that the rays of light which will this evening reach our sight from the nearest of the fixed stars, must, even at the velocity with which light travels, have left that star centuries ago, at the time when Alfred reigned in England, we may faintly approach to an estimate of the littleness of our present existence, and of the illimitable power of that great Being by whom the universe has been created and is upheld.

I conclude, therefore, that this organ is bestowed upon man to adapt him to the great principle of eternity. It is a noble requirement of his moral destiny!

London, November 1, 1839.

ARTICLE III.

KEMARKS ON PHRENOLOGICAL SPECIMENS, CABINET, ETC.

The utility and value of specimens, to prove and illustrate the principles of any science, must be obvious to every one. In all the sciences which depend upon observation and experiment for proof and elucidation, we find those objects which appeal directly to the senses to be of the utmost importance. These objects may be either the products of nature or the creations of art. In many instances, we cannot multiply specimens of the former, nor even obtain them in that state or perfection which may be necessary for useful purposes, and therefore must resort to human agency and contrivance. Some of the sciences, such as geology, botany, zoology, &c., deriving their evidences from observation, must depend chiefly for support and illustration on the immediate productions of nature, either animate or inanimate; while other sciences, connected more directly with experiment, such as chemistry, natural philosophy, &c., are more dependent for proof and application on human agency, It becomes necessary, therefore, to have recourse to such means, both for studying and teaching those branches. And accordingly we find that the most zealous and efficient cultivators of science have always been deeply engaged in the collection of specimens appertaining to their several departments of study.

Phrenology, being also a demonstrative science, depends for proof and illustration upon objects which appeal equally direct to the The evidences of its truth are of the most positive and irresistible character, and, when properly presented and canvassed, cannot fail to produce conviction in every unbiased mind. The

senses.

materials for this purpose are, perhaps, as ample and diversified as those belonging to any other science. It summons in support of its truth, not only every individual of the human species, but even the greater part of the animal creation. Wherever there is brain, whether performing the functions of the feeblest instinct, or of the most exalted mental manifestations, we may find evidence of the truth of this science. The student who is somewhat familiar with its facts and principles, will find objects of interest and study on every side. But, as in other departments of knowledge, those who are inquirers or learners, must first become acquainted with the elementary principles of the science. For this purpose, not only books are wanted, but material objects which may be seen and handled. And in most cases these can be easily obtained. They may consist of skulls, busts, casts, drawings, paintings, wax preparations, &c. They may be procured and possessed by individuals, societies, or public institutions.

The cultivators of phrenology have not been negligent in collecting specimens to prove and illustrate the principles of their science. Should a full and minute history of their labours in this respect be given, it would bear comparison with the results of the same number of cultivators of any other science, labouring under disadvantages equally as great and discouraging. As phrenology has thus far been spurned from the notice of public institutions and associations, formed for cultivating science and encouraging its advocates, phrenologists have been compelled to labour in this field as individuals, in despite, too, of the most bitter opposition, and to make collections at the expense of the greatest personal sacrifices and exertions. We might allude to the labours of Gall, Spurzheim, Deville, and others, but it is unnecessary. It is true that, in some instances, collections have been made by associations, such as the Paris, London, and Edinburgh societies. But in order that such collections may be permanent, and become constantly increasing in extent and value, they should be connected with some public institution, or national society, and enlist in their behalf as many individuals as possible who are deeply interested in scientific researches.

We may revert to the discussion of this subject again, with particular reference to the state and advancement of the science in this country; but, for the present, must satisfy ourselves by introducing some excellent suggestions on the objects, materials, and arrange. ment of a phrenological cabinet, contained in a report drawn up by a committee of the New York Phrenological Society. This report, we believe, has never been published, and it contains some observations which must interest phrenologists generally. The committee

was appointed by the president, Dr. J. W. Francis, and consisted of Mr. A. Boardman, Dr. C. A. Lee, and Dr. B. Drake. Their report was made to the society, February 28, 1839, and is as follows:

Report of the Committee appointed by the Phrenological Society of
New York to draw up a plan for a Phrenological Cabinet.
The committee appointed to draft a plan for a phrenological
cabinet, respectfully report:

That, in their opinion, the establishment of an extensive and wellarranged cabinet is an object worthy of the society's best efforts, for the following, among other, reasons

1. By means of such a cabinet, the great phrenological principle, that "As is the brain, other things being equal, so is the mental capacity of man," would be readily demonstrable.

2. Such a cabinet would enable the members to pursue phrenological investigations extensively at a small personal expense, thus rendering membership extremely desirable.

3. Such a cabinet would form not only a centre of attraction, but a bond of union. Nothing seems to unite men more closely or permanently than common interest in property, the accumulation of which is, indeed, the result of Acquisitiveness, but, in the case before us, of Acquisitiveness acting under the control of intellect and the higher sentiments, for a purpose which affords them refined satisfaction. In contemplating such a cabinet, Form, Size, and Individuality, would be gratified by the observation of the specimens; Order and Locality, by their arrangement; Comparison would love to dwell on the correspondence between cerebral developement and mental manifestation, and to note the dissimilarity of heads appertaining to men distinguished by opposite mental characteristics; Causality would be agreeably exercised in recognising between the developements of the brain and mental capacities the relation of cause and effect; while the higher sentiments would delight in these studies, as a powerful means of human advancement.

In developing their plan of a cabinet, your committee will treat, 1. Of the material of which it should consist.

2. Of the arrangement of the material.

3. Of the accommodations for a cabinet.

Material. The material of a phrenological cabinet should consist principally of skulls, casts, plates, drawings, and preparations; and here your committce would respectfully suggest the importance of discrimination in selecting specimens. Every specimen should be for the purpose of illustrating some fact or principle. The value of a cabinet cannot be inferred from its extent.

Your committee would suggest, too, that busts are unnecessarily large and unwieldy, inasmuch as the shoulders subserve no scientific purpose. The mere mask, too, is an unobjectionable form of specimen, inasmuch as the correlation of organs is so intimate, that to tell the influence of any organ whatever, the whole organisation should be known. Those forms of specimen which your committee think most appropriate, are the skull and entire head, the latter placed on a pedestal just large enough for its support.

Arrangement. The great principle which has guided your committee in making the following suggestions, is, that the specimens should be so arranged as most readily to prove, and most clearly to illustrate, the principles and details of phrenology.

To prove that the brain is the organ of mind, and to illustrate, in a general way, the influence of form and size, your committee recommend that a series of casts and skulls be arrayed, commencing with those of idiots, progressing through intermediate grades, and terminating with those of the giant minds of the world.

To show the influence of the direction in which the brain lies, your committee would recommend that a series of contrasted specimens of known characters be arranged in groups, each specimen to resemble the others, of the same group, in general size, but to differ in the relative size of the three regions.

To show the difference of organisation on which the difference between the mental characteristics of the sexes depends, male and female skulls, human and comparative, might be arranged in contrasted pairs.

National skulls might be arranged, 1st, To furnish specimens of the crania of the various races, nations, and tribes of men; 2d, To illustrate in a more especial manner phrenological principles. For the first purpose, crania might be grouped in five classes; one for the skulls of European, a second for those of Asiatic, a third for those of African, a fourth for those of American nations, and a fifth for those of the natives of the islands of the Pacific Ocean. Each class having its appropriate subdivisions. For the second purpose, skulls belonging to nations widely differing in character should be placed side by side, that the correspondence of character and developement might be manifest. Thus, the skull of the Englishman might be placed beside that of the Hindoo; and that of the timid Peruvian, whose opposition to the Spaniards was as the pecking of the dove against the kite, might be placed beside that of the Carib, whose indomitable courage and independence nothing but death could overcome.

Your committee would recommend that next in order should be

placed skulls of individuals differing in age, from infancy to senility; specimens of healthy skulls, and such as have suffered alteration from disease; of those that are of average and such as are of abnor mal thickness, and specimens of frontal sinuses of average and of abnormal size.

Your committee recommend that in the next place the particular faculties should be illustrated. For this purpose, there might be formed as many groups as there are organs. And in each group, the organ to be illustrated might be shown in different stages of developement, from the highest predominance to the most striking deficiency.

Succeeding to these might be groups indicating the combination of faculties which give a tendency, fondness, and capacity for particular pursuits. The heads of poets, painters, musicians, mathematicians, warriors, and others, might be thus arranged.

Having finished the arrangement of whatever relates to human phrenology, the arrangement of specimens of comparative phrenology might succeed. These would be confiped, of course, to vertebral animals, and might be arranged in four divisions.

1. Skulls of mammalia.

2. Skulls of birds.

3. Skulls of reptiles.

4. Skulls of fishes.

Each division being subdivided into its appropriate classes.

Besides this general arrangement, there might be special arrange. ments for the more striking illustration of phrenological doctrines; for example, arranged side by side might be the crania of such birds. as sing, and such as do not; of such animals as build, and such as do not; and of the carnivora and herbivora. The skull of the woodlark or nightingale and of the woodpecker, that of the lion and of the beaver, and that of the cat and of the rabbit, might be thus contrasted.

The paintings, drawings, and engravings, might be, in part, suspended round the room, and in part arranged in portfolios. Your committee would particularly recommend the society to obtain a complete set of preparations and representations, illustrative of the nervous system. Especially a series of brains, human and comparative.

Such a cabinet would, your committee believe, be one of which not only the society, but the city, might be justly proud. To the phrenologist, it would form a tower of defence which the assaults of his enemies could neither overthrow nor injure; to the phrenological student it would afford the most powerful aid; and to all true