Of this the whole work abounds with proofs and examples.

No man is perfectly like another, either in external construction or internal parts, whether great or small, or in the system of the bones. I find this difference, not only between nations, but between persons of the nearest kindred; but not so great between these, and between persons of the same nation, as between nations remote from each other, whose manners and food are very different. The more confidently men converse with, the more they resemble each other, as well in the formation of the parts of the body, as in language, manners, and food; that is, so far as the formation of the body can be influenced by external accidents. Those nations, in a certain degree, will resemble each other, that have commercial intercourse, they being acted upon by the effect of climate, imitation, and habit, which have so great an influence in forming the body and mind; that is to say, the visible and invisible powers of man; although national character still remains, and which character, in reality, is much easier to remark than to describe.

We shall leave more extensive inquiries and 'observations concerning this subject to some such person as Kamper, and refrain, as becomes us; not having obtained sufficient knowledge of the subject to make remarks of our own, of sufficient importance.

Differences with respect to strength, firm

ness, structure, and proportion of the parts, are certainly visible in all the bones of the skeletons of the different nations; but most in the formation of the countenance, which every where contains the peculiar expression of nature, of the mind.

The scull of a Dutchman, for example, is in general rounder, with broader bones, curved, and arched in all its parts, and with the sides less flat and compressed.

A Calmuc scull will be more rude and gross; flat on the top, prominent at the sides; the parts firm and compressed, the face broad and flat.

The scull of the Ethiopian is steep, suddenly elevated; as suddenly small, sharp, above the eyes; beneath strongly projecting; circular, and high behind.

In proportion as the forehead of the Calmuc is flat and low, that of the Ethiopian is high and narrow; while the back part of an European head has a much more protuberant arch, and spherical form behind, than that of a negro.

Of the Sculls of Children.

The scull, or head, of a child, drawn upon paper, without additional circumstance, will be generally known, and seldom confounded with the head of an adult. But, to keep them distinct, it is necessary the painter should not be too hasty and incorrect in his observations of what is peculiar, or so frequently generalize the

particular, which is the eternal error of painters, and of so many pretended physiognomists.

Notwithstanding individual variety, there are certain constant signs proper to the head of a child, which as much consist in the combination and form of the whole, as in the single parts.

It is well known that the head is larger in proportion to the rest of the body, the younger the person is; and it seems to me, from comparing the scull of the embryo, the child, and the man, that the part of the scull which contains the brain is proportionably larger than the parts that compose the jaw and the countenance. Hence it happens that the forehead in children, especially the upper part, is generally so prominent.

The bones of the upper and under jaw, with the teeth they contain, are later in their growth, and more slowly attain perfect formation. The under part of the head generally increases more than the upper, till it has attained full growth. Several processes of the bones, as the processus mamillares, which lie behind and under the ears, form themselves after the birth; as do also, in a great measure, various hidden. sinusses, or cavities, in these bones. The quillform of these bones, with their various points, ends, and protuberances, and the numerous muscles which are annexed to them, and continually in action, make the greater increase and change more possible and easy than can

happen in the spherical bony covering of the brain, when once the sutures are entirely become solid.

This unequal growth of the two principal parts of the scull must necessarily produce an essential difference in the whole, without enumerating the obtuse extremities, the edges, sharp corners, and single protuberances, which are chiefly occasioned by the action of the muscles.

As the man grows, the countenance below the forehead becomes more protuberant; and as the sides of the face, that is to say, the temple-' bones, which are also slow in coming to perfection, continually remove farther from each other, the scull gradually loses that pear form which it appears to me to have had in embryo.

The sinus frontales first form themselves after birth. The prominence at the bottom of the forehead, between the eyebrows, is likewise wanting in children. The forehead joins the nose without any remarkable curve. This latter circumstance may also be observed in some grown persons, when the sinus frontales are either wanting or very small; for these cavities are found very different in different subjects.

The nose, during growth, alters exceedingly; but I am unable to explain in what manner the bones contribute to this alteration, it being chiefly cartilaginous. Accurately to determine this, many experiments on the heads and sculls of children, and grown persons, would be ne

cessary; or, rather, if we could compare the same head with itself, at different ages, which might be done by the means of shades, such gradation of the head or heads would be of great utility to the physiognomist.

CHAP. XV.

Description of Plate III.

Number 1.

THIS Outline, from a bust of Cicero, appears to me an almost perfect model of congeniality. The whole has the character of penetrating acuteness, an extraordinary, though not a great profile. All is acute; all is sharp: discerning, searching, less benevolent than satirical, elegant, conspicuous, subtle.

Number 2.

Such a

Another congenial countenance. Too evidently nature for it to be mistaken for ideal, or the invention and emendation of art. forehead does not betoken the rectilinear, but the nose thus bent. Such an upper lip, such an open, eloquent mouth. The forehead does not lead us to expect high poetical genius; but acute punctuality, and the stability of retentive memory. It is impossible to suppose this a

common countenance.