CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 331 



more of the physical laws on the part of the parents ; that this is 

 the case, has been well shown by Dr. Combe, and is in a manner 

 proved by the frequent cases in which a number of deaf-mute chil- 

 dren are born to the same parents. The omitting all notice of this 

 fact is, we conceive, one of the weak points about Dr. Orpen's book. 

 We had hoped, on opening his work, that he would have come to 

 some definite conclusion respecting the most frequent causes of the 

 disease, which his profession would have given him abundant oppor- 

 tunity to have ascertained. This is a most important subject ; be- 

 cause, supposing the cause to be discovered, it would surely be bet- 

 ter to prevent, as far as possible, the occurrence of such evils, than 

 even to educate the deaf and dumb already existing. For although 

 it is perhaps not in the power of mortal man ever entirely to eradicate 

 the disease, very much might doubtless be effected amongst the poor 

 by the physician and the country gentleman, each watching over 

 the welfare of his own parish. However, as the deaf and dumb 

 population does at present form so large a proportion of our nation, 

 Dr. Orpen's book will be of inconceivable service ; first, in pointing 

 out the misery of the uneducated deaf and dumb ; and secondly, in 

 mentioning the means of remedying these evils. His Annals will 

 awaken a lively interest in the cause of these persons, in the breasts 

 of thousands who had before scarcely known the existence of such 

 individuals, and will conquer the aversion expressed by many to 

 their being instructed at all, and likewise to the methods of instruc- 

 tion now adopted. It has been urged that religion is not taught 

 in these schools ; but let any one, holding such an opinion, cast his 

 eyes over the numerous letters of pupils who have been in these se- 

 minaries, and see if he is not most grievously mistaken, indeed 

 every thing else appears to be kept subordinate to this first and 

 most important subject; andfrit may truly be said, that " God is in 

 all their thoughts." The next thing with which we must find fault 

 in Dr. Orpen's volume is, that Phrenology is not so much as once 

 alluded to ; if this science be of such paramount importance in the 

 education of ordinary children, how much more so must it be in 

 that of the deaf and dumb, whose real characters it must take years 

 to determine? and without an intimate knowledge of the cha- 

 racter of each child, how can success be expected in the end at 

 which we aim ? But we must forbear, and will Conclude this too 

 brief notice of one of the most interesting and best- written books 

 which ever came under our notice, by expressing a sincere wish that 

 the lights of phrenological science will not long remain banished 

 from these institutions, and that the time may come when every 

 school-master is a phrenologist. We earnestly request each of our 

 readers to give Dr. Orpen's book an attentive perusal, and if he fails 

 in receiving from it the instruction and satisfaction that we have 

 ourselves experienced we are greatly mistaken. The first edition was 

 printed in 1828, " by T. Collins, the first pupil of the Deaf and 

 Dumb Institution, in the printing office of his master, M. Goodwin, 

 29, Denmark- street," Dublin. It was aptly entitled The Contrast 



