*

exciting the brain. In the construction of a dam along the course of the water stream, in the flying of a kite, in playing at marbles, yea, even in the falling of an apple, or the throwing of a stone, they can acquire as necessary and wholesome truths as any problem of Euclid or algebraical proposition can impart to them. But, when put to school at so early an age, they acquire a kind of parrot knowledge of many abstract propositions which they cannot understand, and relate many facts of history and of science for which their intellectual faculties are not at all adequate. This is fully evinced by the numerous publications of the present day, such as "Early Lessons in Geography," "Botany," "History," "Bible Lessons," &c., designed, as the authors express them, "particularly for children from two to six years of age ;" and such is the eager desire of the present generation for the accumulation of wealth, that, like the vender of ardent spirits, they care not how many bodies and minds are eternally ruined by the sale of such things, so that a small pittance is added to their filthy lucre. But let not parents be anxious for the early instruction of their children in such ways as will either task their memories, or produce a distaste or utter disgust for future literary acquirements. Let them not be uneasy lest they should be considered ignoramuses, in consequence of their unacquaintance with the alphabet during those years in which nature. requires all the vital powers to perfect the organisation of that physical structure, so essential to their future health and intellectual vigour. Let them rejoice rather, if, as was said of the celebrated Adam Clark in his younger years, they are capable of rolling big stones, in preference to their manifesting a precocity of intellect and maturity of understanding which may, for a while, astonish the world, but which is a sure harbinger of mental disease, of bodily infirmities, or of premature death. And let me again state, that such early developement of the intellect very seldom continues to adult age; for if the life of the child does not fall a sacrifice to this unnatural stimulus, his health becomes impaired, or else the nervous energy becomes expended by the time he arrives at the age of fifteen years, or thereabouts; and afterwards he shows no signs of intellectual vigour beyond that manifested by the rest of his associates. But let me adduce the evidence of others in corroboration of the assertions I have made.

Tissot, a very able physician who lived in the time of Zimmerman, speaks thus:-"Long continued application in infancy destroys life. I have seen young children of great mental activity who manifested a passion for learning far above their age, and I foresaw with grief the fate that awaited them. They commenced their career as

prodigies, and finished by becoming persons of very weak minds. The age of infancy is consecrated by nature to those exercises which fortify and strengthen the body, and not to study, which enfeebles and prevents its proper increase and developement." In another place he says, "Of ten infants destined for different avocatious, I should prefer that the one who is to study through life should be the least learned at the age of twelve."

The distinguished Hufeland, physician to the king of Prussia, in his valuable work on the Art of Prolonging Life, observes:-"Intellectual effort in the first years of life is very injurious. All labour of the mind which is required of children before their seventh year, is in opposition to the laws of nature, and will prove injurious to the organisation and prevent its proper developement."

Dr. Spurzheim, with whose researches into the moral and intellectual powers of man you are all more or less acquainted, says in his Essay upon the Elementary Principles of Education-" Many parents anxiously strive to cultivate the intellect of their children, and neglect to fortify their constitution. They believe that children cannot too soon learn to read and write. Their children, therefore, are obliged to remain many hours in school, breathing an impure air, while they ought to be developing the organs of the body by exercise. The more delicate the children are, and the more their affections and minds are precocious, the more important it is that the above error should be avoided; if it is not, premature death is often the consequence of this infraction of the laws of nature. The mind ought never to be cultivated at the expense of the body, and physical education ought to precede that of intellect, and then proceed simultaneously with it, without cultivating one faculty to the neglect of others-for health is the base, and instruction the ornament, of education."

Julien, a French writer, observes-"The course to be adopted with children for the first ten years of life, is neither to press nor torment them; but by plays, exercise of body, entire liberty, wisely regulated and good nourishment, to effect the salutary and progressive developement of the physical, moral, and intellectual faculties, and by continual amusement and freedom from chagrin, (which injures the tempers of children,) they will arrive at the tenth year without suspecting that they have been made to learn any thing; they will not have distinguished between study and recreation; all they know they will have learned freely, voluntarily, and always in play. The advantages obtained by this course are, good health, grace, agility, gaiety, and happiness; a character, frank and

generous; a memory properly exercised; a sound judgment, and a cultivated mind."

I might add to these quotations similar testimonials from many of the most distinguished writers in Europe and America, but it is unnecessary. In proof, too, of the above positions, it might easily be proved, that not a few of the most illustrious names which adorn the pages of history, were of those who first cultivated their physical powers, and were by no means distinguished in early life for any manifestations of mind. Among this number, were Virgil, Demosthenes, Shakspeare, Gibbon, Scott, Byron, Davy, Newton, Franklin, and a host of others, whose names time will not permit me to mention. Parents should not, therefore, be discouraged if their children do not early afford any positive indications of genius or mental superiority.

(To be continued.)

ARTICLE II.

ON THE APPLICATION OF PHRENOLOGY IN THE FORMATION OF MAR

Being the substance of a Public Lecture, delivered by Mr. Alexander Smart, Secretary of the Dundee Mechanics' Phrenological Society.

In treating of the application of the principles of phrenology in the formation of marriages, it will be necessary to advert to the group of the social faculties, from which springs the impulse to the connubial union. The first of these is Amativeness. From this faculty the sexual feeling originates. The organ is generally larger in males than in females. Its size is known chiefly by the breadth of the neck from ear to ear; in new-born children it is the least developed of all the cerebral parts. It attains its full maturity between eighteen and twenty six years old, at which latter age it is equal to about one-seventh of the whole brain. When its developement is very large, it leads to libertinism and conjugal infidelity; but when under the guidance of the moral and reflecting faculties, it excites to mutual kindness, and the exercise of all the milder amenities between the sexes. The second is Philoprogenitivenes, or love of offspring. This faculty is in general much stronger in the

*From the 38th number of the Edinburgh Phrenological Journal.

female than in the male, and more so in some females than in others. In society, great differences are observable among individuals, in the manifestation of this feeling: some cannot endure the incessant and teazing prattle of children (as they choose to call it); while of others it is the highest delight to witness their innocent gambols, soothe them under their petty crosses, and caress them with the strongest demonstrations of affection. The feeling shows itself in the girl, in her early attachment to dolls; it continues to grow with her growth, and strengthen with her strength, long after she becomes

"A happy mother, 'mid the smiles

Of ripened worth, and sunny beauty.”

The last faculty of the social group is Adhesiveness, from which springs the instinctive tendency to attachment. Like Philoprogenitiveness, the organ is generally larger in the female than in the male; and consequently, to use the words of a powerful phrenological writer, we find the feeling manifested "with a constancy and fervour in woman, which it would be in vain to expect from man. It has been truly said, that the most generous and friendly man is selfish in comparison with woman. There is no friend like a loving and affectionate wife. Man may love, but it is almost always with a view to his own gratification; but when a woman bestows her love, she does it with her heart and soul."

These faculties minister highly to human happiness, when gratified in accordance with the dictates of the moral sentiments and intellect; but when not controlled by these higher powers, their gratification is pregnant with evil. If under the dictates of Amativeness and Adhesiveness, a partner be chosen of whom the other faculties do not approve, bitter days of repentance must arrive, as soon as the former feelings begin to languish, and the moral sentiments and intellect to receive offence from the qualities of the individual. On the other hand, if the domestic affections are guided by intellect to an object pleasing to itself and the moral faculties, these themselves will be gratified; they will double the delights afforded by the domestic affections, and render the enjoyment lasting. Another principle is, that the manifestation of any faculty in others, stimulates to action the same faculty in us. Thus when any individual addresses us in the language of Self-esteem and Destructiveness, the same faculties are awakened in us, and we are impelled to return a correspondingly bitter answer; but let us be addressed under the influence of Adhesiveness and Benevolence, and our answer will partake of the warmth and affection arising from these feelings. Again, when any faculty becomes spontaneously active by being presented with its appropriate

object, it calls other faculties of a like class into activity. It seems to be upon this principle that lovers are more amiable in each other's eyes than they appear to the rest of the world: for while in each other's society, the domestic faculties are called into a state of delightful activity; these, again, rouse Ideality, Benevolence, Veneration, and Conscientiousness, which greatly heighten the delight experienced by them in their interviews with each other. I need not farther enlarge upon this part of my subject: each of you, probably, has either already experienced the delightful sensations hinted at, or will hereafter; for the feeling is so universal, that we may triumphantly ask with the poet,

"Where is the heart that has not bow'd,

A slave, almighty love, to thee?
Look at the cold, the gay, the proud,

And is there one among them free?"

Some, possessing fine temperaments and a good endowment of the domestic and moral faculties, experience in these moments the most ecstatic joy. Moore has described it as a

"Light, that ne'er will shine again

On life's dull stream."

We may here remark, that these pleasurable feelings are denied to the sensualist. Milton has truly said, that "the embrace of harlots is tasteless, joyless, unendeared;" and phrenology shows clearly how this arises-it is the momentary gratification of one or more of the inferior feelings, by which the moral faculties, with Self-esteem, and generally Love of Approbation, are wounded.

Having made these preliminary observations, I shall proceed to notice the principles upon which marriages are contracted in savage life and in the different orders of civilised society, and to point out how far these principles are in accordance with phrenology; next, I shall attempt to lay down and elucidate some of these principles, give a summary of the whole, and conclude with an address to the youth of both sexes, upon the practical application of them as guides to conduct. I begin, then, with the native of New Holland. His mode of courtship is certainly unique-nor is there much danger of its being adopted in any other country. Goaded by the impulses of Amativeness, he provides himself with a club, endeavours to discover the retreat of another tribe-if a hostile one, so much the betterin the neighbourhood of which he lies in ambush until night overtake them; and when, by the light of the fires, he discovers a female straying to any distance from the encampment, he rushes upon her from his hiding-place, levels her with his club, seizes her by the