heim became the disciple of Gall, no human being defended Phrenology except its author: and he not only stood alone, but encountered the hostility of civilized Europe, from the emperor to the peasant, a few highminded individuals only excepted, who were silenced by the hand of power if they rose superior to the influence of scorn. It is no slender honour to me that you associate me with such men. Mine has been a flowery path compared with theirs. It is true that, when still a young man without name, fortune, high associations, or any external advantages to sustain me against public disapprobation, I fearlessly risked every prospect which the future held forth to my ambition, and became the defender of Phrenology when it had few other friends in the British Isles. Professional ruin was prophesied as the inevitable consequence of this, as it was then styled, rash and inconsiderate step. But for the encouragement of the young and ardent worshippers of truth, I am enabled to say that these auguries never were realised. Many were the shafts of ridicule that were hurled against me, and bitter the taunts poured forth by a hostile press; but they never penetrated to my soul, disturbed my peace, nor impeded my prosperity. I mention this, not in the spirit of vain glory, but to confirm the young in the assurance, that the path of truth and independence may be safely trodden even against a world in arms, if courage and perseverance be added to prudence in the advance. 666 I have sojourned among you now for the greater part of two years, and I am about to leave your country. That I have experienced some inconvenience, and encountered several disagreeable incidents during my stay, is only what belongs to the lot of humanity; but these sink into insignificance when contrasted with the generous cordiality and enlightened sympathy which have been showered upon me by yourselves and your fellow-citizens. I have held converse with many enlightened minds in this country; minds that do honour to human nature; whose philanthropy embraces not only patriotism, but an all-pervading interest in the advancement of the human race in knowledge, virtue, religion, and enjoyment in every clime. Many of these admirable men are deeply interested in phrenology. The gifted individual to whom Massachusetts owes an eternal debt of gratitude for his invaluable efforts in improving her educational establishments, has assured me that the new philosophy is a light in his path to which he attaches the highest value. You, sir, have shown, in a late valuable work that has issued from your pen, that you are penetrated to the core with this last and best of human sciences; and many who now hear me have expressed similar testimonials to its worth. I return, therefore, highly gratified with much that I have experienced among you, and I shall not need this emblem of your respect to maintain the recollection of such men as I have described, engraven on my affections for ever. Allow me to add one brief expression of admiration and gratitude to a young countryman of my own, Mr. William Morrison, from Edinburgh, whose exquisite skill chased these admirable ornaments on your gift. Among his first efforts in art was a wax model which he executed of my head in Edinburgh. Many years ago he came to this country, was highly esteemed as a man and as an artist, and the embellishment of this vase was almost the last act of his life. Ten days have scarcely elapsed since he was laid in a premature grave. It would have delighted me to have addressed to his living ear the tribute which I now offer to his memory. 66 6 Again, gentlemen, I assure you of my heartfelt gratitude and lasting respect, and with best wishes for your happiness and prosperity, bid you farewell."" "The vase is of exquisite workmanship-being of Grecian model, with three medallic likenesses on one side one of Gall, one of Spurzheim, and one of Combe, with the motto 'res non verba quæso ;' and two medallic * Mr. Combe here referred to a work recently published by Mr. Hurlbut, "Civil Office and Political Ethics." likenesses on the other—one of Dr. Benjamin Rush, and one of Dr. Charles Caldwell, with the following inscription : "Around the base of the vase are chased the heads of several animals as emblematical of comparative Phrenology." II. Measurements and Remarks on the Heads of Suicides. Communicated by Mr. R. R. NOEL, of Dresden. I TAKE the liberty of forwarding you a list of measurements taken from the heads of twenty male and six female suicides, in the course of the two last winters in Dresden. These suicides belonged entirely to the lower classes of society, and were delivered to the Chirurgical Academy for dissection, according to a Saxon law, as being cases where it could not be shown that insanity had led to the act. I have never had an opportunity of examining the heads of suicides belonging to the upper and better educated classes, but as with them the motives which lead to self-destruction seem of a very varied character, it may naturally be supposed that the same coincidence in development would not be found, as is so singularly the case in most of those which I have measured and examined. The number of these latter amounts altogether to upwards of fifty, and though, I am sorry to say, I have neglected to take measurements of the greater part, yet I have made memoranda of their cranial development in general, and must assert that I have found, in nearly all, the frontal lobe deficient in size, with great preponderance of brain in the basilar and lateral parts, as well as in the region of Self-Esteem and Love-of-Approbation; accompanied usually with small Benevolence and Adhesiveness. Indeed, I have scarcely seen one suicide with a head resembling the type of a moral and amiable character. The conclusion to be drawn from this general resemblance of the heads seems plain: the preponderance of selfish propensities, with pride and vanity, and the absence of any strong interest in the welfare of others, as well as of individual attachments, have in many cases drawn upon these unfortunate beings the contempt of their neighbours, and in others have led to poverty, disgrace, or punishment; and life has thus become insupportable. I regret that the measurements and remarks on the heads of these suicides are not more complete and precise, but unfortunately I know of no very specific and general directions for estimating and describing development, and as yet we have no normal standard of national heads, established by competent phrenologists, from extensive measurements and observations, to which we can refer in forming our judgment of individual cases. I hope in time to collect several hundred measurements of Saxon heads, taken indiscriminately, as well as to continue the measurements of those of suicides; so that at some future day I may be able to communicate the results of both, and thus afford information of real value and interest. In the mean time that which I now send as an earnest of something better, I trust may be found worthy of a place in your valuable Journal. Heads of Six Female Suicides. 6. 2. 21.4 7.5 4.5 4.5 5.4 5.2 5.0 5.6 5.5 4.1 4.3 5.5 5.0 5.1 6.2 6.1 4.3 4.3 5.1 5.1 5.2 5.6 5.4 4.6 7.3 4.3 6.7 4.2 4.4. 5.3 5.0 5.0 5.3 5.2 4.1 Remarks on the Female Suicides. No. 1. Age 45. This woman placed herself behind her husband (Male Suicide, No. 8.), and was killed by the same ball that had passed through his heart. A wretched organisation; great preponderance of brain around and behind the ears, and very large cerebellum. No. 2. Age 21. Hanged herself. Was in service with a small farmer, and harsh treatment from him was supposed to have led to suicide. The most prominent organs were Combativeness, Secretiveness, Self-Esteem, and Love-of-Approbation. No. 3. Age 36. Throat cut. Cause of act not known. Forehead low and narrow. Lateral parts preponderating, together with the region of Self-Esteem and Love-of-Approbation. Very large cerebellum. No. 4. Age 20. Hanged herself, after having received a severe scolding and box on the ear from her father, for some fault that she had committed. Very small frontal lobe, especially deficient in depth inwards. Great protuberance around the ears, with excessive development of Love-of-Approbation. No. 5. Age 40. Hanged herself; motive for committing suicide was not known. Frontal lobe tolerably well developed. Largest organs Nos. 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 15. Very small Philoprogenitiveness and Adhesiveness. No. 6. Age about 50. Drowned herself; nothing being known respecting the motive. Low and narrow forehead. Very large Love-of-Approbation, and great deficiency in the of attachment. organs Tape. Heads of Twenty Male Suicides. Calliper Measurements in English Inches and Eighths. Remarks on the Male Suicides. No. 1. Age 46. Hanged himself. Said to have been a skilful workman, and not in bad circumstances, but of a very sensitive and irritable disposition, and occasionally given to fits of violence. A strong muscular frame, and no organic disease discernible on dissection. Head rather larger, and more oval in shape, than usually seen amongst the lower classes in Saxony. No. 2. Age 35. Hanging. Cause unknown. No. 3. Age about 40. Hanging. No organic disease discovered on dissection. No. 4. Age about 40. Drowning. This and the last suicide had low and narrow foreheads, particularly in the upper part; the principal development of brain lying in the basilar parts of the lateral lobes, especially behind the ears. No. 5. Age 24. Hanging. Said to have been given to thieving, and to have destroyed himself on the discovery of his last offence. Preponderating organs were Combativeness, Destructiveness, and Secretiveness. No. 6. Age 35. Shot himself through the face. A large scar on the throat showed that self-destruction had been before attempted. No organic disease discoverable on dissection. Basilar and lateral regions predominating, with very large Love-of-Approbation. No. 7. Age about 30. process of his trial for theft. incorrigible liar and cheat. Hanged himself in jail during the Had been a bad character, as an Forehead miserably narrow and retreating. Very large cerebellum, and very small Adhesiveness. No. 8. Age about 50. Shot himself through the heart. Was in bad circumstances. Had married a woman of bad character, who met her death at the same time. (No. 1. of female suicides.) No. 9. Age 25 to 30. Hanged himself in jail, being under examination for theft. Forehead contracted and low; preponderance of brain around and behind the ears, with enormous development of Self-Esteem and Love-of-Approbation. Said to have committed theft before, and to have been an excessively vainglorious character, so as to have been despised by is fellow workmen in the porcelain manufactory. No. 10. Age about 45. Hanged himself in the House of Correction. Had been convicted, on circumstantial evidence, of the murder of his wife, but was not condemned to death as he could not be brought to confess the crime; and without such confession, no one can be executed according to the Saxon laws. He had before undergone a long imprisonment on a similar conviction of murder, to which he had never con |