spect to its principles and extent. And though, probably, neither was entirely correct in his views, yet they doubtless contributed to increase the knowledge and study of the subject.

pro

In a short time after the discussion in France had been laid before the public, the great and farfamed work of the rev. M. Lavater, of Zurich, appeared. The opinions respecting physiognomy which he had been for some time divulging in conversation, and disseminating in fragments, were collected by him into formal and extensive volumes. This is certainly the most splen did and interesting work on the subject that was ever published; and the deep and general attention which it has excited is well known. Not only in Switzerland, but in Germany, in France, in Great Britain, and indeed, throughout the literary world, it has been read with a degree of ardour and admiration seldom bestowed on the ductions of genius. It has been translated into various languages; passed through an astonishing number of editions; and though now somewhat diminished in popularity, is still perused with high respect and pleasure. That the illustrious Swiss is enthusiastic, fanciful, and visionary; that his works exhibit a singular mixture of wonderful discernment, plausible conjectures, and laughable dreams; and that he gives an extension and importance to the subject which few will allow, seems to be generally admitted. That he carries his principles to an extreme, and attempts to confer upon his rules a definiteness and precision lit-. tle short of the ridiculous, is also evident. Still there is, doubtless, much reality and justness in his

system. And he often displays the refined accuracy of a very delicate observer, together with the enlightened views of a real philosopher *.

The method of illustrating physiognomical dis cussions by Engravings was first adopted by Baptista Porta †, one of the earliest writers on the subject after the revival of letters. The engravings of M. Lavater are more numerous, better executed, and, consequently, far more instructive than his. Since the labours of this amiable, pious, and ingenious divine, nothing has been done in the science of physiognomy worthy of being recorded as new. All, therefore, relating to this subject, that can be considered as peculiar to the eighteenth century, is the revival of attention to it; the detaching it from the disgraceful connection in which it had previously stood; and the exhibition of its principles in a more popular and splendid manner.

But sanguine calculators imagine that a foundation has been recently laid for incomparably greater progress. They look forward to the time when the students of this science shall carry it to a degree of perfection of which faint idéas only can now be formed; when its principles shall be so clearly defined, our knowledge of its laws so greatly extended, and departments, at present unknown, so fully laid open to the prying eye of philosophy as to render it one of

* See his Essays on Physiognomy. Some account of his node of thinking and reasoning on the subject may also be found in the Encyclopædia, from which many of the facts above stated are collected.

+ A philosopher of Naples, who flourished about the middle of the sixteenth century.

the most safe standards of judgment, and one of the best guides of action. In short, many have spoken of it as a science susceptible of mathematical certainty, and as capable of endowing man with a power little short of complete intuition into the hearts, intentions, and talents of his fellow

men.

It may be well doubted whether these anticipations be not altogether extravagant and vain. To set bounds to the progress of science is in possible. We can only say, that its cultivators and improvers being finite creatures, there must be limits somewhere, beyond which they cannot hope to advance. And though some further improvements in physiognomy may be with reason expected, yet several considerations concur to render it probable that these improvements must ever fall far short of the point to which many extend their views. Mankind have been long employed in investigating the subject, without making anysignal or important advances in their knowledge of its nature and principles. There seems to be little room, in this field of investigation, for those experiments and discoveries which have so brilliantly and profitably abounded in many others. But, above all, to look forward to a period when physiognomy shall be so generally and perfectly understood, as to furnish mankind with a plain and infallible criterion, by which, in all cases, to ascertain precisely the talents and the disposition of each other, is to think of invading the prerogative of Omniscience, and acquiring an instrument subversive of human society. And even VOL. II.

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if we could suppose such progress in this science within the bounds of probability, we must believe that the arts of concealment, deception, and every concomitant of artifice and false refinement will, at the same time, make equal progress, and thus leave us in the same relative situation as at present.

163

CHAPTER XII.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN MIND.

IF the physical sciences have received great and

radical improvements during the century under consideration, it is feared the same degree of improvement cannot be ascribed to the science of the human mind, and the auxiliary branches of philosophy. In this wide field new experiments and discoveries, in the proper sense of the words, can have no place; and there are serious grounds of suspicion, that many modern systems of high claims, and imposing aspect, are by no means substantial additions to the sum of knowledge. There is no doubt, indeed, that we have happily gotten rid of much pedantry and jargon, which once obtained currency among the learned. We have thrown off the stiff, uncouth, and disgusting habiliments which formerly enveloped the systems of the schoolmen. But, in many cases, there is reason to believe that one jargon has been discarded only to adopt another equally exceptionable. Various old dresses have been laid aside, to make way for others, more fashionable, indeed, but no less fantastic and odious. This character, however, though it belongs to many modern metaphysical writers, by no means applies to all. The last age has, doubtless, produced some writers to whom we are indebted for substantial improvements, and real progress, in the interesting field of inquiry