Chap. XL] Plnjsioguomi/, IGI 



the most safe standards of judo-mcnt, and one of 

 the best guides of action. In short, ukuiv have 

 spoken of it as a science susceptible of mathema- 

 tical certainty, and as capable of endowing- man 

 with a power little short of complete intuition into 

 the hearts, intentions, and talents of hib fellow 

 men. 



It may be well doubted whether these antici- 

 pations be not altogether extravagant and vain. 

 To set bounds to the progress of science is im- 

 possible. We can only say, that its cultivators 

 and improvers being finite creatures, there must 

 be limits somewhere, beyond which they cannot 

 hope to advance. Aud though some further im- 

 provements in physiognomy may be with reason 

 expected, yet several considerations concur to ren- 

 der it probable that these improvements must ever 

 fall far short of the point to which many extend 

 their views. Mankind have been long employed 

 in investigating the subject, without making any 

 signal or important advances in their know- 

 ledge of its nature and principles. There seems 

 to be little room, in this field of investigation, for 

 those experiments and discoveries M'hicli have so 

 brilliantly and profitably abounded in many otlicrs. 

 But, above all, to look forward to a period when 

 physiognomy shall be so generally and perfectly 

 understood, as to furnish mankind witli a })lain 

 and infallible criterion, by which, in all cases, 

 to ascertain precisely tlie talents and the dispo- 

 sition of each other, is to think of invading thr 

 prerogative of Omniscience, and ac«juiring an in- 

 strument subversive of humnn society.. Ami e\en 



Vol. II. M 



