NOTICES OF BOOKS. 347 



superior intelligence. The facial angle, in nearly three-fourths of the lower 

 animals, is, according to Blumenbach, the same; j'et how different are these 

 animals in their various degrees of intelligence ! But it is unnecessary to 

 dwell upon the incompetency of methods of investigation, which took the 

 whole brain for a single organ, and made that the organ of intellect as a sin- 

 gle mental power, and then attempted to establish the relation between the 

 two, by compaiing the brain with something between which and the brain no 

 necessary relation existed. 



A new observer now appeared in the field — a man rarely endowed with 

 the power of observing facts and thinking for himself — a close interrogator of 

 nature, and a strict adherent to the inductive method of investigation. This 

 was the celebrated Dr. Gall. In attempting to investigate the functions of 

 the brain, he did not look upon it as a single organ exercising a single func- 

 tion ; but, regarding it in its natural condition as a congeries of organs, or 

 collection of parts, he endeavoured to determine the use or function of each, 

 by comparing the developement of one part with that of another, in the same 

 brain, taking size as a measure of power. The result of his observations was, 

 to lead him to the conclusion, that the intellectual organs, or the parts of the 

 brain by which our intellectual powers are manifested, have their seat in the 

 anterior lobes of the brain : the organs of the moral powers are situated in 

 the superior parts ; while the lower propensities or passions, which we share 

 in common with the inferior animals, have their seat below and behind. 



The line of investigation pursued by Dr. Gall, in endeavouring to discover 

 the functions of the brain, was free from many objections that held against 

 other methods ; and, being in itself good, could not but lead to good results. 

 This was a physiological, not a phrenological question. 



NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



1. — Views of the Architecture of An-angements, and of the Origin and 

 the Heavens; in a series of Letters probable Destiny of the present Form 

 to a Lady; by J. P. Nichol, LL.D., of the Material Creation. He then 

 F.R.S.E. Professor of Practical As- adds Notes on the planetary system, 

 trononiy in the University of Glas- on the orbits of double stars, on the 

 gow ; 8vo. pp. xij., 226; Edinburgh, geological changes, and on the exact 

 London and Dublin, IS.S?' Dr. Nich- places of the more important objects 

 ol's object, in these Views, is — "to represented in his plates. These are 

 state what recent times have evolved thirty-two in number, and their exe- 

 concerning the vastness of the Uiii- cution is so perfect that, in most 

 verse," in simple popular language, cases, they will amplv compensate 

 This subject is projierly distributed for the want of powerful telescopes, 

 into three distinct parts under which Dr. Nichol's Views, in aim and ac- 

 he treats successively of— the Form complishment, merit the highest com- 

 of the Existing Universe, of the mendations : their " Nebular Hypo- 

 Princi])lc of the Vitality of Stellary thesis" will conduce effectually to the 



VOL. VII., NO. XXII. YY 



