will, he more frequently directed than acted with them. The disposal of his spoil being his chief concern, he had often distant journeys to perform in order to arrange with the purchasers; so that, though the connexion between them was close and intimate, still it had on his part much mystery attached to it. This he maintained even at the bar of justice, and though, after his conviction, an hundred guineas were offered him for a detail of the adventures of his life, he rejected the bribe with scorn. After sentence

of death was pronounced, he was seized with an alarming illness, which continued for five months, and being apparently on the verge of eternity, he still kept the same reserve as to the minute details of his life. On his recovery he was removed to the convict-hulk, with the view of being conveyed to New South Wales; but his age being deemed too advanced for the voyage, he was detained to labour at the public works. Here he was orderly, obedient, and respectful to his superiors; but towards his fellow-prisoners he was, with one exception, reserved, keeping them at an immeasurable distance. In May 1826, his infirmities increasing on him, he was removed to the hospital-ship. Here, by an unvarying system of kindness, the stateliness of his mind unbent so as to induce him to exercise more familiarity; still, however, with the same guarded avowal as to facts, with the following solitary exceptions:

1st, That though he had led a lawless life, he had never committed murder.

2dly, That by his wife he had eight children; that he had also a natural son in North Wales, and he had kept several women in different parts, and at different times, up to the period of his apprehension.

To this scanty detail of facts it only remains to add the manifestations of character he exhibited after he had become familiar with the patients of the hospital.

In the first place, he exhibited a severe sarcastic wit at the expense of those around him. The manners and language of the kind and benevolent clergyman who officiates at the hospital were the frequent subjects of his mimickry.

In the second place, he exhibited a strong attachment to his children. He frequently spoke of them in the most affectionate manner, and made his last moments respecta

ble by directing them to the disposal of his property among them.

In the third place, he possessed a firm disbelief in the existence of a Deity and of a state of future rewards and punishments, and sunk into eternity avowing his disbelief. A. R.

CHATHAM, February 14. 1827.

To Dr ELLIOTSON.

SIR,-At the meeting of the Rochester Literary Club, the enclosed resolutions were (on the motion of the Rev. Dr Joynes) unanimously adopted, and, by their direction, I have the honour to forward you the same. Permit me to add the high gratification I feel in being entrusted with the present communication. With great personal esteem, I have the honour to be, Sir, your very obedient servant,

CHATHAM, February 20. 1827.

A. R.

Resolutions passed at a Meeting of the Rochester Literary Club, held on Thursday, February 15. 1827.

Mr R. having introduced the subject of Phrenology, by an interesting correspondence between himself and Dr Elliotson, the President of the London Phrenological Society, upon the skull of J. L., it was continued by other members till the usual hour of adjournment, when the following resolutions were passed unanimously :—

1st, That the character given of L. by Dr Elliotson, from the inspection of the skull, corresponds so exactly with his history, that it is impossible to consider the coincidence as the effect of chance, but that it is an instance which, if supported by many others, affords a strong foundation for the truth of Phrenology.

2d, That a copy of the above resolution be forwarded to Dr Elliotson, with the thanks of the Club for his communication, and that Mr R. be requested to transmit the same. H. P. Secretary.

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DR THOMAS'S THEORY OF THE TEMPERAMENTS. *

In all ages mankind have been struck by the diversities of character and of activity that accompanied, and were by many supposed to depend on, differences of temperament or natural constitution of the body. So far back as the time of Hippocrates, we find a classification of temperaments into four great divisions, which, more or less modified, have since been often set aside and often reproduced; but up to the present day, notwithstanding the most laborious inquiries of physicians, physiologists, and philosophers, we remain almost as ignorant as ever of the physical causes on which these varieties depend, of the phenomena by which they may be accurately distinguished, and of the circumstances by which they may be modified and controlled; and thus it may be truly said, that a rational, useful, and consistent theory of the temperaments is yet only in expectation.

An approach to a better system has, however, been lately made by a French physician, Dr F. Thomas; and whether he be correct or not in all his facts and conclusions, it is impossible, we think, to read the exposition contained in the work now before us without admitting, that, in principle, in simplicity, and in practical usefulness, his doctrine excels all that have preceded it; and that, whatever may be its ultimate fate, Dr T. has succeeded in making at least one step in advance in a difficult and intricate path; and that on that account he deserves the thanks and the candid attention of the public.

On looking at the animal system, says Dr T., we find it to consist of three great groups of organs, each group performing distinct functions, but all the parts of each so far analogous as to contribute to one general end. The first group is that contained in the cavity of the cranium, and the general function which it performs is to carry on, or rather to manifest, all the operations of the mind, to constitute the seat of sensation, and to supply nervous energy to, and to direct the movements of, all parts of the body.

Physiologie des Temperamens ou Constitutions, &c.; par F. Thomas, D. M. P.; Paris, 1826.-Phren. Jour., vol. iv. No. 15, p. 438. By Andrew Combe, M. D.

It is composed of many distinct parts, performing as many distinct functions; but all these, from a general similarity, may be regarded as belonging to the same genus, and may therefore be classed together. The second group is that contained in the cavity of the thorax, and it includes chiefly the lungs and the heart, having for their functions the. processes of sanguification and circulation, which also have a general resemblance in their object. The third group is that contained in the cavity of the abdomen, including the stomach, liver, spleen, bowels, &c.; each also differing from the other, but all concurring to effect the conversion of food into chyle, and the separation and excretion of the superfluous or injurious particles from the system.

All other parts of the body-the limbs, and the parietes of the head, thorax, and abdomen-are evidently the mere passive instruments or defences of these more important animal functions. The head, thorax, and abdomen, form, in fact, what is properly called the animal, while the extremities may be wanting without diminishing the individuality of a living being. From this we come to the natural conclusion, that whatever a temperament or constitution may be in itself, the causes which give rise to it must exist in one or other or all of these three great groups of organs. And, accordingly, this inference of reason is amply borne out by observation, in a way that we shall now try to explain.

When an important natural truth is brought fully to light, it is astonishing how many, how easy, and how fruitful, are the applications of which it is susceptible. In our last Number, we were at some pains to shew that the phrenological principle of organic size being, cæteris paribus, a measure of functional power, so far from being either a fancy of a heated imagination, or peculiar to the brain alone, was, on the contrary, a universal law, extending over every created object, animate or inanimate. And now Dr Thomas comes before the public with a new and distinct application of this very principle, and not only demonstrates its universal prevalence, but, by its means, elicits many other important truths, and shows that differences of constitution or temperament depend on the predominance in development of one or more of the three great cavities relatively to the others, and on the consequent predominance of the class of functions which its organs perform.

By phrenological readers, Dr Thomas's fundamental principle of size being an element of power, will be readily received; but as this extended application of it is new, and as, on account of its favouring "the fantastical nonsense of Gall and Spurzheim," it is not in general repute among professors and established teachers, Dr T. wisely sets about proving it, as if it had never been heard of before. Nevertheless he is actually praised by our most inveterate (we are sorry that we cannot say most able) medical opponent, for not lending any countenance to the phrenological doctrines. Of the simplicity of this opponent, our readers will judge, when they are informed, that Dr Thomas begins by expressing his astonishment that any one should still be required to prove so self-evident and so palpable a proposition, as that size in an organ is a measure of power in its functions, and particularly that, now when it is plainly stated, any one should be found ignorant enough seriously to contest its truth. In endeavouring to find out why so plain a truth should have remained so long unknown, Dr T. states, that, perhaps, the most powerful reason was the false idea entertained of the force or energy of an organ. Promptitude and facility of action," says he, "were generally confounded with force and energy, without attending to the fact that, most generally, these two dispositions are not even indications of force; for it is not, for example, those in whom the pulsations of the heart are most frequent, and the motions of the limbs most prompt and easy, who have the heart and muscles most robust and powerful: the contrary is even observed on comparing the child and the female with adult man; and the observation is, besides, applicable to all the organs, to the brain, to the stomach, &c. But it is the degree of complement of the function which constitutes the degree of energy of the organ which executes it; and to understand this degree of complement of action, we must bear in mind, that every organ has its own particular and distinct mode of energy, according to its structure and relations with other organs; that the brain is energetic when it perceives, remembers, compares, and wills strongly, or when the intelligence is powerfully developed, and the passions strong; the lungs, when they are the seat of a complete and abundant sanguification; the

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