86 Phrenology. 



mental energy of Gall, of Spurzheim, of Combe, and of many 

 other philosophers of high intellectual powers and Avide observa- 

 tion, has been, through many years, directed to the investigation, 

 and they have declared, that they find a prevailing correspond- 

 ence between the size and conformation of the brain and of the 

 cranium, and the energy of the intellectual faculties, moral senti- 

 ments, and animal propensities of man. 



As it is a fair pursuit — a legitimate branch of physical, mental 

 and moral philosophy — let it then have free scope, until additional 

 observations through a wider range of time, and made by many 

 other men, equally or even better qualified for the investigation, 

 shall either establish or overthrow its claims. 



This apologetic plea for phrenology has been thrown in, not 

 because we have made up our minds to go for the whole, but be- 

 cause we would strenuously maintain the liberty of free investiga- 

 tion. Philosophical is as sacred as civil and religious liberty, and 

 all three are indispensable to the perfection of man's faculties, to 

 the improvement of his condition, and to the just comprehension 

 of his duties. In suggesting the considerations that have been 

 presented, we do not assume or deny that the minute divisions of 

 the mental, moral, and animal faculties indicated by phrenology, 

 as the science is now taught, are all fully made out. On this 

 question we would not hazard an opinion, for here phrenology 

 would demand a trial by its peers — by a jury of superior minds, 

 qualified to decide by their acumen, their general knowledge, 

 their large observation on this subject, and their strict logical dis- 

 cipline ; but all intelligent and candid persons can judge of the 

 general correspondence of the theory with the phenomena ; they 

 can observe that there is an intellectual, a moral, and an animal 

 conformation of the head, which, as the one region or the other 

 prevails, greatly influences the character and conduct. 



This general development, this characteristic conformation, 

 we think is clearly discernible when we examine many individ- 

 uals ; it is therefore, this leading revelation of mental power, of 

 moral alFections, and of animal propensities, which we believe 

 that Gall, Spurzheim, and Combe, and other able and enlighten- 

 ed phrenologists, have it in their power to indicate, with a pre- 

 vailing certainty, sufficient to justify particular courses of treat- 

 ment with the insane, with felons, and (with great care and 

 prudence) even with pupils and children. 



