"supporters of this small experiment to its important bearing as an example. The whole subject of prison-discipline appears not to "have excited that degree of attention in Scotland which it has "done in some other countries; and in perusing that very inter"esting document, the report of the Society for the Improvement "of Prison-Discipline, the most deserved regret will be felt on dis"covering how little mention is made of Scotland, and how disho"nourable that little is to her usual character for philanthropic ex"ertion. In several counties in England, institutions for the refor"mation of juvenile offenders have been established: that for the county of Warwick is described as having the appearance of a respectable farm-house, with about eight acres of land attach"ed, which is cultivated by such of the objects as prefer out-door "labour. The house is fitted up for the reception of sixty per66 6 sons. When visited lately, there were only eighteen lads in it "of various ages, from ten to nineteen. Those who are employed "in the house, work at shoemaking and tailoring, and the rest "are employed at spade-husbandry. Shoes and clothes are made "for the public as well as for the service of the establishment. "The boys are allowed a part of the earnings in the proportion 66 6 one penny in the shilling.'

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Among the proposed regulations for the Berkshire institution "are the following:

"That a Society be formed for the assistance and reformation of "such young offenders as may from time to time be discharged "from the gaols and houses of correction in the county of Berks.

"That a fund for this purpose be established by donations and "annual subscriptions.

"That the committee consist of twelve. That the Lord Lieu"tenant of the county be perpetual president. That the visiting magistrates of the different prisons in the county be vice-pre"sidents.'

"In viewing the institution, however, which forms the subject of "the present report, as calculated to encourage the promotion of "similar attempts, the committee would not deal honestly with the "public, were they to conceal the important fact, that the superin"tendent and his wife who manage this establishment are persons of "exemplary piety; and they are bound, in gratitude to the Giver "of all Good, to acknowledge, that the measure of success which "has attended the experiment has flowed through the medium of "the almost parental affection which the destitute condition of "these poor children has inspired in the breasts of those excellent "individuals, and which has led to the most influential mode of inculcating religious instruction.

LADY CARNEGIE,

Mrs FLETCHER,

" COMMITTEE.

MILES FLETCHER, Esq. Advocate,
CAPTAIN WAUCHOPE, R N.

G. BUCHAN, Esq. of Kelloe,
Rev. J. BROWN,

ROBERT PAUL, Esq.
WILLIAM BONAR, Esq.

WM. MURRAY, Esq. 59, George Square, Treasurer.
JAMES EVANS, Secretary.

We have visited the House of Refuge, and found the same general development to prevail among its inmates which characterizes the other criminals whom we have examined. The individuals here trained to industry and virtue are so many victims snatched from the gallows, or the shores of New South Wales; and we trust they will profit by the instruction they are now receiving, so as to afford motives to the benevolent for the extension of the system. At the same time, we desire to apprise the managers of this institution, and those of every similar establishment, that the moral deficiency is extremely deep-seated in the delinquents whom they undertake to reform, and that almost no extent of good conduct in the penitentiary will afford a guarantee of suitable behaviour amidst the temptations of the world. Phrenology brings this truth home irresistibly to the understanding. Crime proceeds from excessive energy of the lower feelings. In a penitentiary, the objects which solicit and excite the propensities are withdrawn, and moral restraint from without supplies the deficiency of that quality in the mind itself. While so situated, therefore, an individual may conduct himself for an unlimited period with great propriety, and give the strongest indications of a thorough reformation, but who might utterly fall off if the circumstan ces were reversed, namely, if external moral restraint were weakened or withdrawn, and strong solicitations presented to his animal propensities. If, then, the directors of the House of Refuge, believing in a complete change in the dispositions of the boys, shall restore them to ordinary society, and be disappointed in their subsequent conduct, we shall lament, but not be surprised at the result. Their most earnest endeavours ought to be directed towards placing them in situations where temptation will be far removed, and unwearied watchfulness exerted over them. We are particularly anxious on this point, because, by expecting too much, or not attending to the causes of crime and removing them, disappoint

ment may ensue, and the good work be given up in despair or disgust, because all is not accomplished that had been anticipated.

ARTICLE IV.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, ON DEFICIENCY IN THE POWER OF PERCEIVING COLOURS.

you

SIR,-There are no organs which afford greater sources for ridicule to anti-phrenologists than those of Colour, Form, and Size. What fools you are (they say) to suppose that we do not see colours, figures, and distances, through the medium of one sense, viz. seeing; and when we perceive every thing with one pair of eyes, why do divide the brain into different divisions, when it is palpable to common sense that one division (if any) must be enough? A Phrenologist is somewhat puzzled under these circumstances what to say; if he quotes instances of different persons seeing different things with different facility, he is told that they are merely facts got up for phrenological purposes.*-The following case, however, is one which, from being written above forty years since, and previous to the existence of Phrenology, cannot have been fabricated by Phrenologists. It is a curious and strong proof that these so much ridiculed divisions are founded in nature :

From the Westminster Magazine for 1779, page 515, and Philosophical Transactions, vol. 68, part 2.

(Copy Letter from J. Scott to Rev. Mr Whisson.)

I

(c ACCOUNT OF A REMARKABLE IMPERFECTION OF SIGHT. "REVEREND SIR,-I received your favour in due time. "should have given you my answer sooner, but have been greatly

Any person who could make such an allegation must be altogether ignorant of the nature of the evidence adduced. No Phrenologist ought to allow the least consideration to such objections. They are emanations of self-sufficiency in the objector, and not of a philosophical spirit.-EDITOR.

"afflicted with the gout. I am very willing to inform you (and "take your inquiry as a favour) of my inability concerning colours, as far as I am able from my own common observations.

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"It is a family failing.-My father has exactly the same impedi"ment: my mother and one of my sisters were perfect in all co"lours ;-my other sister and myself alike imperfect. My last" mentioned sister has two sons, both imperfect; but she has a "daughter who is very perfect. I have a son and daughter who "both know all colours without any exception, and so did their "mother. My mother's own brother had the like impediment with me; though my mother, as mentioned above, knew all colours very well.

tr

"me.

"Now, I will inform you what colours I have least knowledge of: "I do not know any green in the world ;-a pink colour and a pale blue are alike;-I don't know one from the other. A full "red and full green the same. I have often thought them a good "match; but yellows (light, dark, and middle), and all degrees of "blue, except those very pale, commonly called sky, I know per"fectly well, and can discern a deficiency in any of those colours to a "particular nicety. A full purple and deep blue sometimes baffle I married my daughter to a genteel worthy man a few years r ago. The day before the marriage he came to my house, dressed " in a new suit of fine cloth clothes. I was much displeased that " he should come (as I supposed) in black; and said he should go back to change his colour;' but my daughter said, 'No, no; "the colour is very genteel, and that it was my eyes that deceived "me.' He was a gentleman of the law, in a fine rich claret-coloured "dress, which is as much a black to my eyes as any black that ever "was dyed. She has been married several years, no child living, "and my son is unmarried; so how this impediment may descend "from me is unknown.

"I have a general good satisfaction in the midst of this my ina"bility:-can see objects at a distance when I am on travel "with an acquaintance, and can distinguish the size, figure, or "space, equal to most, and, I believe, as quick, COLOUR excepted.

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My business was behind a counter many years, where I had to "do with variety of colours. I often, when alone, met with a diffi"culty; but I commonly had a servant in the way to attend me, "who made up any deficiency. I have been now seven years from "trade. My eyes, thank God, are very good at discerning men and " things.

"If your learned Society can search out the cause of this very "extraordinary infirmity, and find a method for amendment, you "will be so obliging to acquaint me. I am, &c. "J. Scort."

I have examined the Philosophical Transactions, to see if the "learned Society" endeavoured to account for the infirmity, or offer any method for amendment; but, as I do

not see the case mentioned again, I presume they gave it up in despair. It is most likely, however, that they supposed it to arise from some imperfection in the iris or lens; or, perhaps, entered into an elaborate argument on optics. Phrenology, however, at once explains the mystery: and, from what we have observed in other cases, we are entitled legitimately to infer, that the individual in question had an imperfect organ of " Colour," whilst Size, Form, and Locality, were well developed. His language is almost phrenological :-"I can distinguish," says he, "the size, figure, or space, equal to most, and, I believe, as quick, COLOUR excepted.” It will be objected to this case, that there has been no examination of the organs, and, therefore, the above conclusions are mere suppositions. If this was the only case known to Phrenologists, this objection would be good; but we have actually examined many similar cases, and found the organ deficient. The case of Mr James Milne, recorded in the Phrenological Transactions, resembles it also in this, that in both the defect was a family failing. In the present case, as in Mr Milne's, it is only some branches of the family that are affected; and mark, too, the imperfection is always, and solely, confined to COLOUR; none of the family, in either instance, have any affection of the eye simply, as short-sightedness; nor is it said that they cannot see figures, &c., perfectly. Therefore, all their imperfections evidently proceed from one cause. Now, when we see one branch or part of a family retaining the likeness (as figure or face) of their parents or ancestors, and at the same time retaining the same talents, whilst another part of the same family neither keeps the likeness nor the talent, it is natural to conclude, that the shape of the head, and consequent development of organs, may either resemble or differ in the same manner; and, as we do see this is the fact in every day's observation, it is reasonable to conclude that all the family affected with this imperfection of sight must have had an imperfect organ of Colour. This mode of inferring the state of the organ in the individual in