of the world, to hear other facts, if you ever call to mind any that carry with them a force equal to that which attends those you have already related. It is, however, too late to pursue the subject now. To-morrow we meet again. I appoint no time nor place. You will say I am rather a listener than a teacher, and in that capacity I choose to continue for the present. Farewell!

COLLOQUY X.

PHRENOLOGIST.

MAN, organically considered, is one of the noblest monuments of creative energy. Viewed in his earliest embryo state, we see him a confused mass of materials, yet with the principle of life, growth, maturity, decay, and death, which are natural to all organized substances. Viewed at a later period, even though yet in embryo, we behold an arrangement of parts, admirably and delicately constructed, and adapted to some such purposes as shall hereafter be, and as are yet by nature, indeed, assigned to it. The progress of the organization from its germ upwards may, with much propriety, be compared to the progress of a vegetable from the first expansion of the seed, to the complete development of its several parts. They are both organic substances, and subject to similar physical laws. With the assistance of the microscope, we are able to discover all the organs of a mature being, when the embryo is only a few days old. Sir Everard Home detected the brain at eight days; and there is no reason to suppose this at all impossible, when, in the animalcula, which is, at least, a thousandth part smaller, the microscope discovers a system of organs aptly adapted, though not perhaps so complicated. We know not,

indeed, that the very germ of the species does not possess all the organs perfect in their relations, and complete in their numbers. The essence from which all the organs spring is, at least, existent; and of what is the essence composed, if not of parts and principles which are, sooner or later, brought into visible existence? There is no doubt that an arrangement, incomplete as it may be, exists in every germ as well as in every seed. In the growth of a human being, from birth to maturity, we discover a beautiful adaptation in it to the design of Providence; for as the child is called upon to exercise certain instincts and duties compatible with its situation in the many progressive stages of its existence, we find that the parts adapted to their performance are the most perfectly developed. For instance, we discover the tongue, stomach, liver, lungs, and alimentary canal perfect, though not arrived at their full size, from birth; whereas the brain is yet a homogeneous mass, and not divisible into parts, to that perfect extent, at least, which we are able to trace in the visceral organs. From birth these organs are required to exercise the same functions as they are at maturity, or any period during the existence of the object; but the brain is not so required, and, therefore, its organs are slower in their development. At maturity we are presented with a being complete in every part-a being which, after successive stages of growth, is now more fully adapted to be the instrument of all those avocations to which both nature and providence have called it. The bones, muscles, nerves, brain, and every member, in fact, as well as every relation which one member may bear to another, have each arrived at that period when, agreeably to the constitution of human nature, all shall be fully developed. If there be any exception to this, it is with the brain, which commonly makes some advancement in growth, its several

organs becoming more complete after this period; but not, perhaps, independently of the observance of a certain law, that of its being exercised to a greater extent.

It is a law in the animal economy, that, as a part is exercised, it shall increase in size; and this law holds good with respect to the brain, and especially so with the muscle. The law, however, is not confined to these, but extends itself through the whole congeries of organs. It is limited in its operations on some occasions, so far as all organs are not capable of being equally exercised.

Now, the human frame has received from its Creator a certain constitution, a definite character-that is, all human beings have, in their organic developments, been cast in the same mould, with the exception of some slight disproportions in the relative sizes of different members. These disproportions, infinitely varied as they are in the human family, constituting those differences which distinguish one man from another, never deviate to such an extent as to bear an impression of their not having been cast in the one universal mould, which would sacrifice the identity of the species. The disproportions of which I speak are no infringement of that established law which preserves the identity of the species. It is, indeed, as much a law that difference should exist in the relative size of organs, so as to give every man an organic character peculiarly his own, by which he may be distinguished from his fellows, as that a certain standard of character should run through, or be preserved throughout the whole chain of the human family. It was evidently the design of Providence that these disproportions should exist, and that design must necessarily be accompanied by a law, which is universal in its operation. We discover infinite wisdom in this arrangement; without it human nature could not subsist, unless, at least, man

was subject to another law, first instituted by the Creator, by which he may be able to recognise his brothermen by traits of character, independently of organization. Disorder would be manifested in the whole moral world; the evils endless. Much as we would desire a perfect development in every individual, any rule set by man to accomplish that end would be frustrated by Providence ; and for this reason we cannot bring the human conformation to one standard. The disproportions may, by attending to certain rules, be greatly modified: for instance, the offspring of two individuals beautifully developed, and presenting in their bodily proportions great similitude to the original, Adam and Eve, whom we will suppose to have been perfect in this respect, would in general be more beautiful in its relative parts than that offspring who was the produce of parents the reverse in conformation. Health of body is also necessary to the perfect development of the child; and the preservation of this good development obtained from the parent, depends upon circumstances. This point being attended to in the whole of the human family-a desire being manifested in each individual, comparatively perfect in physical nature, to unite with none who may not be equally perfect-a law, in fact, being enacted by the legislature to prevent alliances between parties not of good proportions, a great degree of perfection and uniformity would be arrived at in man. But this act would be an infringement of another law, i. e. it would be dividing one man against another, and annihilating a portion of the human species by provisions which would not be justified in the sight of the great Lawgiver. There is no doubt, however, that the disproportions are, in many instances, of that character as to render them otherwise than desirable, and here an attempt at rectifi