440 



ON PHYSIOGNOMY 



their external expression ; and makes the reputable class of tradesmen, pro- 

 bably without their knowledge, the deepest physiog-nomists in the world ; for 

 the trader, says he, when in the act of dealing, not only at once decides that 

 his customer has an honest look, a pleasing or forbidding countenance, and 

 trusts or forbears to trust him accordingly ; but determines by its colour, its 

 fineness, its exterior, the physiognomy of every article of traffic. How far 

 the former part of this last remark may apply to M. Lavater's own country- 

 men, the honest and enhghtened traders of Zurich, I will not pretend to say ; 

 but it is highly probable that there are some before me who have not always 

 felt themselves able to read the characters of the countenance quite so well as 

 is here supposed of them, and to whom a few additional lessons from the 

 Zurich counting-house, or the Zurich professor, might have been every now 

 and then of no small service in the transactions of buying and selling; and 

 have saved them, in various instances, from bad debts and impositions. 



Having pointed out these defects, it becomes me to observe, that, with all 

 its blemishes, M. Lavater's Essays form the best and fullest book on the sub- 

 ject we at present possess. To say nothing of its language, which, though 

 far too florid, is animated, and often elegant, it is a rich repository of isolated 

 facts, shrewd remarks, and ingenious suggestions; and with less fancy, and 

 more judgment, would have been, and must have been, the favourite text-book 

 of every physiologist in this branch of natural philosophy. Nor, even as it 

 is, can it ever be neglected by any one who is desirous of establishing phy- 

 siognomy upon a permanent and sober basis ; and of analyzing the causes, 

 and determining the real principles, upon which every one pretends to judge, 

 whether rightly or wrongly, of the internal qualities of the mind, by the ex- 

 ternal features of the body ; and, consequently, as in the case of astronomy, 

 gives proof that the study is founded in nature, although its specific laws have 

 not had the good fortune, like those of gravitation, to be systematically 

 sought out and exemplified. 



It is from this last circumstance, in connexion with M. Lavater's desultory 

 and erratic mode of handling his subject, that other philosophers have been 

 induced to abandon altogether the common ground of the general form and 

 features, upon which mankind in all ages, whether learned or unlearned, 

 have hitherto reasoned, and to inquire whether there may not be some less 

 sensible and obvious, but at the same time more fixed and scientific, more 

 exact and immediate, index in some part of the human figure, which may in- 

 fallibly direct us to the same ends. No minister has hence devised more 

 schemes for taxation, no insurance-broker more modifications for a lottery, 

 than this general research has given rise to — this philosophical rage 



T' expatiate free o'er all this scene of man, 



This mighty maze, but not vvitliout a plan ; 



This wild wliere weeds and flowers promiscuous shoot; 



This garden, tempting with forbidden fruit. 



Of all these attempts, however, there is but one that is in any degree worthy 

 of notice, or that has acquired any considerable degree even of transitory 

 popularity; and this is the hypothesis of Dr. Gall of Jena, who has been 

 greatly indebted to his friend Dr. Spurzheim for a popular diffusion of his 

 doctrine over most parts of Europe. This learned philosopher, being deter- 

 mined to deviate as far as possible from the beaten path, left the face or front 

 of the head to the rest of the world, and took the crown and back part for his 

 own use. He conceived, first, that as all the faculties of the mind are limited 

 to the common sensory or organ of the brain, nature, like a skilful general, 

 instead of confounding every part with every part, and every faculty with 

 every faculty, has marshalled this important organ into a definite number of 

 divisions, and has given to every faculty the command of a separate post. 

 He conceived, secondly, as the general mass of the brain lies immediately 

 under the cranium or scull-bone, and is impacted into its cavity with the 

 utmost exactness, that if any one or more of the aforesaid faculties, or, which 

 is the same thing, any one or more of the aforesaid divisions of the brain 



