come too hastily to the conclusion, that this world is wrongly constituted. Volumes would be requisite to develope the subject completely, and to show fully its practical importance. In publishing these remarks, we expose ourselves to the question, Who are we that erect ourselves into authorities on the constitution of the world, and become critics on the doctrine of venerable and illustrious divines? We are in ourselves the least influential of men; but if the doctrine which we announce, be a correct interpretation of the constitution of nature, a high authority supports the positions of which we are merely the humble expounders. If there be any truth in these positions, then, we humbly think that they warrant us in saying, that phrenology will one day produce a change in the sentiments and institutions of the world, beneficial to the Christian religion; and that one of its first effects will be to lead the clergy to use means for producing the natural conditions, in individuals and society, which are indispensable to practical Christianity, and then to hope for their doctrines being favoured with the divine blessing, and an abundant increase of fruit. The functions of the brain and the philosophy of mind have not been discovered to serve as mere laughing-stocks to witless essayists. They are parts of creation of the very highest importance, and we are warranted in saying, that the discovery of them involves in its train consequences of the utmost interest to human happiness.

Some pious persons may perhaps charge us with foolishness, if not atheism, because we advocate these views; but we retort on them that, besides unintentionally, yet virtually, denying the Deity, as the governor of this world, they are practically strangers to the extent of His power and goodness, displayed in sublunary creation. They see the beauties of the earth, and the magnificence of the heavens, as poets or painters behold them, but they do not perceive or understand the constitution of human nature, and the relations between it and external creation. They are strangers to the designs of the Creator manifested in these works in relation to man. A mystery hangs over them which they have not penetrated, and hence, although they ardently desire to know God, they look for him almost exclusively in a spiritual world. We see and feel Him in us, and in every thing around us. Having obtained a knowledge of the faculties which He has bestowed, and discovered some of the relations between them and creation, our eyes have been opened to a perception of a vast extent of design, wisdom, and goodness in the Creator, which was hidden from us until we obtained the light which renders it discernible.

In conclusion, we observe, that while we do not contend for the

absolute perfection of physical creation, or the perfectibility of man by natural means, we are humbly of opinion, that there are far more excellencies and capabilities in both than have hitherto been discovered; and that the study, evolution, and proper practical application of the natural elements of the physical and moral worlds are indispensable preliminaries, and most important auxiliaries to human improvement. It is one of the excellent characteristics of the Christian religion, that it is adapted to every state of society-to men scattered in wildernesses or thronged in crowded cities; and hence religion is shorn of her power and utility as a practical system of instruction, by whatever tends to widen her separation from science, philosophy, and the affairs of this world. The human faculties having proceeded from the Creator, are framed in harmony with the actual constitution of nature; and would kindle with zeal, and labour with delight in studying, unfolding, and applying it, if so directed; whereas they are restrained, cramped, paralysed, and enfeebled, by inculcating habitually maxims which cannot become practical, in consequence of the natural conditions on which they depend not being previously produced. This unfortunate habit of undervaluing the capabilities of the natural world, and neglecting the study of it, diverts the attention of the best minds among the people from the real road to improvement. In consequence of the constitution and moral relations of the natural world being too much neglected-while, at the same time, the Creator has rendered a knowledge of them indispensable to moral cultivation-preaching is inefficacious in improving the temporal condition of mankind, to an extent unprecedented in most human institutions. This conclusion is forced on us, when we compare the number, zeal, and talents of the teachers, the provisions made for their support, and the favourable dispositions of the people to profit by their instruction, with the actual benefits communicated by their preaching. When divines shall have become acquainted with the real constitution of the world, and the moral plan which pervades it, and shall have dedicated their talents to teaching these to the people, as preparatory for their other doctrines, they will find themselves and their instructions invested with a moral power and efficacy to which they have hitherto been strangers; and then, but not till then, will religion, science, philosophy, practical business, and recreation, appear resting on one basis animated by accordant spirits, coinciding in their objects, and contributing to one end-the improvement of man as a moral, intellectual, and religious being. These remarks apply exclusively to the temporal effects of religion. Its influence on the eternal interests of mankind is too sacred a subject for discussion in a journal devoted solely to philosophical inquiries.

ARTICLE V.

Crania Americana; or a Comparative View of the Skulls of various Aboriginal Nations of North and South America: to which is prefired an Essay on the varieties of the Human Species; illustrated by seventy-eight plates and a coloured map. By SAMUEL GEORGE MORTON, M. D., Professor of Anatomy in the Medical Department of Pennsylvania College, at Philadelphia; Member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, of the American Philosophical Society, of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, of the Boston Society of Natural History, &c. &c.

The above title will convey to the reader some idea of the nature and character of this great work. It is not our present object to present a critical or extended review of its contents; having given, in Vol. I. page 385 of this Journal, a minute description of the general plan and design of the work, and also another notice of it in Vol. II. page 143, to each of which we would refer the reader. From an inspection of the plates, and some portions of the work, we did not then hesitate to speak of its value in the highest terms, and a thorough examination of its contents has now fully satisfied us of the correctness of our previous impressions.

The publication of the Crania Americana will constitute an interesting and important era in the science of anthropology. It differs essentially, in many respects, from any other work ever presented to the public on natural history. Philosophers and historians have hitherto generally studied the nature of man, and described his characteristics, without sufficiently considering his physical organisation, and the intimate and necessary connection of this, with the manifestations of mind. The consequence is, that most of the accounts recorded in history of the peculiar distinctive mental qualities of individuals, families, and nations, are, in their details, vague, indefinite, and unsatisfactory. This remark is true, not only in reference to the above class of writers, but applies with almost equal force to those who have devoted their attention more exclusively to studying man's physical structure and organisation. It is true, the labours of Blumenbach, Buffon, Cuvier, and others, have greatly added to our knowledge of the natural history of man, and of the varied exhibitions of his character in different ages and nations; but how little light have all their observations and researches thrown upon his mental qualities? While metaphysicians, guided by their own individual consciousness, have written volumes on the faculties or operations of mind, converting it into an abstract and speculative science,

naturalists have prosecuted their labour, comparatively ignorant, and certainly regardless, of the powerful influence of physical organisation over mind. Though, in many instances, they have been quite minute and precise in describing the complexion and general features of the face, yet they have almost invariably omitted any account of the relative size, or particular configuration of the cranium. And there is not a single instance in which they have ever given us the necessary data, from which correct inferences on this subject can be drawn. Blumenbach made some approximation to this, in his great work "DECADES COLLECTIONIS SUE CRANIORUM DIVERSARIUM GENTIUM ILLUSTRATE." And perhaps it may not be out of place, here, to give some little account of this celebrated work, as it constitutes the only extensive collection of drawings of human crania which has ever been presented to the public, prior to Dr. Morton's.

The decades of Blumenbach came out in separate parts or fasciculi, which were in the course of publication during the space of forty years. The whole work contains about seventy plates, or drawings, of skulls; some few are drawn as large as life, but most of the drawings are evidently far below the natural size; and, at all events, there is such a want of accuracy and the requisite explanations, that no correct comparison can be instituted between these representations and the general size of the heads of nations or races to which they respectively belonged. Besides, we have no measurements whatever accompanying these plates; we know nothing concerning the internal capacity of the entire, or particular parts of the skulls here represented, nor of their diameters as taken in different directions. And though the author has recorded full and vivid descriptions of the general features and physical peculiarities of the different tribes or races represented in his work, yet he has not given us the least information concerning the relative size, or particular configu ration of their crania. Not one word has he uttered illustrative of any coincidence or dissimilarity between the characters of individuals or races, and the size and shape of their crania, nor of the causes, uses, or consequences, of the physical differences in the skulls which are so well portrayed in his plates. The consequence is, these drawings of Blumenbach have never received much attention, and are almost valueless compared to what they might have been, had they been accompanied with proper measurements and descrip'ions. For it must be obvious to every reflecting mind, that illustrations of crania can rise in interest and value, only in propor tion as the true physiology of the brain is understood and appreciated. It is not known how well Blumenbach was acquainted with the great truths unfolded by phrenology, concerning the functions of the brain,

or in what light he viewed these discoveries, but this is certain, he once attended Dr. Gall's lectures in Germany, and could not possibly have been ignorant of his works on what was then called cranioscopy. But while Blumenbach has made no reference or allusion whatever to this subject, (and from what motives or reasons, we will not pretend to say,) he has not presented a single fact or statement in opposition to the discoveries of Gall. Whatever, therefore, may have been the private opinion of this distinguished physiologist, is a matter of no moment. Still, it is greatly to be regretted that he did not accompany his drawings of skulls with some data or measurements, from which others might deduce correct and important inferences, and thus turn this celebrated work to a far more valuable account than can possibly now be done.

But the author of the Crania Americana has pursued a very different course from Blumenbach. While it has not been his object to prove or advocate the principles of phrenology, he has not failed to give us descriptions of character and tables of measurements, which must render the volume invaluable to the student of mental science. The whole work may be considered in its design, nature, and character, as chiefly a contribution to the natural history of man, and to the science of anatomy in particular; but as it is strictly a treatise, professing to give accurate descriptions of the peculiar characters of certain portions of the human family, in connection with illustrations and measurements or their crania, it may be supposed to have important bearings on phrenology, to some of which we will now invite the reader's attention.

In the dedication of the Crania Americana (to John S. Phillips, Esq., who had rendered the author important services in preparing the measurements, &c.) we find this statement:- "It may, perhaps, be thought by some readers, that these details are unnecessarily minute, especially in the phrenological table; and again, others would have preferred a work conducted throughout on phrenological principles. In this study, I am yet a learner; and it appeared to me the wiser plan to present the facts unbiased by the theory, and let the reader draw his own conclusions. You and I have long admitted the fundamental principles of phrenology, viz. that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that its different parts perform different functions; but we have been slow to acknowledge the details of cranioscopy, as taught by Dr. Gall, and supported and extended by subsequent observers. We have not, however, neglected this branch of inquiry, but have endeavoured to examine it in connection with numerous facts, which can only be fully appreciated when they come to be compared with similar measurements derived from the other