432 Physiognomy. 



tention which it has excited is well knowni. Not 

 only in Switzerland, but in Germany, in France, 

 in Great-Britain, and indeed throughout the lite- 

 rary world, it has been read with a degree ot ar- 

 dour and admiration, seldom bestow^ed on the 

 productions of genius. It has been translated into 

 various languages; passed through an astonishing 

 number of editions; and though now somewhat 

 diminished in popularity, is still perused with high 

 respect and pleasure. That the illustrious Swiss is 

 enthusiastic, fanciful, and visionary; that his works 

 exhibit a singular mixture of wonderful discern- 

 ment, plausible conjectures, and laughable dreams; 

 and that he gives an extension and importance to 

 the subject w^hich few will allow, seems to be ge- 

 nerally admitted by his judicious readers. That he 

 carries his principles to an extreme, and attempts to 

 confer upon his rules a definiteness and precision 

 little short of ridiculous, is also evident. Still there 

 is, doubtless, much reality and justness in his sys- 

 tem. And he often displays the refined accuracy 

 of a most delicate observer, together with the en- 

 lightened views of a real philosopher.^ 



The method of illustrating physiognomical dis- 

 cussions by Engravings, was first adopted by Bap- 

 TisTA PoRTA,^ oue of the earliest writers on the 

 subject, after the revival of letters. The en- 

 gravings of M. Lavater are more numerous, 

 better executed, and, consequently, far more in- 

 structive than his. Since the labours of this amiable, 

 pious, and ingenious divine, nothing has been 

 done in the science of physiognojny worthy of be- 

 ing recorded as new. All, therefore, relating to 

 this subject, tliat can be considered as peculiar to 



/ Sec his Essays on Physiognojny. Some account of his mode of thinking 

 and reasoning on the subject may also be found in the Encyclopedia, from 

 which many of the facts above stated are collected. 



g A philosopher of Naples^ who flourished about the middle of the six- 

 teenth century. 



