MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND ART. 593 



their true and exemplary parent. Meanwhile we have taken good 

 care to post an overpowering array of virtues and amiable qualities 

 in the places usually allotted to them, " very fine and well-grown ;" 

 while the vices and evil tendencies cut but a poor figure in our idio- 

 syncrasy. We have " modesty" staring in the face of every one ; 

 " gentleness" occupies a strong position; " judgment" throws "pre- 

 judice" quite into the shade ; " charity" looks down upon " folly ;" 

 and " benevolence" and " tenderness" press so hard upon te ferocity," 

 that it is doubtful if it will ever hold up its head again. Our te valour" 

 lords it over " timidity" most hectoringly ; and as for " power," it 

 crushes " weakness" into mere oblivion. In short, we have an 

 economy of skull, quite as satisfactory to ourselves and ministering 

 quite as largely to our own vanity as any convert to the creed, or 

 any disciple of the noble science of phrenology, can or does possess, 

 in this thronging metropolis. We query if any one has ever heard 

 of a phrenologist who has not most ingeniously helped himself to a 

 tolerable slice from the joint of genius, with a plentiful supply, also, 

 from the side-dishes of sweet-temper and morality. 



There is some merit, however, in Mr. Levison's book, although his 

 views, now and then, are rather impaired (unintentionally no doubt) 

 by the arguments he advances to enforce them. Mr. Levison com- 

 plains at full of the folly of filling the rising youth exclusively with 

 the classics. Where such a system is in operation, we have not the 

 pleasure of knowing. " Men of words," it appears, is to be the title 

 of scholars hereafter ; very well, sir, as you please ; but if you will 

 give us a reason, we shall be quite as much obliged. You don't 

 mean to apply it to philologists, but to those who learn Latin and 

 Greek like parrots something of that kind is your meaning. Then 

 to about ninety-nine hundredths of those who do learn Latin and 

 Greek, you do mean it to apply, if not to be a philologist is to be a 

 parrot. And, moreover, while wasting their time over a foolish ar- 

 rangement of letters, which, their thoughts being English, they can't 

 understand, how might they be improving their minds by a study of 

 outward nature, and (we think we hear Mr. Levison add) phrenology. 

 Now, is Mr. Levison a Latin or Greek scholar ? if not, he knows 

 nothing of the matter ; and would have shewn infinitely more sense 

 if he had confined himself to those subjects upon which he is better 

 informed : but if he lays claim to the consideration of " a man of 

 words," we are quite willing to take up his opinion, and consider the 

 pursuit " waste of time," in his case at least, and this with as much 

 sincerity as he appears to have adopted, in a general sense, that low 

 and vulgar error. 



Our space will only allow us to drop a hint or two to Mr. Levison, 

 with reference to the phrenologic foundation upon which he erects 

 himself to take his observations. If phrenology be good for anything 

 it is good for a good deal. Let Mr. Levison write a work upon the 

 advantages likely to be effected by its universal adoption. It strikes 

 us great things might be done ; for instance, let us have a college to 

 which all mortals, when arrived at the proper stage, may be sent for 

 examination. There will the individual tastes and tendencies be de- 

 cided, with a view to his settlement in the world, as a contented 

 M.M. No. 95. 4 G 



