containing some good matter, is not quite equal to its predecessors. The first article, " On Crime and Punishments," is a brief summary of views which have been repeatedly stated in this and previous numbers of our Journal, and which, therefore, need not be farther spoken of here. We observe on page 3, a statement which, taken by itself, may lead to misapprehension; namely, that "Phrenology inculcates that the sole object of punishment ought to be the reformation of the criminal." Now, a person may be a thorough phrenologist, and yet believe, as we ourselves do, that another very rational and important object of punishment is the creation of motives which may induce others to refrain from crime. The accomplishment of both objects at the same time, is by no means impossible. Article III., entitled, "What is the precise Worth of Phrenological Science?" has been called forth by the article headed" Phrenological Ethics" in the 150th No. of the Edinburgh Review. It is written in a fantastically pompous style, and, like another paper in the Almanac, evidently from the same pen (see p. 58), will give pleasant exercise to the ingenuity of those who love the abstruse in literary composition. After intimating his dissent from several doctrines of Mr Combe, the author devotes two pages to his "main business" of "picking up the gauntlet which the reviewer has cast at Gall's disciples, by defying any person to point out a single theoretical or practical purpose to be effected by Phrenology, that cannot be effected without it."" In doing so, he seems to overlook the fact, that the reviewer is speaking of Phrenology in its ethical bearings alone. The other papers in the Almanac are a "Historical Sketch of Mesmerism ;""Thoughts on viewing the Portrait of Handel;" several Sketches of Character," extracted from Spurzheim's Phrenology in connection with the study of Physiognomy, and illustrated by wood-cuts; "The Statesman," a phrenological sketch of character; "The Phrenological Character of Daniel Webster," from the American Phrenological Journal; "The Weather viewed as a Science;" reviews of books; a communication from Dr R. H. Collyer on Phreno-Mesmerism; and a list of seventeen phrenological societies. The work is got up with considerable industry, and is sold at a very moderate price.

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3. Gall on the Functions of the Brain, Parts I., II., and III. ; forming the first three Parts of The Phrenological Library.*— This is a handsome reprint, in 8vo, of the translation of Gall's work by Dr Winslow Lewis jun., of Boston, U. S., with numerous improvements in the style. The name of Dr Lewis,

* For the names of publishers of this and other works, see our list of books received, in the last page of the present Number.

however, is not mentioned. Each Part consists of 48 pages. The anatomical embellishments on the cover of The Phrenological Library are not altogether to our taste.

4. Spurzheim's Outlines of Phrenology, royal 8vo, is the first of a cheap series of the works of Gall and Spurzheim, Dr Morton's Crania Americana, &c., edited by Mr Goyder of Glasgow. It is printed in a clear readable type, and illustrated by a number of tolerably executed wood-cuts.

5. Dr Combe's Physiology applied to Health and Education, 12th edition, royal 8vo.-In the preface to this "People's Edition," which is sold at one third of the price of the work in its other form, the author says:-" That progress is really making in a right direction, may be inferred from the numerous examples every day presenting themselves, of the successful application of physiological principle to the promotion of human improvement. Among many others, I may refer to the pains taken and the expense incurred, by Government, in the proper ventilation, lighting, and heating of the new Houses of Parliament, and many of the public Offices and Hospitals; to the recent official investigation into the means required for promoting health in large towns; to the attention now devoted to secure an improved construction of houses, a better supply of water, more thorough draining, and a more adequate supply of the necessaries and comforts of life, as well as a proper system of education and moral training, for the labouring poor; and lastly, to the special provision so carefully and intelligently made in the army and navy, for the health, morality, and comfort of the men. All these and many other examples afford striking proofs of the extent to which a perception of the influence of the laws of physiology is beginning to pervade the more enlightened portion of the community; and warrant the hope that a much higher degree of improvement may yet be reached, by the wider diffusion and application of physiological knowledge, than is at present generally expected. To effect this, however, not only parents and the teachers of the young, but the young themselves, of all ranks and both sexes, must be made familiar, at an early age, with the nature of their own organization, and trained by example, as well as by precept, to the practical observance of the laws by which their functions are regulated. It is with a strong wish to contribute all in my power to this most desirable end, that I am anxious to place this volume within the reach of every class, and especially of the many parents and teachers, both male and female, who have never enjoyed an opportunity of acquiring correct information regarding the physical and mental constitution of man, and who, with the very best intentions, and the strongest desire to discharge their duty, often fall in

voluntarily into error from the want of it. Even with every aid, the task of the educator is not less arduous than important; and if his success does not always correspond to the zeal, talent, and industry which he brings to its performance, the cause is to be looked for in the prevailing ignorance of the nature of man, far more than in any deficiency peculiar to the individual. Every experienced medical man must be familiar with cases where efforts which, under the guidance of physiological knowledge, would have secured the richest harvest of results, have either been expended in vain, or even been productive of direct, and sometimes permanent, injury to the pupil. To parents and teachers, then, this volume is offered, in the hope that it may afford them both aid and comfort."

6. The People's Phrenological Journal, Parts VIII to XI. (Oct. 1843 to Jan. 1844).—The most valuable of the recent articles are several by Mr Luke Burke on the effects of the temperaments, and of education and circumstances, upon the mental character; and those of Mr Hudson Lowe on an organ and faculty of Contrast, and on the intellectual faculties generally. Mr Lowe's papers are a development of one which he read to the Phrenological Association last summer: he complains of the mutilated condition in which his abstract of it has been printed in the Zoist.-A writer in No. XL., p. 475, describes, and represents in a woodcut, a craniometer which he has invented, but which is identical with that submitted to the Phrenological Society in Edinburgh twenty years ago, and found to be of no use in practice. An engraving of the instrument was given by Mr Combe in the first and perhaps one or two other editions of his Elements.-The Part for January is the commencement of a new series of The People's Phrenological Journal, which is in future to be edited by Mr L. Burke. Of that gentleman's talent and knowledge we have already expressed a favourable opinion; and under his management the work, we have no doubt, will be conducted with increased vigour. He promises to state his own opinions freely, but without dogmatism; favouring no sect, and directing his efforts solely to the discovery and dissemination of truth. A series of articles on ethnology is to appear forthwith. On a future occasion we shall perhaps give an abstract of the more original of his views, many of which accord with the conclusions to which we have been led by our own observations.

Several other works deserving notice are before us; but our space being now exhausted, the mention of them must be deferred for the present.

VOL. XVII.-N. S. No. XXV.-JAN. 1844.

G

(98)

IV. INTELLIGENCE, &0.

Meeting of the Phrenological Association.—The sixth annual meeting of the Association was held in the theatre of the Marylebone Literary and Scientific Institution, Edwards Street, Portman Square, London, on 3d July 1843, and five following days.

July 3.-Charles A. Tulk, Esq. in the chair. The Secretary, Mr E. S. Symes, read the Committee's Report, which, after mentioning the resignation of nineteen members in 1842-the subsequent Declaration subscribed by seventy-one other members, and published in the Phrenological Journal, xvi. 94-the opinion which had been obtained from some Scotch phrenologists that it would be more expedient to have the next meeting in London than in Edinburgh-and the consequent determination of the Committee to make arrangements for holding it in the metropolis accordingly,-went on to say, that at a recent meeting of the Committee for that purpose, Mr M. B. Sampson proposed that the above-mentioned Declaration should be entered on the minutes; adding, however, that he had no authority from any one to make such a motion. “And at a subsequent meeting of the Committee, Mr Sampson renewed his proposition in a somewhat altered form. These motions were neither of them seconded, and consequently fell to the ground. It will scarcely be necessary for your Committee to remind you, that, with every desire to give effect to the wishes of any of the members of the Association, they were not empowered to enter anything whatever in the books of the Association, excepting the minutes of their own proceedings; that their duty is confined to the transacting of the private business of the Association, the various arrangements for the meetings, &c.; and that your Committee would have been altogether exceeding their powers, if they had presumed upon their own authority to enter a declaration of any number of members in the books of the Association." In consequence of this resolution, however, Mr Sampson, and twentyfive members who concurred with him, announced their resignation. (See Phren. Jour. xvi. 309). The Report expressed the regret of the Committee that such a step had been adopted, the grievance complained of being" the withholding of a right by the Association, which the Association have never yet had an opportunity of granting (for be it remembered that the declaration has never yet been sent to the Association or any of its officers, as such); and upholding the propriety of a sincere and fearless regard for the promulgation of truth,' the parties withdrawing from the Association solely because the Committee had not consented to exceed their powers, by entering in the books of the Association a protest on the sole ground of expediency, against the expression, by an individual, of an opinion which he believed to be truth, and the truth of which they did not dispute. Amongst these were three members of the Committee: and four other gentlemen sent in written resignations; two of whom, also members of the Committee, grounded their resignations upon the same plea.

"Your Committee have felt bound, in justice to themselves, to submit this short statement of facts to the Association, 1st, because your Committee are desirous of having no concealments from the general body of members; and, 2dly, to shew that these hasty secessions have not been caused by any informality, or attempt to suppress opinion, on the part of your Committee.

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Should any member be desirous of bringing the subject of the declaration more particularly before the Association, it is competent for

him to do so at the Business General Meeting, of which due notice will be given; and then would be the proper time to discuss the propriety of recording it in the books of the Association; but your Committee cannot presume to offer any opinion upon the expediency of such a course. "Your Committee added the following gentlemen to their numbers: Sir Wm. Baynes, Bart.; George Bird, Esq.; G. J. Davey, M.D.; M. le Dr Fossati; Samuel Joseph, Esq.; S. G. Howe, LL.D.; William Kingdom, Esq.; R. C. Kirby, Esq.; S. T. Partridge, M.D.; Professor Rigoni, M.D.; Richard Rothwell, Esq.; J. B. Sedgwick, Esq.; William Wood, Esq.; W. S. B. Woolhouse, Esq., F.A.S.; and appointed Dr Davey joint Secretary with Mr Symes.

"Your Committee have the satisfaction to add, that a considerable number of new members have joined the Association, so that notwithstanding the defections, the actual number of the members is now greater than at any former period. In the published report of the Committee, at the opening of the 4th session, it was stated, that, at the close of the session at Glasgow, the number of members amounted to 158; 84 new members had subsequently joined the Association, making the number then 242. Last year some increase had probably taken place, but the numbers were not stated; altogether there are now 88 new members. The present number is 283, shewing an actual increase of 41 over the last published statement. Amongst the new members, your Committee are gratified to find the names of several ladies.

"Your Committee have to acknowledge the liberality of the Phrenological Society, in placing their museum at the disposal of the Association; and your Committee have selected the casts before us as illustrations of various forms of heads. The diagrams are kindly lent us by Mr Symes."

"In conclusion, your Committee, anxious to carry out to the fullest extent the objects of the Association, one of the most important of which is the advancement of the science by discussions and investigations calculated to lead to new discoveries, which can only be accomplished by preserving the utmost freedom of inquiry, beg to reiterate the announcement usual with this and other scientific bodies, that they cannot, any more than the Association at large, be responsible for the individual views or opinions of any of its members."

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The report was received unanimously, and Dr Elliotson delivered the opening address, of which the principal subjects were Materialism, Mesmerism, and the conduct of those members who had withdrawn from the Association. He adverted to the opinions of Gall about Mesmerism ; quoting passages on that subject from his 4to work, and stating, that, though Gall rejected the phenomena of clairvoyance (as no patient whom he examined exhibited them, and Dr E. understood that he saw nothing of the kind that ought to have satisfied any person, and saw the quackery of Mesmerism that still abounds as it does in all parts of medicine), he admitted the reality of Mesmerism, and has detailed his own personal experience. How often," he says, " in intoxication, hysterical and hypochondriacal attacks, convulsions, fever, insanity, under violent emotions, after long fasting, through the effects of such poisons as opium, hemlock, belladonna, are we not, in some measure, transformed into perfectly different beings, for instance, into poets, actors, &c.? Just as, in dreaming, the thoughts frequently have more delicacy, and the sensations are more acute, and we can hear and answer; just as, in ordinary somnambulism, we can rise, walk, see with our eyes open, touch with our hands, &c.: so we allow that similar phenomena may take place in artificial somnambulism, and even in a higher degree." If Gall (proceeded Dr E.) thought Mesmerism sufficiently connected with