The influence of the first

were suspicious of foreign innovations. consul, Napoleon, was now almost omnipotent over the Parisians, and he had signified his decided disapprobation of the new views of the German doctors. The report of Cuvier before the institute was unfavourable to the discoveries of Gall and Spurzheim, though it is stated that he was fully convinced of the truth of their discoveries, and acknowledged it in private. But such was the influence of Napoleon's opposition, and other leading men, as well as the unsettled state of the French government, and its relations to other nations, that phrenology made very slow progress in Paris.

In 1809, Gall and Spurzheim commenced publishing their magnificent work, entitled "The Anatomy and Physiology of the Nervous System in general, and of the Brain in particular; with Observations upon the possibility of ascertaining several Intellectual and Moral Dispositions of Man and Animals, by the Configuration of their Heads." Four volumes, folio, with an Atlas of 100 plates. Price 1000 francs.

This great work was continued, by their joint exertions, to the completion of two and a half volumes, and was ultimately finished by Gall in 1819. In the mean time, he delivered several courses of lectures, which were attended by respectable audiences, composed mostly of medical students, and literary and scientific men. Spurzheim left Paris, 1813, for Great Britain; and ever after that period, they prosecuted their researches separately.

The two following accounts, describing the person, circumstances, habits, &c., of Dr. Gall, will be read with interest by all, but more especially by those already interested in phrenological science. In the year 1826, there appeared in the Birmingham Journal the following communication, from a correspondent who was then on a visit in France.

"I found Dr. Gall to be a man of middle stature, of an outline wellproportioned; he was thin and rather pallid, and possessed a capacious head and chest. The peculiar brilliancy of his penetrating eye left an indelible impression. His countenance was remarkable-his features strongly marked, and rather large, yet devoid of coarseness. general impression that a first glance was calculated to convey, would be, that he was a man of originality and depth of mind, possessing much urbanity, with some Self-esteem and inflexibility of design.

The

"After presenting my letters of introduction to him, at seven o'clock in the morning, he showed me into a room, the walls of which were covered with bird-cages, and the floor with dogs, cats, &c. Observing that I was surprised at the number of his companions, he remarked, 'All you Englishmen take me for a bird-catcher; I am sure you feel

surprised that I am not somewhat differently made to any of you, and that I should employ my time in talking to birds. Birds, sir, differ in their dispositions like men; and, if they were but of more consequence, the peculiarity of their characters would have been as well delineated. Do you think,' says he, turning his eyes to two beautiful dogs at his feet, which were endeavouring to gain his attention- do you think that these little pets possess pride and vanity like man?' Yes,' I said; I have observed their vanity frequently.' We will call both feelings into action,' said he; he then caressed the whelp, and took it into his arms; mark his mother's offended pride,' said he, as she was walking quietly across the chamber to her mat; 'do you think she will come, if I call her?' 'Oh yes,' I answered. No, not at all.' He made the attempt, but she heeded not the hand she had so earnestly endeavoured to lick the moment before. She will not speak to me to-day,' said the doctor.

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"He then described to me the peculiarity of many of his birds, and I was astonished to find that he seemed familiar also with their dispositions (if I may be allowed the word). Do you think a man's time would be wasted thus in England? You are a wealthy and a powerful nation, and as long as the equilibrium exists between the two, so shall you remain; but this never has, nor cannot, exist beyond a certain period. Such is your industry, stimulated by the love of gain, that your whole life is spun out before you are aware the wheel is turning; and so highly do you value commerce, that it stands in place of self-knowledge, and an acquaintance with nature and her immense laboratory.'

"I was delighted with this conversation; he seemed to me to take a wider view in the contemplation of man than any other person with whom I had ever conversed. During breakfast, he frequently fed the little suitors, who approached as near as their iron bars would admit. 'You see they all know me.' said he, and will feed from my hand, except this blackbird, which must gain his morsel by stealth before he eats it; we will retire a moment, and in our absence he will take the bread." On our return, we found he had secreted it in a corner of his cage. I mention these, otherwise uninteresting, anecdotes, to show how much Dr. Gall had studied the peculiarity of the smaller animals. "After breakfast, he showed me his extensive collection; and thus ended my first visit to the greatest moral philosopher that Europe has produced; to a man, than whom few were ever more ridiculed, and few ever pursued their bent more determinately, despite its effects; to a man, who alone effected more change in mental philosophy than perhaps any predecessor; to a man, who suffered more persecution, and yet possessed more philanthropy, than most philosophers."

The other communication is from the pen of Dr. Elliotson, formerly professor in the University of London. Says Dr. E.-"I have seen Dr. Gall-seen much of him, and had repeated conversations with him on phrenological points, and on the history of his discoveries. He lectures in Paris, to a class above one hundred, at the Athenée Royale. His course consists of sixty or seventy lectures, and he spends several days in dissecting. When at the end of the hour, he asks whether he shall proceed? the audience applaud violently, and he often continues two, and upwards of three hours. Dr. Gall ranks high in Paris; he is physician to ten ambassadors-has great practice -is considered a savant-and bears himself, and lives handsomely, like a gentleman.

"Gall's head is magnificent; and his countenance, dress, and manners, with the depth, continuousness, liberality, and simplicity of his remarks, show you that you are in company with a profound philosopher-a perfect gentleman-and a most kind-hearted friend. He is perfectly free from affectation or quackery; pursues truth only, regardless of all consequences; and has sought it at an immense expense, and free from all interested motives. He knows the importance and reality of his discoveries; and though perfectly modest and simple, forms the just estimate of himself that posterity will form, and feels secure of immortality. I advised him to write some popular work, but he objected; said he had written for the studious only-for those who desired to understand the subject thoroughly; that he had composed a work for posterity, and must leave to others the occupation of writing for loungers. It was delighful to see the good old man every day sitting on his sofa, or sitting up in bed (for he was ill at the time), surrounded by his friends, all listening to him, while he spoke knowledge in the most amiable manner, attending to every question, and allowing some more voluble, though not less admiring than the rest, to interrupt him, patiently resuming his arguments when they had finished. He is incessantly meditating and observing; telling them that much remains yet to be done, and mentions points upon which he wishes them to make observations, for the purpose of solving various difficulties."

The person of Dr. Gall was well-proportioned; in stature, he was five feet two inches, with a large chest and strong muscles; his step was firm, and his look vivid and penetrating. His features, though not handsome, possessed a mild and pleasing expression. He acquired no mean reputation as a physician, as well as a writer and philosopher; and, independent of the respect shown him by all parties, he realised from his profession a handsome fortune. His skill as a physician may be inferred from the following fact. "In

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the year 1820, a gold medal was presented to him, executed by M. Barre, an eminent artist in Paris, by order of Count Potosky, a rich Polish nobleman, who took this method of expressing his deep gratitude to Dr. Gall, who had cured him of an old and dangerous malady, for which he had in vain consulted the best medical men in Paris. On one side of the medal is the head of Dr. Gall, an admirable likeness; and on the other is Esculapius, standing at the bed-side of the patient, chasing away with one hand the birds of darkness, and crushing a frog, the symbol of ignorance, under his right foot. Behind Esculapius is an altar, with a skull placed upon it, to denote the particular kind of study to which Dr. Gall was devoted."

In March, 1828, at the close of one of his lectures, Dr. Gall was seized with a paralytic attack, from which he never perfectly recovered, and which ultimately carried him off, the 22d of August, 1828, in the seventy-second year of his age. His remains were followed to the grave by an immense concourse of friends and admirers, five of whom pronounced discourses over his grave, as is the custom in France on such occasions. A gentleman in Paris, who was not a phrenologist, writing about this time on various topics to Dr. A. Combe, of Edinburgh, expresses himself as follows:-" You will, I am sure, be more affected by the death of Dr. Gall, than by any political event. In truth, it is an immense loss to science. Whatever opinion we may form of the system of that illustrious man, it must be acknowledged that he has made an immense stride in the sciences of medicine and of man. You must have been satisfied with the homage paid to his memory by the side of his grave, by whatever distinguished men Paris possesses." Dr. Fossati, in his funeral discourse, has the following touching paragraph:-"What an irreparable blank do I perceive in the scientific world by the death of one man!a blank which will long be felt by all the friends of science and of sound philosophy. But what a man have we lost! what a genius was his! what a happy organisation nature had given him! Yes! Dr. Gall was one of those privileged individuals whom the Creator sends upon the earth at the interval of ages, to teach us how far human intelligence can reach!"

It remains now for us to enter into a more critical analysis of the mental powers of Dr. Gall; in doing which, we propose to apply phrenological principles. And there is reason to believe that the results of such an application will not be less interesting to the reader, than honourable to the genius of the distinguished discoverer of the true science of mind.

The head of Dr. Gall was large, measuring, above the eyebrows and at the top of the ears, twenty-two inches and two lines in circum

ference; and fourteen inches and nine lines from the root of the nose to the occiput. The several regions of his brain were generally welldeveloped, though some organs were considerable larger and more active than others. The organs of Amativeness, Philoprogenitiveness, Adhesiveness, Combativeness, and Destructiveness, were all well developed. He always showed great fondness for children and pets, as well as sympathy for helpless and dependent objects generally. And while he was never distinguished for ardour of attachment, and enthusiasm of feeling, yet the friendships of few were stronger, more sincere and constant. He was possessed of no ordinary share of energy and force of character, which strikingly marked his whole career of discovery, in overcoming the greatest obstacles, and encountering the most bitter opposition. Still, notwithstanding the consciousness of his mental superiority, and the certain conviction of the truth of his doctrines, he was rarely, if ever, known to exhibit an improper or wrong manifestation of the faculties of Combativeness and Destructiveness to his opponents, or to any others with whom he had intercourse, amid the various scenes and changes through which he was called to pass. It is believed that very few can be found in the annals of history who have displayed, under like circumstances, greater liberality of feeling and magnanimity of mind.

The organs of Secretiveness and Cautiousness were rather large. His whole life was characterised by great prudence, caution, and forethought. He evidently saw, in the early part of his career, the true nature and vast importance of his discoveries, and therefore proceeded, step by step, with the greatest care and deliberation. In several attempts to deceive him by false reports, and impose upon him by improper subjects for examination, he showed no ordinary degree of shrewdness and sagacity. But while he was acute and penetrating, he was frank and honest; and was too conscious of his intellectual strength, and the justness of his cause, ever to resort to cunning or fraud for obtaining his ends.

The organs of Self-esteem and Firmness were very large, and formed conspicuous traits in his character. Few persons ever possessed more real self-respect, and a greater love of independence, than Gall. We will here quote a striking passage from his remarks on the former faculty, in which he has given a remarkably correct delineation of himself. "There are certain men," says he, "with minds sufficiently strong, who are so deeply impressed with a sense of their own value, and so independent withal, that they know how to repel every external influence which tends to subject them. As far as practicable, they choose the freest countries to live in, and devote themselves to an employment that renders them independent,