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addivinantem; quos metaposcopos vocant, ex iis dixisse aut futuræ mortis annos, aut præteritæ. Pl. 1. 35 § 35.

Cicero likewise seems to have been somewhat addicted to the science of physiognomy, so far as character could be reasonably conjectured from features and manners. Physiognomy, says he, is the art of discovering the manners and dispositions of men, from observing their bodily characters, the characters of the face, the eyes, and the forehead: hominum naturas, moresque, ex corpore, oculis, vultu, fronte, pernoscere. De Fato, V. In his oration against Piso, he gives us a specimen of physiognomonical abuse, that would hardly be borne at the present day. Famne vides bellua quæ sit hominum querela frontis tua? Nemo queritur Syrum nescio quem de grege novitiorum, factum esse consulem. Non enim nos color iste servilis, non pilosa genæ, non dentes putridi deceperunt. Oculi, supercilia, frons, vultus denique totus, qui sermo quidem tacitus mentis est, hic in errorem homines impulit; hic, eos quibus eras ignotus decepi fefellit, in fraudem induxit. Pauci ista tua lutulenta vitia noveramus *** obrepsisti ad honores errore hominum, commendatione fumosarum imaginum, quarum simile nihil habes præter colorem. In the same strain he appeals to his auditors against the physiognomy of C. F. Chærea, in his oration in favour of Roscius the comedian. Caium Fannium Chæream, Roscius fraudavit!! Oro atque obsecro vos qui nostis, vitam inter se utriusque conferte-qui non nostis, faciem utriusque consideratenonne ipsum caput, et supercilia penitus abrasa, olere malitiam, et clamitare calliditatem videtur? nonne ab imis unguibus usque ad verticem summam (siquam conjecturam affert hominibus tacita corporis figura) ex fraude, fallaciis, mendaciis, constare totus videtur? Qui idcirco capite et superciliis semper est rasis, ne ullum pilum viri boni habere. These are curious instances of ancient oratorical abuse worth perserving; and other similar passages may be found collected by the author,* from whose essay we have borrowed the preceding. The remark of Julius Cæsar on the physiognomy of Antony and Cassius is well known, and the physiognomical description of the emperor Tiberius, by Suetonius, is very strongly marked. Indeed the Romans had several physiognomic expressions in common use: as homo crassa cervice, acutis naribus-adunci naris—risum suspendere naso. The Hebrews (as Gilbert Wakefield somewhere remarks) expressed patience, by a long nose. So in English, we have, thick head, thick scull, paper scull, supercilious, white-livered, sanguine, &c.

About the time of what are called the dark or middle ages, when all knowledget is supposed to have been quiescent by those

* Essay on Physiognomy, by Thomas Cooper, Esq. 3 Manch. Trans. 408.

To the dark ages as they are called, we owe the first notions of chemistry and chemical experiment-the first notions of materia medica-the truly original and sublime style of Gothic architecture; for although the pointed arch be Saracenic, and Hindoo, the architecture called Gothic, belongs exclusively to the European builders of the middle ages; and if it be inferior to the Greek in

who read superficially, physiognomy became connected with astrology, magic, and the doctrine of Signatures: of course, it experienced a common fate with its companions; and when increased knowledge rejected the latter, the former was received also with very suspicious and equivocal civility. Nor did the dogmatical precepts of Baptista Porta, Cardan, Fludd, Alsted, Le Chambre, and other votaries of the science, preserve it from the contempt of after ages. In England, little attention was paid to it, unless indeed by Evelyn, Gwither, and Parsons; nor did the discussions of Pernetty, Le Cat, and Formey, in the Berlin transactions, bring it into vogue.

At length appeared the magnificent, and interesting, but fanciful work of Lavater, which having been translated into all the languages of Europe, is too well known to be dwelt on here. It is a very desultory, but very animated work, which leaves an impression on the reader, that there is too much truth in physiog nomy, to warrant us in rejecting it altogether. Lavater adopts the facial line of Camper, as designative of intellect: but there is no reason that we can find, why the occipital line of Daubenton should be excluded from osseal physiognomy; for the back part of the head is of equal importance in this point of view, to say the least, with the anterior portion of the human cranium. White, of Manchester, also, in his treatise on the Gradations of man, adopted the facial line; and his plate of cranial comparison between the European, the Asiatic, the Negro, the Ouran-outang, the Baboon, the Ape, the Dog, and the Bird, if it be not conclusive, is at least very plausible and very curious. His book was written to show the anatomical differences between the negro and European in particular; and to prove them belonging to two distinct races of men: but considering that the offspring of each may intermix, and that the offspring of the intermixture propagate, there is no sufficient authority from physiological reasoning, to suppose them other than varieties of the same species; following in the reasoning upon this subject, botanical analogy. Indeed, the question is of little importance, even in a theological point of view; for those who are most desirous of acceding with implicit reverence to the accounts presented to us in the sacred text, may well doubt, whether other persons, men and women, were not contemporaneous on the surface of our earth, with Adam and Eve: for Cain's exclamation, that every one that findeth me shall slay me,' and his emigration to the land of Nod, on the east of Eden, where he took a wife, and had children-furnish reasons for believing that other parts of the globe might have been peopled contemporaneously with those who are considered as our first parents. We state this merely as a doubt, suggested by the inspired writer himself.

taste, it is far superior in architectural skill, and harmonious appropriation to theological purposes. To the middle ages we owe, after Aristotle, the most acute and numerous examples of syllogistic argument, and philosophical distinction-and forms of government, though inferior perhaps to the Greek republics, superior. certainly, to Roman despotism.

Camper's facial line, is a line drawn from the forehead to the upper lip: and he supposes that the degree of intellect increases, as this line approaches a perpendicular; and decreases vice versa. Lavater, White, Cuvier, and Richerand, agree with him. Gall and Spurzheim, who consider the occiput of so much importance, deny his conclusions.

The occipital angle of Daubenton, is formed by a horizontal line drawn from the inferior edge of the orbit, to the posterior edge of the occipital foramen, and by a vertical line that cuts the first, and passes between both condyles over the surface of the occiput. The plates on this subject, published by Camper, Blumenbach and White, are curious and instructive.

Sommering and Cuvier, instituted another mode of comparison of intellect, viz. by the size of the brain compared with the size of the face: Bichat and Richerand, have also thrown out the idea, that there is a proportion between the intellectual faculties and the length of the neck; on the supposition that the activity of the cerebral energy is decreased by being further removed from the action of the heart: but this is manifestly fanciful and unfounded, either in physiological reasoning or experience: and it seems directly opposed to the old opinion of hebetude being connected with a thick neck, crassá cervice. Nor is there any proof whatever, that acuteness and apoplexy have the slightest connexion.

The subject seemed to rest for many years, when Dr. Gall and his coadjutor Dr. Spurzheim, proposed their opinions, founded as they asserted, not merely on physiological considerations, but on innumerable facts and coincidences, carefully observed: inducing them to conclude, that human propensities depend in great measure on the form of the scull, which is enlarged according to the enlargement of those portions of the cerebrum and cerebellum, that in the order of nature are essentially connected with these propensities. Whatever may be thought of their craniographical system, certain it is, that they are not exceeded by any anatomists whatever, in their minute and accurate knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the cranium and its contents: nor do we know that any anatomist in Europe or America, has arrived at, or pretended to equal skill in the mode of developing the texture of the brain, and particularly of the medullary substance of it, with these professors; by whom it has been exhibited (as we understand, from information only), with unexampled dexterity in one continuous cellular tissue: but by what process we are unable to describe. These gentlemen give their method of determining the functions of the brain, thus:-(Physiognomical system of Doctors Gall and Spurzheim, p. 214).

'In every function we may distinguish its energy or quantity, and its modification or quality. It is very difficult to examine the modifications, but more easy to distinguish the different energy of

* Stat. Geo. 2, c. 5, anno 1741, denounces all persons who pretend to have skill in physiognomy, palmistry, and like crafty sciences, as rogues and vagabonds.

the functions. Let us then examine on what conditions the energy of the functions of the brain consist. There is a general law, that the energy of the functions of any organic part, depends on its size, and on its organic construction; that is, on its extensity, and intensity. It is also certain, that in order to judge of the degree of activity of the faculties, it is necessary to consider, besides the extensity and intensity of the organ, the exercise of every faculty, and their mutual influence on each other. Now, among these conditions, the most easy to be observed is the size of the organs. As, then, the energy of functions, depends on the size of their organs, and as the size of the organs is most easily distinguished, it results, that these means are the most proper for discovering the functions of the brain.

"There is, indeed, throughout all nature a general law, that the properties of bodies act with an energy proportionate to their size. Thus a large loadstone attracts a greater mass of iron than a small one of a similar kind; the fermentation of a fluid, is more energetic, as its quantity is more considerable; a great muscle of the same kind is stronger than a smaller one. If the nerves of the five external senses, be larger on one side of the body, the functions are stronger on that side. Why should it not be the same with respect to the brain?'

To this reasoning of Dr. Spurzheim, we may add, that all physiognomy of external feature is owing to the same law. Thus, each muscle of the face, is acted on by the appropriate passion or propensity for which nature has designed it. The muscles of the eyebrows are swelled and drawn downward by intense thought: so are the muscles at the corners of the mouth: so are the muscles of the forehead: but in proportion as these muscles are more frequently used and brought into play by mental energies and propensities, they will swell, and to a certain point, will permanently increase in size: just as is the case with any muscle more exercised than others, as the arms of a blacksmith or waterman, the legs and shoulders of a porter, &c. but this permanent swelling, is a permanent increase of comparative size; that is, it is a prominent visible feature, originating from mental energy and habit, exerted upon their appropriated set of muscular fibres.

Let our readers imagine to themselves the following face: a man middle aged; forehead expanded; muscles of the forehead marked; eyebrows projecting; muscles of the eyebrows thick; large indentations on each side the nose; muscles of the eyebrows contracted in conversation; lips compressed; line of indentation on each side of the mouth directed downward. Is there no mark of energy of character and intellect in such a face?

Another:-forehead low; smooth; arched eyebrows; muscles of the eyebrows thin, smooth; large space between the eyebrow and the eye; eyes prominent; face round; smooth; lips open, gaping, showing the teeth; line about the corner of the mouth directed rather upward. Is there no mark of comparative imbecility? Draw upon paper, a gaping, staring, country clown.

It has often occurred to us, that the lines of Darley's well known song, is descriptive of Idiocy.

Her mouth with a smile

Devoid of all guile

Half open to view,

Is the blush of the rose

In the morning that grows
Impearl'd with the dew.

If these remarks be true, then there is truth in physiognomy as a science. Indeed, if it be not so, what painter can delineate character? or who has not seen an actor on the stage harmonize his features to the expression of habitual, natural folly, and rustic ignorance? or who is there, who is not in fact to himself, a physiognomist by habit? who does not pass a mental verdict on the appearance of a stranger? we are all such:-nature has dictated the practice, and it is the business of art to scrutinize, observe, and methodize, the traces that nature presents to us. Is it not evidently so, that character is expressed by countenance, figure, motion and manners, not merely in the human species, but as we know from familiar practice and observation, in horses and dogs? In fact, how can mind show itself, but by means of body?

Since the publication of Dr. Spurzheim, I know of none but a small treatise in octavo, entitled an attempt to establish physiognomy upon scientific principles, by Dr. John Cross, of Glasgow. He gives us a discourse on the vital functions and on pathology preliminarily: he then treats physiognomically of the neck, the mouth and nose, the ears and eyes. There is much good sense in the book, but the language is careless; and it cannot boast of profound research.

Having now presented our readers with a slight sketch of the history of physiognomy, and the most reasonable of its pretensions, we proceed to the work before us. But we have little to say, in praise, either of the ingenuity of the plot, the novelty of the characters, the interest of the situations, the amusement, or instruction of the dialogue, or the elegance of the language. The person who gives name to the novel, is outre; the distinguishing trait is described beyond the probabilities of common life; and all the other characters, are without any character at all, but what we find in almost every similar production that issues from the press. That our readers may in some degree judge for themselves, we offer for their perusal the following scene, wherein the physiognomist Mr. Ossaman, is introduced to a quaker family of the name of Bertie.

"Thou hast a kind heart, Grace," said Cyrus Bertie, affectionately, patting her head, and thanking her in his heart for thus defending what he himself felt to be INDEFENSIBLE.

"But a weak head, I fear," added Mr. Össaman, approaching the smiling Grace, and drawing out his paper of angles, cones, sections, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, &c. &c., to be more fully convinced that his opinion was correct. The next cap which Grace wore obstructed his view, and without hesitation he pulled it off.

"What art thou doing, friend?" said she indignantly.

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