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Dr. Wollaston on the 
person they may be made appear directed either to him or 
from him by the addition of other features strongly marking 
that essential circumstance, the position of the face. 
In the drawings which I am enabled to exhibit to the So- 
ciety, I am indebted for assistance to the well known skill 
and obliging kindness of Sir Thomas Lawrence, President 
of the Royal Academy, by whom the pair of eyes represented 
in the first plate were originally drawn from the life, intently 
looking at him. To these a turn of face has since been added 
according to the original design, so that the eyes, with this 
accompaniment, Fig. 1, appear decidedly looking at the 
spectator. 
In Fig. 2. a set of features oppositely turned are so applied 
to the same eyes, that they look considerably to the right 
of the person viewing them.* 
In the former of these, the position of the face being at a 
certain angle to our left, the eyes, which are turned at an 
equal angle from that position, seem pointed to ourselves. 
In the latter, the deviation of the face from us being toward 
the same side as "the turn of the eyes, gives additional ob- 
liquity to their apparent direction, and carries them far to the 
right of us, proving the influence of the stronger features, even 
in opposition to that of the minuter parts of the eyes them- 
selves, which are not in correct drawing for this position. 
With regard to the apparent position of the face, it is clear 
that, in forming our judgement, we must be influenced princi- 
* The effect of this change is so sudden, and so contrary to expectation, that, 
at first sight, many persons seem scarcely to credit the evidence of their senses, in 
supposed opposition to their former experience, and are inclined to imagine some 
present deception in the very phenomena best adapted to undeceive them as to the 
cause of the impression they receive. 
