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THE

PHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL.

No. LXXXV.

OCTOBER, 1845.

NEW SERIES.-No. XXXII.

I. MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.

I. On the State of Phrenology in South-western Germany. By GEORGE COMBE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL.

HOMBURG, 22d August 1845.

SIR, I have this season revisited the banks of the Rhine, and have now the pleasure of informing you of the progress of Phrenology in these provinces. In travelling through Belgium, I was informed that M. Mareska, physician to the Maison de Force or Penitentiary of Ghent, and Professor of Chemistry in the University of that city, has taken an interest in Phrenology, and has made a collection of the skulls of such criminals as have recently died in the Penitentiary; and that M. Idgiez of Brussels keeps for sale a collection of phrenological casts and busts; but I did not obtain this information until it was too late for me to visit these individuals, which I much regret. In Brussels I had the pleasure of conversing with the celebrated M. Quetelet on the subject of Phrenology, and found him not only free from all prejudices against it, but alive to its importance, and anxious to apply it in his own statistical inquiries. He expressed his regret that, owing to the want of exact phrenological measurements of the head at different ages, and in different nations, he could not blend Phrenology with his statistics of crime and education. In this sentiment I cordially participated; but remarked, that while so much remains to be done in merely VOL. XVIII. N. S. NO. XXXII.-OCTOBER 1845.

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teaching the truths which are already ascertained, and in repelling objections, and while no public encouragement is given to phrenological investigations, it is scarcely to be expected that individuals in different countries should devote their time and talents to making extensive measurements which few could appreciate, and fewer still apply.

In ascending the Rhine, I had the pleasure of renewing my acquaintance with Mr Hülle, the schoolmaster of Königswinter, at the foot of the Drachenfels. He has completed a manuscript translation of the School Edition of my work on "The Constitution of Man," submitted it to the Prussian superintendent of public schools at Cologne for his perusal, and obtained his approval of it; and he only waits for the means of printing it, in order to offer it to the schools of his district for the use of their scholars.

On arriving at Wiesbaden, I found a course of phrenological lectures actually in progress by Dr Scheve, of Heidelberg, already known to your readers as one of the collaborateurs in the German Phrenological Journal. He informed me, that in December and January last, he had delivered a course of lectures on Phrenology in Carlsruhe, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Baden, and had sixty subscribers. In Frankforton-the-Maine he delivered a course in April. In June he lectured in Mayence, and had seventy-five subscribers, and above twenty-five visitors at each lecture. One-third of his

subscribers belonged to the medical profession, and a considerable number to the law. They passed resolutions at the close of the course, expressive of their deep interest in the subject, and high gratification with Dr Scheve's exposition of it. At Wiesbaden he had an audience of fifty persons, all permanent residents in the town, who were so much interested in his lectures, that he was requested to repeat them. The course extends from eight to fifteen lectures, according to the character of the audience. One circumstance occurred at Wiesbaden, which is worth mentioning. M. Garnier, the master of a French institution for the education of young men, at Fredericksdorf (about three miles from the place where I now write), happened to attend the lectures at Wiesbaden. He was so much struck with the importance of their subject in education, that he invited Dr Scheve to come to Fredericksdorf and deliver a course, and promised him forty pupils out of his own institution. Dr Scheve has come to Fredericksdorf and visited the institution, but has not yet been able to make arrangements for complying with M. Garnier's wishes. He returns soon to Heidelberg to push forward an application which he has already made to the Senate of the

University of that town for permission to lecture to the students on Phrenology, as an extra professor. His request has been opposed by some of the professors, but seconded by others; and he expects in time to surmount all obstacles, and to become the first recognised professor of Phrenology in any university in the world. I hope that Scotland will be able to boast the honour of priority in an appointment of this kind; but whichever country shall take the lead, it is clear that the day of the admission of Phrenology into established universities is fast approaching, and were the example once set, and a few able professors of the science furnished with the means of communicating its truths, under the sanction of public authority, to students, its progress would be irresistible, and its influence far greater than is at present dreamt of by its opponents.

Mr Von Struve, in addition to his duties of editor of the German Phrenological Journal, has now those of editor of the Mannheimer Journal, a daily newspaper of extensive circulation; and he employs the influence which it gives him in promoting the advance of the science among his countrymen. Amidst his other efforts, the following deserves particular notice. He is publishing sketches of the development of brain and natural talents and dispositions of such of the remarkable men of Germany as he can induce to submit their heads to his manipulation, and to give their consent to publication; and his success in obtaining both of these concessions is great. He presents his readers with an amusing history of his applications, and of the receptions he met with: from some direct refusals, and from others courteous permission. "My first attempt," says he, "was directed to Herr Von Itzstein, the leader of the opposition in the Commons House of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Baden; with whom I found also ViceChancellor Bekk, the president of the Chamber of Deputies. I submitted my proposal to them both, and both complied with my request. Herr Von Itzstein could not, at that moment, present his head for examination on account of a severe toothache; but I manipulated that of the venerable Vice-Chancellor Bekk. Next day (2d April), I waited on Herren Bassermann and Mathy, the former of whom received my solicitation with loud bursts of laughter, but, nevertheless, soon expressed his readiness to submit, out of complaisance to me. The examination of his head, and that of his friend Mathy, was immediately accomplished. On the 4th of April I went to Heidelberg, and received from Herren Welcker, Gervinus, and Schlosser, the permission which I solicited. The examination instantly took place, and was to me of the highest in

terest, and the more so as it was seasoned with the most interesting conversation. On Sunday, I examined the head of my colleague Dr Hecker-expedited the cast of the head of Herr Mathy-and received from the latter his remarks on my analysis of his natural character. All the gentlemen whom I had solicited promised me similar observations. On 8th April, I went to Carlsruhe, where my success was not great. Only my old friends, the brothers Marschall von Bieberstein, declared themselves ready to give up their heads to my phrenological examination, and on the condition that nothing on the subject should be published. This diminished my interest in them. Nevertheless, I examined the head of the elder brother Augustus, at that time Councillor of State, and a Member of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. I scarcely obtained permission from him to publish the results of my examination after his death. Privy-Councillor Nebenius, who received me with his accustomed friendship and amiability of manner, expressed, nevertheless, many objections against the examination of his head; at one moment declaring his anxious wish to remain in obscurity, and the next, that he had not then time to spare. I did not return to him, as it appeared to me that his concession, if afterwards granted (which he spoke of as probable), might be yielded out of complaisance, and in opposition to his own inclination. The President of the Ministry of State, Herr von Bökh, received me with a very grave countenance, which became still more serious when he heard the object of my visit. He said, that posterity must decide whether he was one of the distinguished men of the nineteenth century or not. I answered, that posterity, however, could have no means of instituting a phrenological examination of his head; but he remained firm in his position. Only when I assured him that I should not farther intrude, and took hold of the handle of the door, did his countenance brighten up, and he dismissed me with some polite and friendly expressions.

"On the 10th of April I reached Stuttgart, and repaired first to Paul Pfizer, who put a decided negative on my request. An interesting conversation, however, on the condition of Germany, compensated me for my phrenological disappointment." 66 Chapel-Master Lindpainter surrendered his head to me with the readiest good will, although I came to him rather inopportunely, when he had company at table. In the evening I found the Chancellor Von Wächter at home, and the examination of his head proceeded, amidst the most interesting conversation. On the 11th I examined the heads of two former friends, now political opponents, the Deputy

Römer and the Minister of State Von Schlayer. The difference of their characters is strongly indicated in the dif ferences of their heads. After an unsuccessful call for the Deputy Düvernoy, I proceeded to the university town of Tübingen.

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My first visit was directed to Uhland. Although, on the announcement of my name, he gave me a very friendly reception, he betrayed evident uneasiness when I stated the object of my call. I read his answer not merely in his countenance, but in the movements of his whole body." Mr Von Struve left him without farther attempts on his head. "I proceeded next to Professor Ewald, the second member of the German Siebengestirnes, whose head I desired to examine. We immediately fell into a most interesting conversation. mencing with Phrenology and its relations to other sciences, we touched on the present circumstances of our native country. I never shall forget the three instructive hours which I spent with this truly amiable and high-minded man.”

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Mr Von Struve next received from Herr Von Schlayer his remarks on the phrenological analysis of his head, and, after an unsuccessful attempt to procure daguerreotype portraits of the individuals who had permitted him to publish his examinations of their heads, he returned to Mannheim. On the 5th June he examined the head of the celebrated Von Itzstein, already mentioned. He then proceeds to lay before the public full details of the measurements, phrenological developments, and natural characters of the persons before named who had consented to the publication, beginning with Vice-Chancellor Bekk.

Some of your readers, judging by English standards, may view these proceedings as ludicrous, others as enthusiastic, and some perhaps as impertinent; but here they have a different aspect. Mr Von Struve is of a family distinguished in Germany for its high diplomatic employments; he himself is known as an author; and by profession he is known as an active liberal barrister in the supreme court of Baden, besides editing a daily newspaper. Of his position in society, therefore, of his personal character and attainments, and of the scientific object of his solicitations, there could be no question. Hence, his generally cordial reception, and the confidence reposed in him by so many men occupying eminent stations and offices in their several states, is easily explained. In so far as regards the utility of his project towards the advancement of the science, nothing, in my opinion (if his sketches be correctly executed), could be better conceived. We all like to dissect individual character; and if the subjects

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