34 OP THE MENTAL FACULTIES. 



of the ideas of all the other faculties, and one again to their 

 comparison. 



I should be extremely sorry to affirm that this is a complete 

 or accurate account of the faculties, sentiments, and propensi- 

 ties of the human mind, or that Dr. Spurzheim's book* con- 

 tains no bad reasoning nor ridiculous illustration ; but I am 

 convinced that Dr. Gall has given us the first correct sketch of 

 the constituents of the human mind, whatever more labour may 

 be necessary to complete the detail, and has put us in the only 

 right road for learning all that can be known of it. (218. E) 



Every sentiment and propensity was given us for a good pur- 

 pose, and it is only when one is naturally or by indulgence ex- 

 cessive, thwarting and crossing the operation of others, and 

 especially of conscientiousness, that error occurs ; and on 

 this subject the profound metaphysical sermons, preached at 

 the Rolls Chapel by the pious and exemplary Bishop Butler, 

 highly deserve perusal, f The natural tendency of our faculties, 

 the Bishop proves, is to virtue. Their mutual thwartings oc- 

 casion the deformities of the moral world, exactly as the crossing 

 of physical laws gives rise to the blemishes of inanimate nature. 

 Nor do I believe that the beauties of the inanimate world surpass 

 the beauties of the moral, or that the deformities of the moral 

 are more appalling than the deformities of the physical. Both 

 are governed by wise general laws ; good is the object, evil the 

 occasional, incidental, accompaniment. (666. E) 



* The Physiognomical System of Drs. Gall and Spursheim. 

 f Serni. i. Upon the social nature of man. Serm, ii. iii. Upon the natural 

 supremacy of conscience. 



