14 



is ordinarilv expressed. IIo disproved tliccoininonly received 

 opinion that the principal expression of any passion is 

 visible in the eyes, by exhibiting a copy of a beautifnl and 

 ing-enious drawing by the lamented Sir Thomas Lawrejice, 

 (pnblished in a paper by Dr. Wollaston in the Philosophical 

 Transactions) in which, by applying alternately the same 

 eyes to two different female faces, in the one instance the 

 eyes seemed to express devout abstraction, in the other 

 the laughing leer of inquisitive archness. 



He endeavoured to demonstrate that Physiognomical know- 

 ledge is an instinct common to every human being, but more 

 particularly developed in children. He expatiated largely on 

 the various prejudices, prepossessions, and incorrect habits 

 «»f thinking, by which this instinct is commonly enfeebled 

 and abused ; and observed that the principal aim in the study 

 of the science should be rather to unlearn than to learn, rather 

 to shake off these prejudices than to study the anatomy of 

 the face. After describing various peculiarities of character, 

 he exhibited at each description sketches which not only in 

 every instance displayed a legible outline of the character 

 delineated, but in many, proved that the outline was actually 

 produced by the size of muscles increased (according to the 

 laws of Physiology) by repeated or longer continued action. 

 He cautioned his audience against mistaking the frown of 

 commercial anxiety for the scowl of vicious passions ; and 

 having declaimed on the generality and folly of ambition, he 

 advised those who wish to avoid the deformity of an anxious 

 brow, to content themselves with their present condition, 

 rather than expose themselves to disappointment. He firmly 

 insisted on the possibility of the moral reformation of the 

 worst of characters, and the consequent moral beauty 

 which must after a time become visible in their features. 



He gave a hasty sketch of the various peculiarities of 

 national character, and those arising from temperament and 

 idiosyncrac)^, and then demonstrated the possibility of resolv- 

 ing every shade of difference into those which were marked 

 on the features by the permanent condition of the muscular 

 fibres, and by this alone. 



January 26. — Mr. W. Masters delivered the first of a 

 series of Lectures on Geology. He recapitulated and ex- 

 amined the different theories of the Earth, as propounded 

 by various philosophers, and offered some remarks on the diver- 

 sity and absurdity of some of the theories extant. He stated 

 that it was not until Saussure explored the Alps of Fairope on 

 the principle of observation of facts that any solid information 

 was obtained ; his discoveries subsequently led the way to 

 others of a most important nature. The effects of the muta- 



