L AVATEll S 
I? 6 
marked like him, without that fuperior underftand- 
ing, of which vve fuppofc that Swifs author bore 
the fignificant impreilion. 
In the mean time, it is prudent to fufpend our 
judgment upon thefe fpeculative notions. 
In the choice of objeffs for ftudying this fcience 
of reading faces, we cannot take too much notice 
of original and eccentric characfers, extremes of 
vice and virtue, kindnefs and brutality, flavifh ig- 
norance oppofed to the heavenly gift of poetry, 
generofity and feliiflmefs, for the purpofe of furnifli- 
ing contrafrs, as conftant fubjetls of contemplation ; 
nor ought we to lofe fight of thofc fituations where 
man is reduced to the moft abjeff (late of mifery. 
With \his view we might vifit the receptacles of 
lunatics; trace the caufes of their infanity, and ob- 
lerve every fliade that diftinguiflies love, melan- 
choly, rage, or difappointment, according as it 
breaks out, unreilrained by reafon and habits of 
Ibcial life. 
In fcenes like thefe the nervous fyftem is difplay- 
ed without art ox diflimulation ; all the tender flrino-s 
ot feeling are differently affecfed, and accompanied 
with pccul-iarly natural impreffions. 
ISor ought a Phyfiognomifi to be lefs anxious to 
mingle with the mofi: enlightened, down to the 
leatt polifiied iocieties, in order to compare accu- 
rately the loweft degree of fenfe bordering upon 
infiincl, with that fuperior underfianding, which 
would 
