THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 147 



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ever acquires sufficient knowledge of the subject to make obser- 

 vations for himself, will soon find the shape of the skull to be as 

 various as character and countenance, and will have hourly 

 amusement not only in remarking the relation between mental 

 character and cranial form, but in tracing the resemblance of 

 children in the latter respect to their parents, as well as in talent 

 and disposition. I find nothing more interesting than to note 

 the increase of particular portions of the skulls of children as 

 their minds become developed. It has been asserted that, after 

 a certain age, (though this has been very differently fixed) the 

 brain makes no farther increase in weight ; but I know that 

 various parts of the brain are variously evolved from infancy to 

 manhood, and that, if children of different ages and young per- 

 sons are placed side by side, the greater magnitude of the forehead 

 in the older is strikingly conspicuous. 



Should any one doubt his acquaintance with the real talents 

 and characters of those friends whose heads he can select for 

 observation, he has only to study the heads of some celebrated 

 men now living, of whose talents and disposition no one can 

 have the slightest doubt, and he will find the illustration asto- 

 nishing. 



If these are facts, all objections on the score of fatalism, &c. 

 however correct, are unworthy of attention. But in truth, cra- 

 niology gives no additional support to such views. A stone is 

 destined not to feel ; a fish is destined to swim, and a vulture to 

 be a bird of prey ; man is destined to be 



" Not prone and brute as other creatures, but endued 

 With sanctity of reason, and to erect 

 His stature, and upright with front serene, 

 Govern the rest, self-knowing." Parad. Lost. vii. 



The very expression "human nature" implies certain innate 

 faculties and dispositions, generally; the circumstance of pecu- 

 liar degrees of disposition and talents being hereditary and of 

 each age having its distinctive character, are quite as favourable 

 as craniology to the belief of fatalism. Each has his own talents 



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