PHYSIOGNOMY. 
foreheads, with spacious temples, and eye- 
boaes of the above description ; when per- 
pendicular natural wrinkles appear, they 
express power of mind and application; but 
horizontal, interrupted in the middle, or bro- 
ken at the extremities, betray, in general, 
negligence, if not want of ability. 
Deep indenting in the bones of the fore- 
head situated between the eye-brows, and 
extending in a perpendicular direction, mark 
the happy few who possess generous and 
noble minds, connected with excellence of 
understanding; besides, a blue vena fron- 
talis, in the form of a Y, situated in an 
arched smooth forehead, is an indication of 
similar advantages. Lavater having given 
the above hints, describes the following 
characteristics, which he asserts, give “ the 
indubitable signs of an excellent, a perfectly 
beautiful and significant, intelligent, and 
noble forehead.” Such must be one-third 
of the face in length, or that of the nose, 
and from the nose to the chin ; the npper 
part must be oval, in the manner ot the 
great men of England, or nearly S(|uare ; the 
skin must be smooth, and wrinkled only 
when the mind is roused to Just indignation, 
or deeply immersed in thought, and during 
the paro.xysms of pain ; the upper part must 
recede, and the lower project; the eye- 
bones must be horizontal, and present a 
perfect curve upon being observed from 
above; atj intersecting cavity should di- 
vide the forehead into four distinct parts, 
but with that slight effect as to be only 
visible with a clear descending light; and 
all the outlines should be composed of such, 
that if the section of one-third only is ob- 
served, it would be difficult to decide whe- 
ther they were circular or straight; to con- 
clude this portrait of a transcendant fore- 
head, the skin must be more transparent, 
and of a finer tint, than the remainder of 
the face. Should an infant, a relative, or 
friend, who possesses a forehead resembling 
the above description, seriously err, the 
good enthusiast entreats, that the corrector 
may not despair of success, as in all human 
probability the latent seeds of virtue may 
be roused into growth by perseverance, and 
finally produce the desired fruit. 
The eyes of mankind are composed of 
various shades of colour, the most common 
»f which are grey mixed with white, grey 
tinged with blue, and shades of green, 
orange, and yellow. According to Buffon, 
the orange and blue are most predominant, 
and those colours often meet in the same 
eye; those generally supposed to be black 
are not really so, and may be found, on at- 
tentive examination, and with a proper dis- 
position of the light, to consist of yellow, a 
deep orange, or brown, which beinc vio- 
lently opposed to the clear white of the 
ball, assumes a darkness mistaken for black. 
The same naturalist observes, that shades of 
yellow, orange, blue, and grey, are visible 
in the same eye, and when blue, even of the 
lightest tint, appears, it is invariably the 
predominant colour, and may be found in 
rays dispersed throughout the iris : the 
orange is differently disposed, at a trifling 
distance from the pupil, is in flukes, and 
round ; but the blue so far overpowers it, 
that the eye assumes the appearance of be- 
ing wholly of that colour. The fire and 
vivacity emitted by the eye cannot be so 
powerful in those of the lighter tints ; it is 
therefore in the dark ones atone that we 
look for the emotions of the soul ; quiet and 
mildness, and a certain degree of archness, 
are the characteristics of the blue. Some 
eyes are remarkable for the absence of co- 
lour; the iris is faintly shaded with blue or 
grey, apd the tints of orange are so light that 
they are hardly observable; in eyes thus 
constituted, the black of the pupil appears 
too conspicuous, and it may be said that 
portion is alone visible at a little distance, 
which circumstance gives the person a 
ghastly and spiritless appearance. 
There are eyes whose iris may be said to 
be almost green; but these are very im- 
common. It would require the pen of an 
inspired writer to describe the astonishing 
variety of expression of which the eyes are 
capable ; being situated near the supposed 
seat pf the soul, every sensation of that in- 
visible spirit appears to rush in full vigour 
from those intelligent organs : all the pas- 
sions may be seen in them ; we shrink from 
their indications of anger, rye find pleasure 
with all her train of Joys dancing in them, 
we feel their force in love, and melt into 
tears upon observing them suffused with the 
moisture of grief; in short their language is 
far more powerful than that of the tonguei 
The transitions are sp rapid in the expres- 
sion of the eyes, that it requires very close 
and attentive examination to catch and 
describe the emotions of the mind visible in 
them ; admitting this fact, it will appear 
that the physiognomist is liable to numerous \ 
and egregious errors in drawing his conclu- 
sion of propensities from them. Paracelsus, 
a man of strong genius, and, lijie Lavater, 
misguided in many instances by enthusia.sm, 
and a kind of superstition allied to the study 
