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ratively seldom. But convenience, neatness, and simple elegance, as they are within the power of taste in all nations and ages, have been displayed, it is believed, with peculiar frequency in the last century.

The other peculiarity in the architecture of the last age is, that Private Dwellings, during this period, became, in general, more spacious, convenient, and agreeable to a correct taste, than ever before. In all preceding ages, even those which were most favourable to the arts, the number of large and convenient private houses was small. While public buildings were studiously extended and ornamented, only a few of the most wealthy possessed large, comfortable, and beautiful habitations. The number of this description has greatly increased in modern times. The manifest augmentation, in the course of the last century, of that respectable and useful portion of society usually called the Middle Class, has, no doubt, led to this improvement. It may probably be asserted that a larger proportion of mankind were, at the close of the century under review, furnished with conve nient, and even elegant, habitations, than ever before enjoyed the like advantage.

The liberal use of Glass, in modern buildings, greatly contributes to their beauty and comfort, and is a point in which they peculiarly excel. And in descending to the various minute details of human dwellings, especially those which relate to elegance and enjoyment, it is evident, that in many respects the artists of the eighteenth cen tury exceeded all others.

America, during the period under consideration, has furnished but few objects worthy of being contemplated or recorded. Pursuits of more immediate utility and profit have generally occupied the attention of her citizens, and must continue to occupy it, until their wealth and taste shall be greatly augmented. That America is not deficient in native genius for the fine arts, the names of West, Copley, Trumbull, and Stuart, before mentioned, abundantly testify; and that it can boast of many artists who want nothing but instruction, and incitements to exertion, to place them in a very honourable rank, experience daily renders more probable *. A taste for the fine arts in that country is evidently on the increase †.

* Among many names which might be mentioned to justify this remark, it would, perhaps, be improper to omit taking notice of Mr. Vanderlyn, a native of Ulster county, in the state of New York. This young gentleman very early in life discovered a taste for painting. For the purpose of encouraging and cultivating this taste, he was sent to Europe, a few years ago, under the patronage of Aaron Burr, esq., now vicepresident of the United States. He has lately returned to this city, and, in the estimation of good judges, bids fair to be an honour to his country.

Though the institution of the Academy of the Fine Arts, in the city of New York, does not belong to the century under review; yet the author cannot avoid taking notice of it in this place, as an event which marks the growing taste of its citizens, does honour to the gentlemen who have exerted themselves in forming and executing the plan, and bids fair to be one of the most elegant and interesting ornaments of the city.

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CHAPTER XI.

PHYSIOGNOMY.

PHYSIOGNOMY, considered with respect to the feelings and the experience of mankind, has been an object of attention in all ages. The countenance and general exterior have always been regarded as furnishing some indication both of the intellectual and moral character. Every one who goes into society, and who observes at all, muşt receive impressions of this kind involuntarily and without design. It may even be said, that the first dawnings of perception and reasoning in children exhibit abundant proof, that some relation between the dispositions of the mind, and the features of the countenance, is recognised and understood by them. So far, then, physiognomy has been an object of attention, and of some inquiry in all stages of human knowledge.

The first time we hear of this subject being studied as a science, is about the time of Pythagoras. It is said to have been much cultivated in Egypt and India, when that philosopher visited those countries, and to have been brought by him into Greece. In the time of Socrates physiog nomy was studied and adopted as a profession *. Plato speaks of it as attended to by the students

*The story of Zopyrus, who undertook to decide on the character of Socrates, by inspecting his countenance, is well known.

of nature in his day. But the first distinct and formal treatise on the subject is by Aristotle, whose work, as it displays the power of his great mind, so it may be considered as the guide to all subsequent inquiries, and the basis of every physiognomical treatise that has since appeared. After Aristotle, his disciple Theophrastus wrote on phy siognomy, in a very accurate and interesting manHe was succeeded by a number of others less conspicuous; and, indeed, at every period of the history of Greece and Rome, when learning was cultivated in any considerable degree, we hear something of men who employed themselves in investigating and teaching this science.

ner.

But when the Roman empire was overthrown by her northern invaders, and when, in the general wreck, the various departments of philosophy were buried in forgetfulness, physiognomy also became, in a great measure, neglected and forgotten, as a specific object of study. For a number of centu ries we hear little or nothing about it. At the beginning of the sixteenth century we find it again exciting some attention, and from that time till near the close of the seventeenth, it continued to be a general and fashionable subject of inquiry. Within that period the writers on physiognomy were very numerous, and some of them respectable and instructive.

There was one circumstance, however, connected with the study of physiognomy, within the period last mentioned, which served to throw it into a kind of temporary disgrace, and which certainly retarded its progress. For more than two centuries after the revival of learning, the arts of

Magic, Alchemy, and Judicial Astrology were fashionable pursuits, and were interwoven with almost every other object of study. Unfortunately physiognomy was rarely spoken of, or investigated but in connection with those playthings of ancient folly, now so justly ridiculed and exploded. From the middle of the seventeenth century we may date the downfal of the reign of alchemy and astrology, and with them, as one of the sciences denominated Occult, physiognomical inquiries for a time also declined.

Philosophers, however, soon learned to distinguish between the science itself and that perversion of it which had arisen from an unnatural connection. Accordingly, early in the century under consideration, it was taken notice of respectfully by Dr. Gwither *; and afterward, in a still more pointed and able manner, by Dr. Parsons †. Be-. side these British writers, Lancisius, of Italy; Haller, of Switzerland; and Buffon, of France, published observations on certain branches of the subject, which it is scarcely necessary to say were ingenious and interesting. But the first discussion relating to the science of physiognomy, in the eighteenth century, which excited much attention, was that which took place in 1769, between M. Pernetty and M. le Catt, and is recorded in the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences ‡. Both these gentlemen contended for the reality and importance of the science; but differed widely with re

* Philosophical Transactions, vol. xviii. † Human Physiognomy explained, 1747.

Mem. Acad. Scien. 1769; Mem. 4th and 5th,

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