Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 5th December 1857, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1168, Untitled Article

Page 1168
Page 16
16 of 24

On this page

  • Departments (1)
    • '--''•"'¦"' ^>"i.J.-^*k ' 4kV*«^ fLuETUUlvfc' »^4*VVU*UV>»
  • Text (5)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      One 6 f the happiest and most welcome heralds of Christinas is assuredly the Extra Number of Household Words ± which , at this season is wont to gladden thousands of firesides In Britain , and to bring a voice and a look of home to thousands of our Mth arid kindred far away . We hear much of cheap reading ( and verydear atany price it often is !) , but what in theway of cheapness—of cleap excellence , we noean—is comparable with this threepenny Extra Number ,

      wmch into sonie tlurty-six closely , but clearly , printed double-columned pages compresses the interest and excitement , the humour , the pathos , the emotion , of how many ambitious novels in three / volumes ! Tlie present Christmas Number is in one respect a decided improvement on the last . The 'Wreck of tie Golden Mary' was told by the Master and the Mate with a force , direetness , and simplicity lemmding every read . erirre symmetry and completeness of the story were somewhat marred and weakened by the intermixture of needless and obviously inferior workmanship with the principal design . This year it needs no clairvoyance to perceive that the story is one , entire , and perfect , from the two master-n . knds , vinited alike by genius aaad sympathy . Are the Master and M Apprentices' of the Idle Tour the same Dioscuri ? Many will liave asked this question , and many will have answered it to their own satisfaction . At all

      events , in this tale of ' The Perils of Certam English Prisoners , ' the incurable ( and , as we think , most noble ) passion for the sea and for maritime adventure , the brave , kindly , pure , geheroiis spirit , the manly , courageous , gentle Christian feeling ,.. thecbmpacfcness and clearness of narration ^ tlie constructive art , the feUcity and farce of styjte ^ the abundant hinnour , the incisive touches of character , and the wqrkm ^ ike conipleteness and finish of tke whole story , iare the offspring of no Unequal Match . Perhaps we may amuse our curiosity by assigning tie constructive arid , picturesque outline more peculiarly to the one band , and the strokes of cliaracter-pauiting to the other : let us express our gratitude for the ^ indiscretion of [' ¦ telling the story' of these delightful pajges , which ought to be in the hands of every one of our readers ^ Let us onLy say that the tone is skilfully attuned to the national heart at this moment , and there will be no

      difficultyto those who are familiar with our contemporaryIndianannals in finding the originals and types " - -of ISlr . Commissioner Pordage , of Sambb-Piiot > of Miss Maryon , and of Gill Davis . ^

      Untitled Article

      Blacktoqod this month opens and closes . with an article on India , the first devoted to the political , the last to the religious history and aspect of the country . Both ate equally well written and seasonable . Of tlie intermediate articles , the second , on ' Phrenology in France , ' is the most interesting . It is written in full knowledge of tlie subject , and marked throughout by a spirit of fairness rarely seen in the treatment of debated scientific questions , and most rarely of all in phrenological discussions . The writer is at once sympathetic and critical , looking with favour on phrenology and the phrenologists , but at the same time bringing forward in all their force facts which most strongly contradict the special conclusions of their system . Some of the most startling of these facts were collected and published in a series of papers some years ago by M . L . Pjeisse , the well-known translator of Sir William Hamilton ' s philosophical articles ; and the recent republication of these papers in a separate volume gives occasion for the article in Blackwood . Some of the facts thus collected are very striking . Take the following for example :- —¦ - ' . ' ¦ '¦ ¦ '¦ ' ¦ ; . ' ¦ ¦ ''¦ ' ¦¦ ¦' . ¦ ' ' ¦ ¦¦ ,. ¦'¦' . ' .., ¦ ' ¦ . ¦¦ . ' '¦¦'¦ '

      Mangiamele , who astounded the Acaderaie des Sciences by his marvellous powers of calculation , was only eleven years old . The son of a shepherd , he was' himself a shepherd , boy . From his infancy this young Sicilian had given indications of a remarkable power of calculation ; but had not been taught the arithmetical methods , nor , indeed , anything of the science of numbers . He was entirely self-taught . Yet the rapidity -with which he solved the moot intricate arithmetical problems , ' sans le secoura d'aucune operation graphique , prouve que sa science est fort mysterieuse . ' Hcre-rrtva a crucial instance for Phrenology : a faculty so exceptional in its vigour must have a corresponding development of the organ , and , according to Gall , a corresponding development of that part of the skull which lies over the part of the brain constituting the organ . And , observe , not only is this faculty manifested inmost exceptional activity , one , therefore , specially suited to phrenological investigation , but it 5 s also a faculty the action of which is definite , precise , not to be simulated by other faculties . A man

      may exhibit some of the actions of benevolence from love of approbation , more than from any direct impulse of benevolence ; but he calculates because he has the calculating faculty well developed , just as he is a great musician because he has the musical faculty well developed : no other faculty will simulate calculation or music ; no motive could make a man rapidly solve an arithmetical problem , unless ho had the organ of Number well developed . This case of Mangiamele , therefore , so exceptional in the vigour of the faculty , and so unequivocal in the speciality of that faculty , is , as we flaid , a crucial instance , and the reader will learn with interest that M , Peisse pointed to the skull of this boy , and showed a decided depression at that particular spot where the organ of Number ia placed—a depression instead of a remarkable eminence ! The reader will learn , moreover , with increasing interest , that this contradiction between theory and fact was confirmed by the phrenologists themselves ; for , instead of denying the depression , they endeavoured , as usual , to explain it .

      Broussais and Dumoutior undertook to remove the difficulty by declaring that Mangiamele really had no special development of the faculty of Numbor ; but effected his calculations by other faculties . They began their explanation by affirming that the talent of this boy was not ono of memory , it was no mechanical faculty exclusively limited to combinations of numbers . M . Dumoutior spoke with admiration of the boy ' agrenma - which divined acienco : of the power and grandeur of his imagination and

      character , and of his extraordinary powers of induction and generalization «< lTa ture has imprinted on his brow the seal of a Pythagoras , an Archimedes a Euclid T Newton , a Kepler . " All ^ -ivhicli is very possible , but is it true ? As M ' - ' tfcW remarks , " On what evidence are these hyperboles founded ? They do not teS us unless we are to accept as proofs of a transcendent genius , the intrepidity disnlaved by the little fellowin sufferingvM . Dumbutier to take a cast of his head apres avoir toutefois un jeu pleure , ce qiii est , du reste , tres excusable chez un Pythagore de dix ans . " And even if the boy had given evidence of possessing faculties such as are thus gratuitously placed to his credit , the absence of correspondence between t"he faculty of Number arid the special part of the skull where the organ is localized retains its full force as an objection to Phrenology ; becatise , if Mangiamele could add , subtract divide , and multiply with such astonishing rapidity and precision by nieans of ' faculties of Causality , Comparison , Eventuality , or Individuality ( which were

      inyoked ) , it is quite clear that the organ of Number is useless ; ox ( as tMs would be overthrowing too many observations , because the organ was originally established by Gall from examination of the heads of celebrated calculators , and the cast of George Bidder ' s head is one / of timepieces authentiq'ues of the Phrenological Society)—we must admit that one faculty may take on itself the specific duty ; of another ; and a man totally destitute of Tune , may nevertheless be a great musician in virtue of his Causality ; aiiother , totally destitute of Wit , may convulse aU Europe in virtue of his Comparison ; a third , totally destitute of Philoprogenitiveness , may fill his house with squalluig children , and live with them , prompted : by : his Adhesiveness , « r his Love of Approbation . In ' -short ;^ if one faculty can tak e upon itself to perform with , astonishing vigour and spontaneity the office of any other faculty , the whole groundwork of Phrenology is destroyed ; . : ;; V :

      Towards the close of Bis paper the writer gives the phrenologists a piece of thesoundest scientific advice , which , if they would accept and act upon , woulddo far morei towards placmg their system on a true s all the volumes of elaborate , but partial and angry polemics whi ^ written in its dqfence ; ^ e says : --- ^ t : ¦ ¦;'¦ ' - '"''' \ - - " - ; - '¦/' . / ' ' . ' ¦¦ -V- ' ¦¦' . ; ' ' ¦ ; ' .. ' : l TVe thinkthat it is the bounden duty : of : all earnest phrenologists to cease for the present their accumulation of . corroborative instances , and direct all their efforts to the accumulation of contradictory instances . They have already corroborative facts enough to prove that some causal relation exists between configurations of the skull and psychological characteristics . "The contradictions , however , are so numerous , that we may be certain the causal relation is not expressed in their doctrines . Let them collect a large amount of contradictory instances , ' and froin these light may dawn . Instead of ahalf-truth they will then present us with a whole truth .: / - ¦ ¦¦ ¦'¦ ¦ . ' : ' : ' ¦ . ¦ ¦ :: V- '¦ : ¦ •¦¦' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦' : ¦¦ ¦ ' . " - . ? " ¦ "¦ ¦ : ¦ ' ¦ '¦ . - ¦ ¦' ; ¦ ¦ - ' ¦¦ . ¦ ;¦ ¦' ' . - , * . -. .. - •/ - . ¦ ¦

      The fourth articlej on / The Worksand Genius of Michael / Angelo , ^ gives a just and intelligible ..-explanation , of ^ the great sculptor's character and lajjours , with a critical estimate of some of Ms noblest works ; ^ Afpofcr—Part IV . j ' is , like the previous papers of the series , marked by pleasant gossip , picturesque ' . descri ption' ^ and meditative insight . The best ; article in ^ 4 serthis montli is one on the ' Memorials and Corfcspondehce of Charles Janies Fox . ' The writer criticizes sharply-f-not more sharply , however , than it deserves—tlie careless , mechanical , and uiiintelligent manner in "which the hbhle editor of iFox ' s Gorrespondence has performed his duties . Jjord John RusselIi will , indeed , soon be as distinguished for his literary faiLures as he already is for his political ones . In both departments of activity ,, indeed , lie shows tlie ;' s . ame qualities— -a ^ restless ambiiion that prdrapts him to undertake important works , without the patiencej sagacity , and skill that ^ ensuresuccess . A . fter pointingput instances of the editor ' s carelessness , the : writer : in Fraser signaliis es his want of any thing like iutelligent insight in the following passage : —

      What is more important and more striking , is the impress which all this correspondence affords of the character of Fox himself . We had anticipated from these volumes the reflexion of a powerful light upon the intellectual , the social , and the moral elements of that character . The disappointment of this prospect is rendered the more striking by the fact that Fox -was evidently an imprudent letter-writer , who never spared his aspersions on men and their motives , and must therefore be presumed to have wiitten without a particle of reserve . Yet in hardly any one of these letters i 3 there the slightest approach to his inner heart . Charles Fox thought deeply , and he felt more . deeply still . But it is clear that it was no part of his nature to express either thought or feeling upon paper . His correspondence consequently presents but the most feeble index either of head or heart . Where , however , any additional light is thrown either upon his perceptions , his principles , or his domestic life , it commonly happens that his political prognostications are disappointed , and that his letters display a habit of vituperating his opponents according to the obstacles which they interpose to a realization of his ambition .

      The fine intellect and noble disposition of Mr . Fox have been too clearly placed on record during his lifetime , to admit of his memory being compromised by such a posthumous record of his' career and opinions . Yet it is certain that no one has so greatly depreciated his character as Lord John Russell has depreciated it by this careless editing . It is an idiosyncrasy in this * correspondence , that it is no more than just so much after-dinner conversation . The gravest aspersions that it contains can only ^ reconciled with what we have learnt of the writer ' s real character , on the supposition that hia letters were written with the easy levity of verbal jest . Lord John offers no such hypothesis in explanation of the inconsistency that Fox was perfectly willing to ho had

      co-operate in public life , whenever an opportunity occurred , with those whony been thus characterizing in the thoughtless letters of private friendship . This , too , w no merely charitable . supposition . We know , as a matter of fact , that while Fox , in hia letters to Fitzpatrick and Grey , rarely omitted to heap some fresli and scurrilous ) epithet on the character of Pitt , ho stood foremost nt Paris in defending hja rival from complicity in the schemes for the assassination of Buonaparte , with which tnc First Consul repeatedly charged him . This is but ono of many examples indicative of the justice of such a position . Lord John EubsoII , on the other hand , by publishing this correspondence , suggests the gravest suspicions of the integrity of Fox- ; nnci he leaves them unanswered .

      The article on ' . Recent Metaphysical Works—Lewes , Maurice , Fleming , is well-intentioned , and that is all . It is chiefly occupied with Mr . Lewes s Biographical History 0 / Philosophy , to which , while combating and condemning its point of view , the writer gives high praise . The praise , however , is of hMe value , and the "blame quite harmless , for the writer has no intelligible g rasp 01 tlie subject he attempts to discuss . lie has evidently only the most superficial acquaintance with either the science or history of philosophy . One illustration of hia will suffice . He praises Dr . Fleming ' s Vocabulary of J » hilosojphy as ft

      Untitled Article

      ¦ ¦ "¦ ¦ ¦¦ . '¦ .. " ¦•; ' ; ,, I . / ' ,.- ; .. - . ' ¦ ; •¦ - . ' ' ; ¦ ¦• . . : ; " . ; ' . ' - . " —¦ , . ? .. V . ¦¦ . V ' - ' : ' : ¦• „ ¦ - ¦ " . .: v . ¦/ ' ; ' , ; . ¦ - - . ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦ . ; ^ . / - Criticsiare not tHe legislators , b > u , t the judges and police of literature . They do not make lawa-r-they interpret and try , to enforce them . —Edinburgh Review .

      '--''•"'¦"' ^&Gt;"I.J.-^*K ' 4kv*«^ Fluetuulvfc' »^4*Vvu*Uv&Gt;»

      ^ -y ^

      Untitled Article

      ¦ ^¦ ¦^^ :: ^^ - ^ - ;' ' ¦ ^¦¦ ¦^ S ^^ y : M ' ^

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 5, 1857, page 1168, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2220/page/16/