"Travelling pleasing, with a good memory for places and their localities.

"Calculations, and some parts of mathematics, would not be found difficult.

"To sum up-this is an organization possessing some ingenuity and useful faculties, but it is one that will meet with many difficulties in practical life; brought on by secretiveness and the feelings predominating over the sentiments, obstinacy in his own opinions, the secret manner he has of plotting to carry the object in view, and his love of notoriety.

"May 4, 1829.

I was struck by the difference between this and the first report," and was led to compare very carefully the two casts, which I also found different.

While taking my own cast, I had tied a handkerchief round my face, but for want of phrenological knowledge, I had tied it much too high, thereby omitting a conspicuous part of the head. Besides, in order to take carefully the organs of "destructive+ ness," secretiveness," &c., I had folded both my ears forward, and the small part of the said ears, perceptible in my original east, had completely bewildered the phrenologists, who had been obliged to suppose the orifice of the ear full half an inch more towards the forehead than it is really, indicative of a much larger portion of animal propensities than I do really possess. This fact will strike every phrenologist, who shall examine both casts (now at the Phrenological Society, and in the collections of Dr. Spurzheim and Mr. Deville) and this circumstance, with my not having mentioned the sex, explains satisfactorily the errors contained in the "first report" and do not authorize me to stigmatize the science with the imputation of inconsistency, and thus prevent others from persevering in their inquiries.

The most important consideration however is to know, now, if the above "opinions" delivered after a full study of my authentic cast, are or are not in accordance with TRUTH? and to this question I am compelled to answer categorically, that some of those opinions are most completely at variance with truth.

Though the LION is not properly the periodical in which to enter minutely on the criticism of each individual “opinion” above stated, and of some others with which leading phrenologists have promised to favour me, still, having gone so far, I shall state some facts in support of my assumption.

It is not only the opinion of Mr. ***; but it is that of phrenologists in general, according to the fundamental principles of their science, that the shape of my head is indicative of great violence and most revengeful feelings, which, combined with

other strong animal propensities, and especially great secretiveness, enabling me to resort to artifice, and ruse de guerre, would render me a most dangerous character, if such violent propensities were touched upon in the least manner; and of course they are compelled to conclude, that I should be a very bad nurse for children, &c. I met last night at the Phrenological Society, with persons, who not knowing me, passed most severe judgments upon my authentic cast, and when I told them that it was my own cast, they most kindly begged me to avoid carefully every cause of irritation, and advised me how to act if unfortunately I was ever offended. If I have a sound understanding, some phrenologists, or pretending to be so, believe that I am capable of stabbing a man on the spot, or poisoning him for a trifling offence.

66

As a most glaring contradiction to this belief, I need only remind my friends of the cheerful manner in which I have received, no longer than ten days ago, from a celebrated orator, an attack, that some persons consider as a most bitter outrage?” (See the article on "Eccentricity" in the LION, No. 17.) and which was, at least, unfair, because "his reverence" knew very well that my wearing a long beard, two years ago, was owing to my intended voyage in the interior of Africa, and that my actual shaving of head was the result of my desire to discover the foundation of phrenology. I say it was an "unfair" attack, because the reverend orator knew perfectly well that though I might have been the "greatest fool" of this hemisphere, I never had the least pretension to be a great man!" and as to the "right" of being "eccentric," surely who could have better claims to it than those who assume with Pope that, "whatever is, is right?" Still how did I behave under such a circumstance? Meeting the reverend orator in company the following Sunday, I went to shake hands with Mr. " not mine," whose astonishment at being discovered (as if such an eloquent man could ever entirely disfigure his style!!) was superseded by that of my "forgiving" him so easily. The reason was very plain, I told him I always gave every one credit for good motives, and therefore I had to thank him, and could have nothing to forgive, but should I ever perceive in any person's actions a positive intention to offend me, I must be a very great fool indeed to let them succeed. If violence of temper, covetousness, love of notoriety, &c., had been my influential passions, I had then surely the best opportunity to exercise them very effectually. I have only selected this fact, because it is the most recent and one known by many persons; but if some phrenologist should say that my conduct on that occasion is highly favourable to their observation (and I think phrenology offers a vast field to conjectures) I would refer them to a fact known by my landlord, that of having

"not

previously to my coming before the public, received a very offensive letter from a friend, whom I had attempted to Knowing the person to be exceedingly nervous, I did not reply to the letter, and continued to be as strongly attached as before, waiting daily some opportunity of offering to such person the most incontrovertible proofs of my sincere and respectful affection. But to cut short, whoever should like to follow up my conduct since-my last landing in England, the 20th July, 1827, may by calling at No. 9, Tower Dock, and 14, Goodge-street, London, and No. 1, Inwood-place, and Alpha-place, at Kentish Town, ascertain that during the course of the last "two years," I have not only not displayed the least violent action nor the least mark of irritability even during the greatest disappointments," but they will hear every where related uncommon marks of benevolence, (modesty is an absurdity in matters of science) they will hear that every where I pay for being served, and never allowed any body to serve me; nay, in the former place (where I landed merely for a week, and where I remained eight months) my very old landlady having no servant, I used to do for her the hardest work, that would have injured her impaired health. I never left a place but from circumstances entirely independent from my will, and surely of the will of my guests, for some of them shed tears, at my departure, and some others good kind of superstitionists. (this is a most serious fact) addressed, in their family prayers, supplications to the Almighty, in order that I should soon come back again to the same lodging.

But to these FACTS that every phrenologist may easily verify, I will add a last and most puzzling one, especially for those, who should feel repugnant to allow me "to nurse children," as if I was somewhat like Mr. CROQUEMITAINE, (a bugbear, named by French nurses to frighten children, a man swallowing all naughty children!) In the first lodging I was compelled to hear all the day a parcel of children playing the devil over my head, or in the street; or a young child in an adjoining room who passed alternatively (by the ignorance of parents) from a noisy hilarity to tears, cursing, damning, and fighting. In two other lodgings, I met with from five to ten children; but in the last place where I resided, nearly seven months, twentysir children had no other passage to go in and out to play but a narrow yard close to my door!! I need not say that I never "swallowed" any of them, but upon inquiry, it will be found, that though I had little intercourse with them, being very busy, and because writing often notes on education, it was important for me to watch their natural actions unperceived; still, when 1 occasionally opened my doors to them, their pleasure was so great, and I delighted them so much, especially by the imitations

of the voice of various animals, that the greatest favour some of them could ask their parents was to beg me "to bark at them."

I shall not trespass any longer on your pages, though I could say a great deal more, and though I am very willing to render justice to the truth of several of the "opinions," which have been read; but the inquiry must be followed systematically, and the case being deemed by phrenologists important enough to be printed at full length, I shall most likely have it inserted in some phrenological magazine, to which the readers of the " Lion" may be referred, or extracts introduced into this periodical, if the editor think it proper. I hope to prove satisfactorily, in the course of this investigation, that I have not the least desire to show myself better than I believe myself to be; and that, on the contrary, I wish to find out whether I am not worse than I fancy; \ and in this investigation, my friends, phrenologists or not, may greatly help me, and I shall be obliged for their remarks, even for those of Mr. " NOT MINE," provided he should not attribute to me intentions which I have never entertained.

Upon the whole, I am much more inclined to believe the truth of phrenology than I was a fortnight ago. But I confess that I shall never become a zealous convert to the science, unless I am enabled to make personal and repeated experiments, after a competent theoretical study of it, or unless some avowed Infidel should become the leader of such a science.

Superstitious creeds, with their monstrous inconsistencies (such as the free agency of man opposed to the fore-knowledge of God! Rewards and punishments opposed to his omnipotence, equity, and benevolence, &c. &c.) are blemishes that degrade this science, as well as every other, and oblige its professors to be rogues or hypocrites, or at all events neutralize their talents!

What but superstition could have dictated the following sentence above related:" His opinions and notions on matters of religion, are not to be spoken in general society." Why so, if such notions are the result of a most serious and careful investigation, if they are founded on truth?

Phrenologists! mind what I tell you: either you must turn honest and respectable Infidels, or Infidels will turn honest and respectable phrenologists.

REFORMING OPTIMIST.

Printed and Published by RICHARD CARLILE, 62, Fleet-street, where all Communications, post-paid, or free of expense, are requested to be lest,

The Lion.

No. 20. VOL. 3.] LONDON, Friday, May 15, 1829. [PRICE 6d.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY; REMEDIES FOR ITS EVILS; CO-OPERATIVE PROJECT, A PALTRY SCHEME; INFIDELITY THE FIRST PRINCIPLE OF PERMANENT RELIEF AND FUTURE WELFARE AND HAPPINESS.

IN all the districts, in which great numbers are employed in the weaving of silks and calicoes, there is very great distress, from the want of a sufficiency of employment, and from the want of a sufficiency of wages for such employment, as can be found. The state of existence among these weavers deserves not to be called a state of life. They have not the necessaries to support life in health. At a fair day's labour, the wages cannot be made to exceed eighteen-pence per day, and the average is not a shilling per day. Such wages, spent upon such highly-taxed articles as are necessary to be consumed, do not afford sufficient subsistence. The agricultural labourers are in no better condition; but their dispersion and mode of life seclude them more from the general public consideration. The cotton-spinners, a very numerous body, who have as yet maintained better wages, are put on a scale of reduction that will not stop until it becomes on an equality with that of the weavers. One great cause of this reduction of wages is the influx into this country of the most miserable part of the population of Ireland.

In Manchester and Glasgow-we are told, there are, in each place, forty thousand Irish labourers. Such an influx of wretchedness and misery is enough to ruin any town or country, and as

Printed and Published by R. CARLILE, 62, Fleet Street.
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No. 20.-Vol. 3.