ce from the line of danger。
But this consideration has led me much beyond the true subject of this Essay。 The instructor of youth； as I have already said； is called upon to use all his skill； to animate the courage； and maintain the cheerfulness and self…complacency of his pupil。 And； as such is the discipline to be observed to the candidate； while he is 〃under a schoolmaster；〃 so； when he is emancipated； and his plan of conduct is to be regulated by his own discretion； it is necessary that he should carry forward the same scheme； and cultivate that tone of feeling； which should best reconcile him to himself； and； by teaching him to esteem himself and bear in mind his own value； enable him to achieve things honourable to his character； and memorably useful to others。 Melancholy； and a disposition anticipating evil are carefully to be guarded against； by him who is desirous to perform his part well on the theatre of society。 He should habitually meditate all cheerful things； and sing the song of battle which has a thousand times spurred on his predecessors to victory。 He should contemplate the crown that awaits him； and say to himself； I also will do my part； and endeavour to enrol myself in the select number of those champions； of whom it has been predicated that they were men； of whom； compared with the herd of ordinary mortals； 〃the world；〃 the species among whom they were rated； 〃was not worthy。〃
Another consideration is to be recollected here。 Without self…complacency in the agent no generous enterprise is to be expected； and no train of voluntary actions； such as may purchase honour to the person engaged in them。
But； beside this； there is no true and substantial happiness but for the self…complacent。 〃The good man；〃 as Solomon says； 〃is satisfied from himself。〃 The reflex act is inseparable from the constitution of the human mind。 How can any one have genuine happiness； unless in proportion as he looks round； and； 〃behold！ every thing is very good？〃 This is the sunshine of the soul； the true joy； that gives cheerfulness to all our circulations； and makes us feel ourselves entire and complete。 What indeed is life； unless so far as it is enjoyed？ It does not merit the name。 If I go into a school； and look round on a number of young faces； the scene is destitute of its true charm； unless so far as I see inward peace and contentment on all sides。 And； if we require this eminently in the young； neither can it be less essential； when in growing manhood we have the real cares of the world to contend with； or when in declining age we need every auxiliary to enable us to sustain our infirmities。
But； before I conclude my remarks on this subject； it is necessary that I should carefully distinguish between the thesis； that self…complacency is the indispensible condition of all that is honourable in human achievements； and the proposition contended against in Essay XI； that 〃self…love is the source of all our actions。〃 Self…complacency is indeed the feeling without which we cannot proceed in an honourable course； but is far from being the motive that impels us to act。 The motive is in the real nature and absolute properties of the good thing that is proposed to our choice： we seek the happiness of another； because his happiness is the object of our desire。 Self…complacency may be likened to the bottle…holder in one of those contentions for bodily prowess； so characteristic of our old English manners。 The bottle…holder is necessary to supply the combatant with refreshment； and to encourage him to persist； but it would be most unnatural to regard him as the cause of the contest。 No： the parties have found reason for competition； they apprehend a misunderstanding or a rivalry impossible to be settled but by open contention； and the putting forth of mental and corporeal energy； and the bottle…holder is an auxiliary called in afterwards； his interference implying that the parties have already a motive to act； and have thrown down the gauntlet in token of the earnest good…will which animates them to engage。
ESSAY XX。 OF PHRENOLOGY。
The following remarks can pretend to he nothing more than a few loose and undigested thoughts upon a subject； which has recently occupied the attention of many men； and obtained an extraordinary vogue in the world。 It were to be wished； that the task had fallen into the hands of a writer whose studies were more familiar with all the sciences which bear more or less on the topic I propose to consider： but； if abler and more competent men pass it by； I feel disposed to plant myself in the breach； and to offer suggestions which may have the fortune to lead others； better fitted for the office than myself； to engage in the investigation。 One advantage I may claim； growing out of my partial deficiency。 It is known not to be uncommon for a man to stand too near to the subject of his survey； to allow him to obtain a large view of it in all its bearings。 I am no anatomist： I simply take my stand upon the broad ground of the general philosophy of man。
It is a very usual thing for fanciful theories to have their turn amidst the eccentricities of the human mind； and then to be heard of no more。 But it is perhaps no ill occupation； now and then； for an impartial observer； to analyse these theories； and attempt to blow away the dust which will occasionally settle on the surface of science。 If phrenology； as taught by Gall and Spurzheim； be a truth； I shall probably render a service to that truth； by endeavouring to shew where the edifice stands in need of more solid supports than have yet been assigned to it。 If it be a falshood； the sooner it is swept away to the gulph of oblivion the better。 Let the inquisitive and the studious fix their minds on more substantial topics； instead of being led away by gaudy and deceitful appearances。 The human head； that crowning capital of the column of man； is too interesting a subject； to be the proper theme of every dabbler。 And it is obvious； that the professors of this so called discovery； if they be rash and groundless in their assertions； will be in danger of producing momentous errors； of exciting false hopes never destined to be realised； and of visiting with pernicious blasts the opening buds of excellence； at the time when they are most exposed to the chance of destruction。
I shall set out with acknowledging； that there is； as I apprehend； a science in relation to the human head； something like what Plato predicates of the statue hid in a block of marble。 It is really contained in the block； but it is only the most consummate sculptor； that can bring it to the eyes of men； and free it from all the incumbrances； which； till he makes application of his art to it； surround the statue； and load it with obscurities and disfigurement。 The man； who； without long study and premeditation； rushes in at once； and expects to withdraw the curtain； will only find himself disgraced by the attempt。
There is a passage in an acute writer＇39＇； whose talents singularly fitted him； even when he appeared totally immerged in mummery and trifles； to illustrate the most important truths； that is applicable to the point I am considering。
＇39＇ Sterne； Tristram Shandy； Vol。 1。
〃Pray； what was that man's name；for I write in such a hurry； I have no time to recollect or look for it；who first made the observation； 'That there was great inconstancy in our air and climate？' Whoever he was； it was a just and good observation in him。 But the corollary drawn from it； namely； 'That it is this which has furnished us with such a variety of odd and whimsical characters；'that was not his；it was found out by another man； at least a century and a half after him。 Then again； that this copious storehouse of original materials is the true and natural cause that our comedies are so much better than those of France； or any others that have or can be wrote upon the continent； that discovery was not fully made till about the middle of king William's reign； when the great Dryden； in writing one of his long prefaces （if I mistake not）； most fortunately hit upon it。 Then； fourthly and lastly； that this strange irregularity in our climate； producing so strange an irregularity in our characters； cloth thereby in some sort make us amends； by giving us somewhat to make us merry with； when the weather will not suffer us to go out of doors；that observation is my own； and was struck out by me this very rainy day； March 26； 1759； and betwixt the hour of nine and ten in the morning。
〃Thusthus； my fellow…labourers and associates in this great harvest of our learning； now ripening before our eyes； thus it is； by slow steps of casual increase； that our knowledge physical； metaphysical； physiological； polemical； nautical； mathematical； aenigmatical； technical； biographical； romantical； chemical； and obstetrical； with fifty other branches of it； （most of them ending； as these do； in ical；） has； for these two last centuries and more； gradually been creeping upwards towards that acme of their perfections； from which； if we may form a conjecture from the advantages of these last seven years； we cannot possibly be far off。〃
Nothing can be more true； than the proposition ludicrously illustrated in this passage； that real science is in most instances of slow growth； and that the discoveries which are brought to perfection at once； are greatly exposed to the suspicion of quackery。 Like the ephemeron fly； they are born suddenly； and may be expected to die as soon。
Lavater； the well known author of Essays on Physiognomy； appears to have been born seventeen years before the birth of Gall。 He attempted to reduce into a system the indications of human character that are to be found in the countenance。 Physiognomy； as a subject of ingenious and probable conjecture； was well known to the ancients。 But the test； how far any observations that have been made on the subject are worthy the name of a science； will lie in its application by the professor to a person respecting whom he has had no opportunity of previous information。 Nothing is more easy； when a great warrior； statesman； poet； philosopher or philanthropist is explicitly placed before us； than for the credulous inspector or fond