more effectually establish any conclusion whatever, than this array of converging facts, transpiring all along down throughout the postdiluvian annals, establishes the principle, that MENTAL QUALITIES ARE TRANSMITTED? What reasoning mind can doubt this conclusion, much less controvert it? Does not nature transmit the MENTALITY, as well as the physiology, and along with it? Yet to argue this point is superfluous; we pass to its farther elucidation.

350. THE CHINESE AND HINDOOS

Have been remarkable for their uniformity or fixedness of character from time immemorial. Modern Chinese are but tran

scripts of their ancestors. Their phrenological developments, also, are remarkably uniform. The principal difference consists in those of different avocations. And since father, son, and son's son, throughout all their generations, follow the same occupations, this uniformity is undoubtedly, to a great extent, the product of hereditary laws. * What these developments are, may be learned from Vol. IV. of the "American Phrenological Journal." This uniformity is sufficient for our present inquiry, and is so marked, that I should know especially the Hindoo skull wherever I saw it.

351. THE FRENCH, SPANISH, DANES, GERMANS, ENGLISH, AND SCOTCH,

All have their national form of heads. The FRENCH head is generally excessive at Approbativeness, yet deficient at Self-Esteem, and less high and long than the English.

The SPANISH head is very wide, but short, and high in the crown, and the PORTUGUESE quite like them.

The GERMAN head is wide, rather short, remarkably full or rounding, large at Combativeness and Destructiveness, fairly developed at the crown, and at Causality and Music,

* Minute observations on the developments of the various castes of the eastern world would be most instructive and delightful; and the author does not despair of entering this new but rich field of inquiry, both phrenological and hereditary. Will not phrenologists embrace all possible opportunities of ascertaining the precise developments of these differ

ent castes ?

NAITONAL CHARACTERISTICS.

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and very wide and broad at Conscientiousr.ess. Cautiousness is usually very large. I can generally designate Germans by their heads.

The Swiss head bears a tolerably close resemblance to the German, also the PRUSSIAN and POLISH.

The RUSSIAN is more square in formation. The forehead is generally wide; Causality and Comparison are ample, and the propensities all strong.

The DANISH head bears a tolerably close resemblance to the English, though the latter, being compounded of Normans, Danes, Scotch, and many other nations, is less uniform than that of any other nation, just as are also their national features, color of hair, and the like.

The WELSH head always runs far back in the crown, is often long, and unusually developed at Veneration. This great development of the coronal region gave their ancestors that love of liberty which made them flee to their mountain fastnesses, rather than submit to tyrants.

The SCOTCH usually have ample foreheads, and are well-developed, especially at Causality and Conscientiousness. Hence their love of theological metaphysics, and their sound practical sense.

The IRISH usually have ample Combativeness, and a fervid temperament. Hence their irascibility.

310

In short, is it a matter of doubt that different nations possess different characteristics? Or that their respective mental traits are TRANSMITTED, as their physiognomies have al ready been shown to be? National educations doubtless contribute to form national character, yet do not alone control it, because, remove a Jew where you will, and educate him as you may, and he is a Jew still. And thus of Irishmen, Spaniards, Chinese, and their children after them. National traits are therefore INNATE.

13

SECTION III.

IDIOCY AND THE PROPENSITIES HEREDITARY.

352. THE EMERSONS, AND OTHER IDIOTS.

No. 12. EMERSON, AN IDIOT.

THE preceding engraving is an accurate likeness of an idiot who does not know enough to feed himself. He has another brother in the same condition, and two sisters below mediocrity. The two brothers look very much alike, and are very coarsely organized. Their narrow and retiring foreheads, and coarse temperaments, show that the causes of their idiocy were hereditary conditions. They also illustrate our doctrine of hereditary resemblance, already adduced 312.

In the Wilmington, Del., poor-house, in 1839, I saw a mother and illegitimate daughter, both idiotic. They resembled each other in likeness, and both had deficient foreheads. Causality was scarcely larger in either than in orangoutangs.

A man employed in the Bible establishment, New York, said that about ten years ago he knew an idiot in Chester

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county, Pa., so low in the scale of mentality, that he could neither talk, nor laugh, nor chew, nor even swallow. He lived exclusively on gruel, put into his mouth so as to run down his throat of itself. He made but two noises-a kind of grunt when hungry, and a humming noise, as if attempting to sing yet manifested no other signs of intelligence, except that when he heard music he would lay down and roll, as if it gave him pleasure. He was extremely filthy, and moved little. His brother was deficient, and his mother none of the smartest—indeed, considered a flat-and her sister knew barely enough to warm his porridge when he grunted, and pour it down his throat, but did nothing else. One grandparent was probably a flat 318, and hence the inferiority of mother, sister, and son.

Mr. Coffin mentions an F- family, all of whom, for several generations, are stupid, except that one of them married a smart woman, and has tolerably bright children.

Mr. P, of P- Pa., said that with his utmost endeavors he could never teach any of his scholars belonging to one family to read, and that they were all generally regarded as flats. The children of both their parents, by previous marriages, were ordinarily intelligent, yet all the products of this union were simpletons.

It deserves remark, however, in this connection, though more fully accounted for in "Parentage❞—the next volume— that some unions produce children inferior to both parents, and others superior to either parent, the reason of which is there given.

Other causes than hereditary influences often induce idiocy, as will be seen in the author's work on "Maternity," yet this does not prevent hereditary idiocy. Still, here also, as in cases of disease 326 327, when the idiocy becomes so extreme, that its subject cannot enjoy and promote enjoyment, nature interdicts his transmitting his unfortunate condition, by rendering him childless, for reasons already given 340.

Unless this element is hereditary, it could neither be as universally developed as now, nor as prolific. Though all possess it in a greater or less degree, yet some families, generation after generation, are excessively amorous, and other families phlegmatic in this respect. David, not content with scores of wives and concubines, conceived such a passion for Bathsheba, that he plotted and committed virtual murder on Uriah, in order to indulge it; and Solomon's numerous wives and concubines attest the uncommon energy of this impulse. Indeed, the Jews generally, and their kings especially, judg ing from the Bible account of them, were notorious for their sexual indulgence.

The royal family of England, from time immemorial, have been notoriously licentious; and its recent rapid augmentation evinces the continuance of its extraordinary amative energy.

AARON BURR AND HIS UNCLE PIERPONT EDWARDS

Were among the most remarkable men on record, for the power of this passion, and size of its organ. So notorious was the latter, that in New York, where he flourished above half a century ago, his name is still associated with libertinism the most unbridled, and profligacy the most wanton-so much so that a recent popular novel was founded on one of his seductions. In this respect he probably had no equal except his nephew Aaron Burr, both of whom boasted that they could seduce any woman, however virtuous, to whom they could gain an introduction. Indeed, many readers will still remember that when the letters, expressive of passion, addressed to him by women in the first circles of the land, were announced for publication, their proposed publisher was repeatedly threatened with death if he dared to bring them to light. They are said to be more fervid than anything of the kind ever printed. For ages to come will these two names, especially the latter, be coupled with seductions the most artful and successful, with sexual indulgence the most gross and unparalleled on record, as well as with the ruin of females