13 8 A fbcrt Vieiv of the Cramognoirne Sjjlem. 



continual aftion^-an exercife which muft necefTarily favour 

 the improvement of it.] 



32. Organ of Theofoph'ia. 



The organ of theofophia occupies the moft elevated part of 

 the frontal bone. All the reprefentations of the old faints 

 preferved to us afford very inllruftive examples ; and if there 

 be one deflitute of this chara6ler, it is certain that it is alfo 

 void of expreffion. 



An excejjive expanfion of it is obferved in religions fana- 

 tics, and in men become religious by fuperflition. It is the 

 feat of this organ which, according to Dr. Gail, has induced 

 all nations to confider their gods as above them in an ele- 

 vated place in the heavens. When we confider, indeed, thi$ 

 objecl: with a philofophic eye, there is no more reafon for 

 placing the deity above the globe than below it. 

 33. Organ of Perfeverance. 



The laft of the organs hitherto found by Dr. Gall is that 

 of perfeverance, conftancy, and firmnefs of chara6ter : it is 

 fituated at the anterior and fiiperior part of the parietals in the 

 middle of the head. When it exifts in excefs it gives obfti- 

 nacy ; and inconfiftency is the confequence of a want of it. 



" In regard to thofe parts of the craiiiam in which Dr. 

 Gall has not yet found organs, it is probable that his farther 

 refearches will fome day enable him to difcover more ; and 

 the work he intends to publifli will furnifli us with further 

 details on the fubjccl. It belongs therefore to him to con- 

 vince us, in an incontnvcrtible manner, of the truth of his 

 fyltem, a detail of which cannot be fatisfaclory in a treatife 

 fo incomplete." 



We find it necefTiiry to remark alfo, that all the organs 

 here enumerated cannot be diftinftlv perceived but in indi- 

 viduals who pofTefs any faculty in an eminent degree ; and 

 that it is inipoffible to judge properly of a rrioderate talent, 

 when its organ is too much confounded with the neighbour- 

 ing ones. 



" In regard to the objcftions made to the fyfteni of Dr. 

 Gall, that it leads immediately to vwteriulifm, we do not fee 

 the pliilofophical reafons on which it is founded. Even if 

 we fiippofe organs for the interior iaculties, the immenfe di- 

 ftance between thought and matter {lill remains the fame ; 

 objectsof fo heterogeneous a nature arc not fufceptiblc of being 

 clalTcd together. Belides, the will ftlll remains entire: it is 

 it which ought to counterbalance the aclion of the organs; 

 and the paflions ought to be reftrained by morality. 



XXII. Letter 



