhaps unfold the principles, and point out their application, for the benefit of less advanced readers. In the meantime we may remark, that this application of the science is at once highly ingenious, amusing, and instructive. There is first an analysis of the character into its elements by one phrenologist; then these are handed to another, quite uninformed as to their source, and he, by synthesis, produces a portrait which turns out to be a fac similé of the original. To a reflecting mind, this constitutes a striking proof that we do not juggle with the combinations, but that phrenologists have made decided progress in ascertaining philosophically their effects in na

ture.

ARTICLE XII.

ON THE FRONTAL SINUS.

THE external and internal smooth surfaces of the bones of the skull, are called their external and internal tables, or

We felt some hesitation in printing this sentence, lest it should give occasion to unbecoming jests on the part of the thoughtless and superficial; but it constitutes an irresistible piece of evidence, that the author believed that he was treating of the talents and dispositions of an actual living human being; and, on this supposition, it is in itself so appropriate, that the reader, we hope, will approve of the course we have adopted, in giving the sketch entire as it was written.

[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]

plates, to distinguish them from the intermediate part called the diploe, which is of a looser and somewhat cellular texture, resembling the internal structure of the bones. As the diploe is nearly equally thick in every part, it follows that the two tables of the skull are nearly parallel to each other. The internal, indeed, receives some slight impressions from bloodvessels, glands, &c., which do not appear externally, but these are so small as not to interfere with phrenological observations. The sutures which connect the bones with each other also interrupt the absolute parallelism; but their situation is known, and only one of them, called the Lambdoidal, where it passes over the organ of Concentrativeness, presents any difficulty to the student. The sagittal suture, which runs longitudinally from the middle of the crown of the head forwards and downwards, sometimes so low as the top of the nose, occasionally presents a narrow prominent ridge, which is mistaken for a development of the organs of Firmness, Veneration, Benevolence, and Self-esteem. It may, however, be easily distinguished by its narrowness and isolation from the full broad swell of cerebral development. The mastoid process of the temporal bone, which is a small knob immediately behind the ear, serving for the attachment of a muscle, is sometimes mistaken for the indication of large Combativeness. It is, however, merely a bony prominence, and is to be found in every head, and does not indicate development of brain at all.

These peculiarities being easily recognised, are never stated as obstacles to the ascertaining of the cerebral development; but there is one part of the skull where the external configuration does not always indicate exactly the size of the subjacent parts of the brain, and upon which objections have been raised. At that part of the frontal bone, immediately above the top of the nose, a divergence from parallelism is sometimes produced by the existence of a small cavity called the frontal sinus; which is formed between the two plates or tables of the bone, either by the external table swelling out a little without being followed by the internal, and presenting an apVOL. I.-No II.

U

« AnteriorContinuar »