s /rr*t*~ ^ yy*. tt^cy^yy/Ayy^ yyAyiAS'a^ Za^^t. y^ Ayt^ 6**' , 2<^ c / 2 ^ t 4 - C -/^Cy-t/'Z'• cs «Ue-C^ y. 'C /< d&ye /£: \ JfoZya**^^ 4^ fa ‘aS/ J^fTt^U i X. Je^Wi tSJ!~ ?JVrz*j *U 2 U^ /£ ''s**^ / ”^C^ 2 c Jt/ki C^-f. uO- t2c~^ ‘P^ 4~^C of- /^T>t^S « . (h-^i *-dd $ J te^ '?** hi /2a*sxd&. cJ^Ay ^ %y^ ^'** ^y y aJ*& (/^Jltcyz. Ccrz^c / ibocs uyt £*4 t V _ C2J, Ij fa *■• ■’ • 1 * ,r OUl ■v^/^7 ^ IVccyt /zTr& \ \J J&*. y-^~ /* t^./-J} <^- C ^ .' / /^ '^^-*- ^ XvV ^ ^>1 PHRENOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE SKULL OF EUGENE AKAM, WITH •a Hrefixett £ftctrfj of fits Uifc anti ffifjaractir, BY JAMES INGLIS, M. D. ILLUSTRATED BY LITHOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SKULL, AND A PORTRAIT OF EUGENE ARAM. LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO.; BANCKS, HAYWARD, AND CO., MANCHESTER ; JOHN L. LINNEY, RIPON. MDCCCXXXVIII. RIPON: PRINTED BY JOHN LEWIS LINNEY. PREFACE. At the meeting of the British Association in Newcastle, in August last, I laid before the Medical Section, the Skull of Eugene Aram, and from it made some remarks regarding his character. I took occasion also to notice the benefits that might arise from Phrenology in medico-legal investigations. Many of the public prints, instead of giving the evidence I adduced, only gave the objections raised to the identity, and thus, a doubt still seems to hover over the fated Skull. Others, ignorant of the cir¬ cumstances, seem to throw a degree of blame upon the Author, for attemping to do justice to the memory of an unfortunate man, who, in his opinion, did not receive justice when alive. In the following pages, a brief sketch of the life and character of Eugene Aram is given; the identity of the Skull is estab¬ lished, the phrenological developement is stated, and a final re¬ view of his actions made, as according with his developement. The Author has at a much earlier period than he antici- ^ pated put forth these observations to the world; should therefore i/> the critical eye of the reader stumble upon inaccuracies, let him in attribute them to the hasty manner in which this publication has -^passed through the press. t v. V* V K f ty Ripon, September 6th, 1838 . SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF EUGENE ARAM, Eighty years have now nearly passed by since Eugene Aram suffered at York, for the supposed crime of murder. Since then pamphlet upon pamphlet has appeared before the public—at one time conveying ideas of murder and infamy, at another, feelings of sympathy and compassion. Amongst these, the writings of Norrisson Scatc- herd, Esquire, of Morley, have, I think, after a long and unsparingly laborious research of the author, revealed the true character of this un¬ fortunate man; a great interest, in whose life and fate, has within these few last years been excited by the justly popular novel of Sir E. L. Bulwer. Without further introduction, I shall, as pro¬ posed in the preface, enter upon this brief sketch of the life of Eugene Aram. The register of the chapelry of Middlesmoor records the birth place 2 of Eugene to have been Ramsgill, in Nidderdale, and the event to have taken place in October, 1704. Whilst yet in infancy he was removed to Skelton, near Newby; and at the age of five to Bonclgate, in Ripon, where he remained for seven years, and, during that period, all the education he received was barely sufficient to enable him to read the New Testament. When about fourteen he went to his father at Newby, and resided there till the death of Sir Edward Blackett. During these two, or at most three years, “ being always of a solitary disposition/' his mind became occu¬ pied with mathematical pursuits, and at that ten¬ der age, unassisted by masters, he became “equal to the management of quadratic equations, and their geometrical constructions." At sixteen, Eugene went to London to act as book-keeper for Mr. Christopher Blackett, but at the end of about two years, a severe illness caused him to return to Ripon: here remaining for some time unoccu¬ pied, an opportunity was afforded him of renewing his mathematical studies, but the charms of poetry, history, and antiquities being more attractive, “destroyed," as he says, “all the heavier beauties of numbers and lines, whose applications and properties were now pursued no longer, except occasionally in teaching." The exact period when he was invited into his native vale to take charge of a school, is not . 3 mentioned, but in 1731 he married, unfortunately for him, “for the misconduct of the wife which that place afforded me,” says Eugene, “ has procured me this place , this prosecutio?i , this infamy , and this sentence” Finding now the deficiencies of his education, he prosecuted, at his leisure hours the special study of grammar, then he attacked and overcame the latin language, and after “ ac¬ curately perusing everyone of the latin classics, his¬ torians and poets,” he turned his attention to greek. Beginning with the simple greek testament;, he proceeded to Hesiod, Homer, Theocritus, He¬ rodotus, Thucydides and all the greek tragedians. Whilst thus engaged he was induced, in 1734, to accept of a school at Knaresbrough, and accord¬ ingly repaired thither, where he made himself master of the Hebrew language. In the April of 1745, being about six weeks after the disappear¬ ance of Clark, Eugene went to London and 1 hence, after a lapse of two years, to Hayes in Mid¬ dlesex, where he remained four years. During the next seven years of his eventful life, he seems to have passed his time in the south of England, and previous to his final sojourn at Lynn he re¬ turned to London, where he transcribed the acts of parliament to be registered in chancery. Nor were these latter days of Eugene Aram's existence less laborious than those we have reviewed. From the period he went to London in 1745, till 1758, 4 notwithstanding the efforts he had to make to support himself and his daughter, we find that he had mastered the french, the chaldee, the arabic, and the Celtic languages—he says himself, “ I had made notes and compared above three thou¬ sand words together, and found such a surprising affinity, even beyond any expectation or concep¬ tion, that I was determined to proceed through the whole of these languages, and form a compa¬ rative lexicon, which I fondly hoped would ac¬ count for the numberless vocables in use with us, before concealed and unobserved by the latins and the greeks.” But besides this useful mode of occupying his time, we find him, when worn out by cc honestly laborious days and nights intensely studious, not routing his melancholy spirit by rushing into so¬ ciety, nor partaking of those mistaken pleasures which stimulate only to depress the deeper, but recruiting his mind with the study of history, anti¬ quities, botany, heraldry and those lighter amuse¬ ments which elevate and enoble the other faculties. I might here introduce a part, or rather all of the defence he delivered at York, to show the classic spirit that pervaded all the writings and thoughts of Eugene Aram, but reserving it for a subsequent part, I shall close this portion of his history with the opinion entertained of Eugene Aram by Dr. Keppis; when some one stated his surprise to him 5 that a murderer should be admitted a place in the Biograph : Britan:, he replied, that Aram was entitled to it as a distinguished literary character: and it seemed to be the opinion of Archdeacon Paley, who was present at his trial and heard his defence, that “he got himself hanged hy his clever- ness *”—Passing onward, I shall now bring for¬ ward, briefly, what we know of the moral charac¬ ter of the man, or rather the opinion that his con¬ temporaries held regarding him. Not a word of reproach or malignity was ever uttered against this unfortunate man, until he stood charged with the crime which was destined to cut him off in the midst of much usefulness; then as we shall see, “traditions,” as Mr. Scatc- herd says, “worthy only to be classed with the nur¬ sery-tale of the haunted chamber” are raised and exaggerated against him. At an early part of his life we find Eugene Aram at Gouthwaite Hall, near Ramsgill,—here he had under his tuition and under his roof as boarders, gentlemen who in after life did honor to their master. At Knaresbro" he was beloved by his pupils, and in after years we hear them talking of him, not as the guilty or wicked, but as the unfortunate Aram” Nor do we find them forsaking him even when his country, or rather a court of his country, had condemned * See Meadley’s Memoirs of Paley, 2nd Edit. Edinb. 1810, p. 7 . him. Let us now follow him to Lynn, and there too Eugene Aram is courted and respected. At the rectory of Gaywood he spends his Sundays and his holidays with the Rev. W. Weatherhead, he has the sons of the neighbouring gentlemen attending his school, and the instruction of their daughters was also intrusted to him. His feeling of benevolence seemed to operate upon him so powerfully, that both Dr. Weatherhead and the Rev. Anthony Hinton have often observed him, when amusing himself in the garden, to stop and carefully avoid the worm which otherwise he might have injured. When the constables arrived at Lynn to execute their mission upon him, they en¬ quired about the school and respecting Aram, and the answer they received was “ that he bore the best of characters,” they could speak also of “ the favourable character the boys had given of him,” and of the unwillingness to believe the charge so universally expressed. Any amount of bail was offered by the gentlemen about Lynn for his appearance to take trial, and Dr, Knox, under whose roof he resided all the seven months he was at Lynn, “ would not allow the warrant to be served on Aram, until he was informed that it was on a charge for murder A In a Tract dis¬ covered by Mr. Scatcherd, and contemporary with Mr. Hargrove’s first publication of 1759, Eugene’s character is thus given. “ Eugene, otherwise Eugenius Aram,* was a man well respected and, in general, esteemed by the better sort of people. Through the general estimation and opinion gen¬ tlemen had of his uncoinmon abilities and exten¬ sive learning , he was always looked upon and trea¬ ted in a more genteel and respectable manner, than people in his station and ivay of life generally are. His way of living and outward deportment were remarkably unblameable for many years. He was most upright and fair in all dealings and transactions he had with other people , of great tenderness ancC humanity , which he much prided himself upon to the last.” * # “Eugene was about five feet eight inches, remarkably straight limbed, and well made,”f his appearance, character and habits seem all to coincide. He is always represented as being “ a very gentlemanly man, that he kept high company , and was about the middle stature ” and “ that he had respectable youth of both sexes under his tuition—that he kept the best company, and bore a most unexcep¬ tionable character.” Eugene was so much regarded by his old pupils, that many years after his execution, on two occa- * I discovered ih the possession of Edwin Hirst, Esq. Solicitor, Ripon, an old Will bearing date 5th June, 1735, having attached to it the name of Eugenius Aram as an attesting witness. The Autograph Mr. Hirst kindly permitted me to lithograph and it is placed under the Portrait. t “ Gleanings ” p. 30. 1836. 8 sions the house of Houseman was attacked and threatened to be destroyed by two of his former scholars, from Oxford, believing, as they said, that Houseman had perjured himself, and had been the cause of Eugene’s ignominious death. From all the accounts of Eugene I have perused I have discovered nothing but good spoken of him till after his apprehension, when tale upon tale swell up the magnitude until their overthrow is caused by their own immensity. I may just make up the black character he is represented to be, by accumulating the evidence against him. His enemies however do not commence his life of sin, until about the year 1744, he being then forty years of age! “ It is 'presumed ,” says the ‘ original and only authentic account/ (? ) “ that a scheme was laid by Eugene Aram, then a schoolmaster inKnares- brough, Eichard Houseman, a flax dresser, and Henry Terry, an inn-keeper, to defraud several persons of great quantities of goods and plate; and, that Clark should be the man to carry these schemes into execution/’ Clark happened to have been but lately married to a woman having about a couple of hundred pounds as her portion, and it is said “ then lived in very good credit.” The re¬ port of the celebration of a marriage festival at his house was to be the plea for the borrowing of plate, &c., from the neighbours. The plot succeeded. 9 the plate was obtained, and these three men, with a fourth, named Terry, agreed to convey the plate to St. Robert's Cave, and there divide the spoil. On Friday morning, the 8th of February, they all set out together, Eugene with the 'premeditated determination of murdering Clark, and becoming possessor of his wife's fortune.—He did murder him ; and Terry, and Houseman quietly looking on and seeing him knock down Clarified, fearing a similar fate! Eugene then left Knaresbrough after clearing himself of a debt for which he had been apprehended, and the next time we hear of his guilty career is at Lynn, where he, soon after his admission as tutor in the school of Mr. Knox, attempts to rob his master, and then to sum up, he is reported to have “brought a young woman to Lynn with him whom he pretended to be his Niece, and lived with her on the most intimate terms, in defiance of all his boasted purity."—“He was fifty-four years old, she not above thirty."-— Anna Aram, Eugene's wife, used to say that he was a very great scholar, but a very high proud man, who made her an indifferent husband," and Mrs. Brown states that “ Aram was a very proud mariy who thought himself so far above his wife, that he always shunned her in the street, and did not speak to her if he met her in public." In some edition of Aram's memoirs, I have seen it stated as an on dit> that at an earlier period of his life. c 10 Eugene and Clark used to enrich their own gardens by robbing those of the neighbouring gentlemen ; this was adduced as the “ progression of crime.” But Aram must have been upwards of thirty years of age when he became acquainted with Clark, so that supposing the above true, the progression of crime had been very slow. I shall now shortly repel the three principal charges stated above, first with regard to the mur¬ der; to believe that Terry and Houseman should fly and leave their friend Clark to be butchered by Aram, who at the same time was in delicate health, from a fear of danger to themselves, would indeed be preposterous. The evidence to prove that Eugene did strike the blow is highly question¬ able, I myself have my own doubts, but supposing he did, the evidence of Houseman, and his is the sole evidence against him, only proved that they quarrelled , and that in that quarrel Eugene killed his antagonist, hence converting the crime into manslaughter.—The charge of attempt at theft is sufficiently disproved by the fact, that Mr. Knox was perfectly satisfied with the explanatory an¬ swers given him by Eugene, and instead of sus¬ picion, he kept him in his own house for seven months after the said attempt, and would scarcely give him up even when charged with murder. The third abominable attack upon his character is answered by the known fact that the young woman 11 of thirty, was none other than his own daughter Sally, who, as Mr. Scatcherd says, “clung to him in this county until they were separated by death. Having now swiftly passed over fifty-four years of Eugene’s life, we are brought to the period when he stood before the tribunal of his country held at York, in 1759, before the Honourable Mr. Justice Bathurst and Mr. Justice Noel- Four Counsel were employed against him on be¬ half of the Crown; viz. Messrs. Norton, Stanhope, Hartley, and Yates. After an absence of fourteen years from Knaresbro,’ he had no witness to bring forward to corroborate his statement. The Judge at that time was the Prisoner’s counsel, (though fortunately noiv that law is altered) Eugene there¬ fore had to make his own defence, and an admir¬ able one he made, “unacquainted” as he certainly was “ with law, the customs of the bar, and all ju¬ dicatory proceedings.” He did not appear to have calculated on the perjured evidence of Houseman, at all, and does not allude to it. His defence, however, was of no avail to him, the sentence went forth, and in a few days he fell a victim to his freedom of thinking, both with regard to his re- ligion and politics. Eugene Aram was executed at the Tyburn of York, in 1759, his body was conveyed to Knares- brough Forest, where it was exposed in chains for a considerable time. His Skull was afterwards 12 removed from the gibbet, and passing from one person to another, was traced to Spurzheim, but where he placed it, or what became of it afterwards no one could tell. Being exceedingly anxious to get some clue to it, I made inquiry respecting it far and near, and it was only within the last two months that from casually mentioning it to a lady, who is phrenologically inclined, I obtained from her information sufficient to induce me to prose¬ cute the search. I did so, and the result has been successful. But as it could not be received as the veritable Skull of Eugene Aram, upon my mere ipse dixit , I shall in detail produce that evidence which induced me to lay it before the Medical Section of the British Association. > At the time of the execution and gibbeting of Eugene Aram, there resided at Knaresbrough, a physician whose name was Hutchinson, and he being anxious to obtain a relic of Eugene, deter¬ mined at all risks to detach from the gibbet the Skull. This being in the eye of the law a default, or perhaps a felony, the doctor had to go about the work quietly, and it was not for some time afterwards that he openly acknowledged his hav¬ ing removed the Skull, and having given it a place in his museum. ^ Mr. Dalton, to whom I am under many obliga¬ tions in this matter, informed me that Dr. Hut¬ chinson narrated to him at Knaresbrough all the ( 13 circumstances connected with the capture of the Skull.—Dr. H. himself detached it from the Gib¬ bet, it was a dark and stormy night which he chose, to prevent detection, and the head stuck so pertinaciously to the irons; and the gibbet was so much decayed by the weather, that he had well nigh given up in despair; when at length persever¬ ance overcame the difficulties, and he returned to Knaresbrough bearing with him the Skull of Eugene Aram. This Skull remained in his museum until his death, and was seen there by many, and amongst others by Mr. Scatcherd, (an extract from one of whose letters to myself on this subject shall be given immediately.) On the death of Dr. Hutchin¬ son, Mr .^Richardson, now resident in Harrogate, ^ became "p ossessor of the museu m, and afterwards^-^^ marrying the widow of Dr. H. the identity of ^ the Skull, now his property was fully established by both. The Rev. James Dalton, Rector of Croft, near Darlington, having about twenty years ago been talking with Mr. Fry, ( now a Clergyman in Cornwall,) both about Eugene Aram and the doctrines of Spurzheim, determined to endea¬ vour to obtain the Skull and transmit it to that distinguished phrenologist to have his opinion upon it. Application was consequently made to Sir Thomas Slingsby who being acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Richardson made the request, and forth- 14 with obtained the Skull, and Sir Thomas imme¬ diately had it conveyed to Mr. Dalton, who in a letter to me says, “ as to the identity of the Skull of Aram I am satisfied—the only objection to which could be an imposition upon Sir Thomas Slingsby , which is very improbable indeed.” To remove even the probability of a doubt, Mr. Richard¬ son himself informed me that he gave the Skull of Eugene Aram to Sir Thomas Slingsby, and that he was satisfied that the Skull which I had at Newcastle, and which I now have in my posses¬ sion is that Skull. Mr. Dalton, I said, received the Skull from Sir Thomas Slingsby, and on doing so, he transmitted it, through his friend Mr. Fry, to Spurzheim, with¬ out acquainting him with the name or character of Eugene; what Spurzheim thought of it shall appear hereafter; in the mean time all I wish to prove is, that Mr. Dalton received from Spurzheim a Skull, similar in all respects to the one he had a short time before sent him, which was in fact the same Skull.—Mr. Dalton and his friends could not all be deceived, and lastly, Mr. Richardson at once recognized it, even upon seeing the cast. Mr. Scatcherd in a letter to me of the eighth of September, 1838, sums up the evidence in so fair a manner, that I am induced to make a quotation. “ Forty or fifty years ago,” says he, “ or more, a Skull was exhibited at Knaresbro" by a surgeon * _ 15 who, at that time, durst venture to pronounce it Eugene Aram’s Skull, and no one doubted that it teas so. —Nobody pretended to say that the real Skull had not been taken from the gibbet post, or that it had been interred ; or was in any other persons possession. No.—On the contrary, all the natives gave credence to Dr. Hutchinson; and Mrs Pickard’s husband put on it, for him, a pair of clasps. Now let us look at dates—In 1778, Knaresbro’ Forest was inclosed, when only the gibbet post remained; for the bones had long fal¬ len down and were buried; but no one knew what had become of the Skull, till Dr. H, thinking all danger was past, ventured to exhibit it in his museum. Now even suppose he had ha ^.another Skull or ttvo in his surgery , is it likely that he should be ignorant which Skull he had got for his museum ? or that he should exhibit the Skull of an inferior person? What motive could he have to do so? Well then, upon the establishment of Dr. H’s. museum at Knaresbro’ fifty or sixty years ago, and while many people best likely to detect im¬ posture were still living, this Skull was brought to light, and never questioned.—Shall we then say that Dr. H., put a trick upon the public in re¬ gard to it? I think not.—Shall we suppose that the person whom he might employ to rob the gib¬ bet was faithless? This seems still more incredible; for the time of removal being known to Dr. Hr, i 16 and his profession enabling him to discriminate, the confederate (if any) would not dare to attempt a forgery” “If then we can safely say that Hutchinson him¬ self was not imposed upon nor deceived, I fancy we can thence deduce a clear title.—Mr. Richard¬ son must know whether this is the Skull which during his apprenticeship was exhibited as Aram’s Skull, in the museum and which he or Mrs. R. gave to the Slingsbys.—Why, I could perhaps, speak myself from recollection forty years back; how then can he the successor of Dr. H. and in whose custody it must have been tioenty years or more —how could he doubts " # # # From this extract it appears that Mrs. Pickard stated that her husband put hinges on the scalp for Dr. Hutchinson/' The Skull has been sawn asun¬ der in the median line, and clasps are on it to keep the two halves together, (the impressions of which can be seen upon the cast,) this is doubt¬ less what she, an ignorant woman, meant by the “Scalp." Further, on the Skull itself are marks or indentations in several places, produced in¬ dubitably when the Skull was fresh and soft ,— these are the marks of the irons of the gibbet which bound the head to it. I think then, and I hope my readers think with me, that I had sufficient evidence to justify me in producing the Skull I had received from Mr. Dal- 17 ton, and confidently stating it to be that of Eugene Aram. In giving this mass of evidence I may have appeared prolix, but it seems necessary, as a few whose names are known in some departments of Science, doubted of its identity on a former oc¬ casion, and besides at Knaresbrough, a report existed that the Skull of Aram had been buried under a terrace in the garden of Mr. Tolson, a Solicitor there, by a Surgeon of the name of Stro¬ ther. Mr. Tolson knowing of it only through Mr. Strother, my sole mode of receiving information was by applying to that gentleman, which having done personally, Mr. S. stated that upwards of forty years ago, he certainly had interred a thigh bone and the arms of Eugene under a terrace in the aforementioned garden, but with regard to the Skull, he had never either seen or heard any thing about it.—Now this ought to show us how careful we should be in receiving testimony, for had this essential witness dropt before I had received his statement, then an idea would have existed, although the Skull had never been found, that it had been deposited there by Mr. Strother, and thus the identity of the Skull might reasonably have been called in question. The evidence as to the identity of the Skull of Eugene Aram, which I have endeavoured to es¬ tablish in the foregoing pages, may be briefly D 18 comprehended in the following summary. The late Dr. Hutchinson of Knaresbro' who was a contemporary of Eugene Aram, and known to many now living as a man of high respectability and worthy of credit, stated to Mr. Dalton and others that he had himself taken from the Gibbet the Skull of Eugene Aram, and that he had care¬ fully deposited it in his own museum—Mr. Rich¬ ardson now resident in Harrogate, when with Dr. Hutchinson in Knaresbrough, had a Skull pointed out to him by Dr. H. in his museum as the Skull of Eugene Aram, which Skull Mr. Richardson himself afterwards became possessed of , and the late Sir Thomas Slingsby obtained this same Skull from Mr. Richardson for Mr. Dalton,—at the request of Mr. Fry, Mr. Dalton transmitted the Skull to Spurzheim by whom it was again restored to Mr. Dalton, and in whose custody it has re¬ mained up to the present time, which Skull Mr, Richardson immediately recognized as the Skull he had given to Sir Thomas Slingsby. PHRENOLOGICAL DEVELOPEMENT OF THE SKULL. Having now established the identity of Eugene Aram's Skull, I shall proceed to give the opinions of a few eminent Phrenologists respecting it. When * 19 the Skull was sent by Mr. Dalton to Spurzheim, it was mistaken by him for that of a female. He writes regarding it as follows. “ This Skull re¬ sembles that of a woman, and if it belonged to a man, his mind entered into a female habitation. The female had a good share of common sense, without being able to reason deeply; she was pleased with witty, amusing, and superstitious sto¬ ries, and fond of theatrical performances. She had strong feelings without great hope—a great deal of vanity, attachment, and personal courage; she might have been able to commit an error to please those whom she liked. Example was to her particularly important; she was not indifferent to sexual intercourse—was more easily guided by soft means and flattering treatment, than by com¬ mand, which revolted her feelings, and would induce her to have recourse to desperate means." Spurzheim being made acquainted with the fact that the Skull which he had considered as that of a female, was in fact that of a male, transmitted a letter “ full of curious remarks upon the Skulls of the different great families or tribes of mankind, and pronounced Aram's Skull to resemble that of a Celt."* Now Aram himself always boasted of his Celtic origin. What I may also state here as rather a singu¬ lar coincidence, is noticed in a letter to me from * See Literary Gazette, for January 14th, 1832. Mr. Dalton;—referring to Eugene’s Skull be says, . “ I sent it to Spurzheim, who mistook it for that of a fejnale , which was singular enough, as Aram in his defence asserted the difficulty of pronoun¬ cing upon the sex from such a specimen as tee Skull of Daniel Clark, little imagining that his own would first prove the truth of his suggestions. The sentence alluded to is a portion of the defence he made, and runs thus. “ Permit me next, my lord, to observe a little upon the bones which have been discovered. It is said, which perhaps is saying very far, that these are the skeleton 01 a man. It is possible indeed it may; but, is there any certain known criterion, which incontestably distinguishes the sex in human bones? Let it be considered, my lord, whether the ascertaining of this point ought not to precede any attempt to identify them.” Without, at present, commenting upon the opinion of Spurzheim, I would rather introduce the devolopement of the Skull as taken by Mr. Geoige Combe* and sanctioned by Dr. Andrew Combe. “Anterior lobe long, but neither high nor broad, — Coronal region above Causality full, above Cautiousness rather small, except in firmness Basilar region very large—Age, temperament and education not mentioned.” * Edinburgh, August 31st, 1838. 21 1. Amativeness—large. 2. Philoprogen—large. 3. Concentrat—moderate. 4. Adhesiveness—rather large 5. Combativeness—very large. 6. Destruct—large. 7. Secret—left side, large. 8. Acquisitive—left side, full. 9. Construct—Rt. side 11 large. ! left side, full. 10. Self esteem—large. 1 1. Love of Approbat—R large 12. Cautiousness—R. large, 13. Benevolence—full. 14. Veneration—Rather large. 15. Firmness—Rather large. 16. Conscient:—moderate. 17. Hope—small. 18. Wonder—full. ? Moderate. 19. Ideality—full. •20. Wit—full. 21. Imitation—full. 22. Individual:—full. 23. Form—rather full. 24. Size—large. 25. Weight—full, (but uncer¬ tain of sinus.) 26. Colour—moderate. 27. Locality —mod, (sinus.) 28. Number—moderate. 29. Order —small. ! 30. Eventuality —full, i 31. Time —rathe r large. 32. Tune —full. 33. Language — cannot tell in a cast. 34. Comparison—rather full. 35. Causality—full. The intellectual organs are well marked, but on a small scale. “I am not informed concerning the education* rank in life* or temperament of the individual* the cast of whose Skull has this day been sent to me. I can therefore speak only of his dispositions and talents in general. The brain has been of an average size* indicating medium power of mind. The region of the lower propensities decidedly predominates. He might show considerable activ¬ ity in the domestic affections* when not influenced by his temper* which was hot. He was irascible and vindictive. He was proud and essentially selfish; yet to serve a purpose* he might exhibit great plausibility of manner. His intellectual 22 faculties were intense in action rather than com¬ prehensive and vigorous. He had talents for observation, and for the sciences which depend chiefly on observation. His reflecting powers were good, but limited in comprehensiveness as well as in depth. He had some taste, possessed talents for the imitative arts, and could have been an actor. He was not a stranger to benevolent feeling, but his benevolence was greatly inferior to his selfishness. He was not scrupulous." “ The head on the whole indicates a man of low natural dispositions ; with as much of the higher powers as to render him dangerous by his talents and plausibility ; but not enough of them to ren¬ der him in ordinary circumstances amiable and virtuous." I was favoured with a communication of the 7th Sep. from Hewitt. C. Watson, Esq., editor of the Phrenological Journal, a portion of which, stating the developement of the Skull, I shall transcribe. “ I think you request a more precise note of Developement—but as you know we have no standard head formed, with which to compare others. Phrenologists will differ a little in their estimates. I placed the cast of Aram’s Skull by several other Europeans, and the result of this comparison is a belief that the following will be a near approximation to the actual proportions, namely, in a scale of five degrees."— 23 “Large —Amativeness, Philoprogenitiveness— Combativeness (perhaps the largest,) Destruc¬ tiveness, Cautiousness, Self esteem, Language, Individuality.” “Rather large —Adhesiveness, Concentrative- ness. Secretiveness, Constructiveness, Love of Approbation, Benevolence, Wonder, Form, Lo¬ cality, Eventuality, Comparison, Causality. “ Moderate .—Acquisitiveness, Firmness, Ven¬ eration, Imitation, Ideality, Size, Weight, Colour, Order, Number, Time, Tune, Wit.” “ Rather small. —Conscientiousness, Hope.” “ Small .—(I do not think any organ can be called small, in a scale of five degrees, because it would imply almost idiocy of the organs called so, and make this head seem so very deficient.” “ The anterior part of the Skull is so narrow, that I feel rather doubtful whether all the intel¬ lectual organs should not be brought one degree lower; comparatively with those of the propen¬ sities. I have estimated them as above, on ac¬ count of the prominence, more than the breadth, of the middle part of the forehead. The intellect is not that of a profound Philosopher, but one calculated to appear to advantage in society.” From a hasty examination of the Skull by Mr. Simpson of Edinburgh, I noted down the following developement. “ Animal organs preponderate— moderate Intellect—some degree of Benevolence —very deficient Hope—poor Conscientiousness— very large Amativeness—very large Destructive¬ ness— ver y large Combativeness. He would be a violent and dangerous man when the inferior feelings were excited.— Exceedingly sensual — very fond of children, which probably would be the only thing that softened him—Ideality, the best part of the Anterior lobe—he would enjoy sensual love songs." I need not accumulate the result of examinations further, because the developement given by one, or at most two practical and accredited Phreno* logists, could only be repeated in every new in¬ stance. Phrenologists difier not in the develope- ments they take, but often in the characters they form from such developements. The reason of this is evident. Phrenology reduces the mind of man to its ultimate elements, if I may use the expres¬ sion, and it is by combinations of two or more of such elements and a due balancing of such com¬ binations, that the character of the individual can be formed, and it requires long study and practice to enable us to weigh one organ or set of organs with another, and so combine them as to state with any degree of confidence the tendencies of the mind so analyzed. It is by the ill-judged zeal of young disciples prom ting them confidently to form characters before they understand the principles, that Phrenology is often brought into discredit. 25 If Phrenology taught, as some have ignorantly affirmed, that man was not accountable for his actions, then with justice might Editors of Jour¬ nals and their Correspondents have brought the charge they did against me. When I stated that I did not believe that any Court of the present day would find a similar verdict to that of the Court of York, in 1759, in the case of Aram, I did so from the contradictory evidence brought forward against him, together with the probabi- lities of the case. It was not, therefore, with the intention of showing from his Phrenological de- velopement that Eugene Aram was unjustly con¬ demned, that I was induced to read before the Medical Section the communication which I did ; my opinion on that point had been formed long before I saw his Skull, but the subsequent exam¬ ination of it did not tend to alter that opinion. From the examination of a Skull the Phrenolo¬ gist can discover only the tendencies of the mind, but he cannot predict what shall be the actions of the individual, these depending much upon edu¬ cation, local circumstances, and temperament. If however he find, that from the preponderance of evil tendencies, he should, under common circum¬ stances, fear the worst for that individual, he immediately offers from his science a remedy to the mind thus viciously disposed; he incites to activity by various means the higher organs of the brain, E through which in this material world the moral o and intellectual faculties of the mind display them¬ selves, and thus, those organs formerly pre-emi¬ nently developed became less so, and a harmony amongst the faculties is established. The change of character which by this treatment gradually takes place, is visibly exhibited to us by the change in the shape of the head itself, and this (not being mere hypothesis,) is proved to be correct by the many casts now in the possession of Phrenologists, taken at different periods of life; in which the most remarkable changes are to be found, according exactly with the changes which have taken place in the character. On these very principles the Physician who be¬ lieves in the doctrines of phrenology, treats with so much success the diseases of the mind; and were they acted upon throughout society gener¬ ally, an amelioration of the physical and mental condition of mankind might be anticipated. For in¬ stance, had the plan for the classification and treatment of convicts been attended to by govern¬ ment, that system would have ceased which now sends to our colonies every year, in overwhelming bands, the most depraved of our countrymen* vitiated and vitiating other beings, who, though on a distant shore, are immortal as ourselves.* * See Representation sent by Sir George S. Mackenzie, Bart., to the Right Honorable Lord Glenelg, Sect, for the Colonies,—in reference to Convicts sent to New South Wales. Feb. 7th, 1836. 27 I have stated that the actions of a man cannot be pronounced upon with certainty from his develope- ment, yet from the shape of the brain, as displayed by the Skull, we can predict that one person would commit an evil deed more readily than another, and have less compunction after its commission. Thus, an idiot, whose anterior developement is deficient, would be almost guiltless in committing a crime in comparison with a highly intellectual man, because his animal propensities preponderate over his intellectual and moral powers. This may be an extreme case ; but in like manner do I be¬ lieve the same induction to be applicable through¬ out the gradations from the most animal head, to that which is most highly developed. He therefore who by constant watchfulness is able to keep under those passions which may be strongly marked in his character, shall have a greater reward than the man who may act in all respects siwiilcivly , but who had not to contend with the same passions. These being some of the conclusions to which the doctrines of phrenology have led me, I believe that these doctrines are not opposed to the divine record; does it not tell us that there are certain sins which do more easily beset us than others? That to whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required? And that different talents are given to men in different degrees ? Every man is never¬ theless accountable, even although he shall have 28 had but one talent bestowed on him. Phrenology teaches these same truths, and instead of leading to fatalism and licentiousness, it has a powerful moral tendency, inciting every man to an exercise of all his mental faculties. These few principles being kept in view, the phrenologist may, with safety to himself and the community, enter upon his investigations; and it was not without the due consideration of them that I examined the Skull of Eugene Aram. As the Skull is represented in figs. 1 and 4 of the lithograph, the domestic affections are seen largely developed ; and from this circumstance, Spurzheim mistook the Skull for that of a female. Philoprogenetiveness gives the instinctive love of offspring and delight in children; and adhesive¬ ness the instinctive tendency to attachment, and causes us to feel the greatest delights in a return of affection* Its effects are described in the following lines by Moore, “ The heart, like a tendril accustomed to cling. Let it grow where it will cannot flourish alone. But will cleave to the nearest and loveliest thing. It can twine with itself, and make closely its own." The complete opposition offered to that faculty within his own domestic circle, led Aram to seek for it elsewhere. He had for some time been as¬ sociated with Clark in scientific pursuits: an inti- * Combe’s System of Phrenology, page 152. (Third Edition.) V T % 29 macy was the consequence, and adhesiveness might soon lead to friendship. I cannot then sup¬ pose that Eugene would go out with the premedi¬ tated intention of murdering his friend; but when he found that friend treacherously attempt his life, his destructiveness and combativeness, which are both fully developed, would overcome his feeling of attachment, and we might then, with Mr. Simpson, call him “a dangerous character/' which I rather think any of us would become under sim¬ ilar circumstances. Self-esteem being large, we find all his con¬ temporaries speaking of him as a high, proud¬ spirited man. This, with large combativeness, would render opposition revolting to him; and, as Spurzheim has said, “soft means and flattering treatment 99 would gain on his affections, and overcome him sooner than command. His strong feeling of attachment, when it met with a return, fully displayed itself towards that daughter who accompanied him in all his wanderings, from Knaresbrough to Linn, and thence to prison. Whilst at York Castle, the letter which he wrote to Mr. Collins exhibits his self-esteem completely overcome by this attachment.* His excessive Philoprogenetiveness, with his love of languages, might induce him to occupy himself in teaching; and in that capacity his Benevo- * “Gleanings,” p. 14. 30 lence, Individuality, and Eventuality rendered him so successful; indeed, never was a schoolmaster more beloved and respected by his pupils than was the “ unfortunate " Eugene Aram. Combativeness and Destructiveness give their possessors personal courage. Eugene had both these organs large, but he had likewise large Cautiousness. This combination explains the sin¬ gular mode in which he received any surprise. If his attention was attracted by any cause from behind, he suddenly turned his body completely round with a firm, steady step, and was never known merely to turn the head in the direction of the cause. Cautiousness led him to fear some evil, and destructiveness and combativeness gave him courage to prepare for whatever might happen. Aram's habits, so beautifully depicted by Bul- wer, were those of the recluse. His hope (as seen in figs. 1 and 3 ) was exceedingly deficient, which, with his Cautiousness and Secretiveness, tended to retirement and melancholy. Add to this or¬ ganization, a deficiency in the organ of Conscien¬ tiousness with large Destructiveness, and we have the developement generally found in the Suicide. “Dr. Andrew Combe examined a considerable number of suicides in the Morgue at Paris, and found in them Hope generally small, with Cau¬ tiousness and Destructiveness large." * On the night previous to his execution, Aram attempted Combe’g System of Phrenology, page 257. 31 to commit suicide. He was then driven to dis- pair, to him the doctrines of Christianity, from want of examination, were as a sealed letter. Self¬ esteem dreaded the public ignominy of an execu¬ tion, very deficient Hope, with Cautiousness and Destructiveness, gave rise to intense melancholy, anguish, and anxiety, and predisposed to self-des¬ truction. His organ of Veneration was consider¬ able, and it displayed itself in that recommenda¬ tion of himself to the GOD of nature, which was found on his table, on the morning of his execution. Acquisitiveness is but moderate in the Skull, and this accords with my opinion as to the igno¬ rance of Aram, regarding the thefts previous to their being committed; his Secretiveness is large, and we find him concealing, even till his death, every circumstance connected with this tragical affair. * An examination of the intellectual faculties (as exhibited in figs. 1 and 2) would not elevate the man in our opinion as a profound philosopher. Eugene's Skull wants depth and breadth of the “ reflecting faculties for although they are well marked, they want expanse. His defence, though admirable so far as it went, was not sufficiently comprehensive. Had his Secretiveness and self¬ esteem been overcome by his reflective organs, he might have confessed a participation in the • The statement made of Eugene’s confessing, before he suffered, has no foun¬ dation in truth. 32 gain, and thus in the guilt, and have cleared him¬ self in a great degree with respect to the murder, but he was anxious to disprove any knowledge of the proceedings at all; thus, in his defence the greater part of his argument rested on the impos¬ sibility to prove the Skeleton found to be that of Clark. Perhaps his Adhesiveness and Benevo¬ lence might prevent him giving the evidence he could have done against Terry and Houseman. As according with his developement we do not find that Eugene Aram acquired his notoriety from the depth of his philosophy; but from the love he exhibited for the acquirement of languages, and the power he had of comparing one lan¬ guage with another. The organ of Language is very large in the Skull, and Comparison is full. Combativeness overcame the difficulties that ne¬ cessarily, in his circumstances, presented them¬ selves, and destructiveness gave energy ; so that, he soon acquired, by perseverance, a knowledge of almost every known language. Idiality, Imita¬ tion, and wonder are full in the Skull, which combination, with large Secreti v eness, led both Spurzheim and Combe to say that the individual had been fond of theatrical performances. Eugene not having opportunities afforded him for the dis¬ play of this tendency, we find him combining the gratification of these organs with that of very large Language in the constant perusal of the latin 83 classics, and of the greek tragedians. The Spirit thus cultivated interweaves itself with all his writings; it manifested itself in his defence, in his letters, and in his essay towards the formation of a universal Lexicon. What I have now said of Eugene Aram may be called a short synthetical examination of his Phrenological developement. Mr. Combe's and Spurzheim's are analytical , they, from the Skull without knowing the man, gave his character ; I, after knowing it from other sources, show that his character accords with his developement. I have attempted to prove that phrenology has no tendency towards fatalism, but rather incites a man to the greater exercise of those organs, or faculties, which the science teaches him, and his conscience admits, are defective. Thus, having in as brief a manner as possible fulfilled the pro¬ positions of my preface, I trust that my readers are satisfied that it was not without sufficient proof of its identity, that I brought forward the Skull of Eugene Aram, and that what I stated regarding it was not contrary, nor in any degree opposed to that religion, which it shall ever be my highest honour and privilege to support and defend against the attacks of the infidel and the unbeliever. THE END. The Following Works and Engravings are published and sold by JOHN LEWIS LINNEY, Bookseller, Ac., Market-place, Ripon, 8vo. price Three Shillings, TREATISE ON ENGLISH BRONCHOCELE, With a few remarks on the Use of Iodine and its Compounds, BY JAMES INGLIS, M. D. “ This little Treatise is the production of Dr. Inglis, of Ripon, who has for a consider- ab.e penod b een coliectmg from various localities, in Yorkshire especially, materials on that deformity of the neck called Goitre. [Derbyfhkre Neck] * * * His remarks on the treatment of Goitre are very valuable.”— Leeds Mercury. “ Dr \ examines the supposed causes of Bronchocele as given by authors, but is not satisfied with any of them. His own theory is, that the disease is produced by wa¬ ter w’hich has passed over strata of magnesian limestone. The disease is scarcely, if at all known at Harrogate, though common all around ; an exemption which the author attributes to the presence of Iodine and Bromine in the springs. • * This sketch does nndw? ?Au ndu l t . ry e r ? e -P ^ ich £ r ‘ In ? lis bas collected information from all quarters on the subject of Goitre.’ — Medical Gazette , June, 1838. Dr. James Inglis is Physician to the Ripon Public Dispensary, and has had many opportunities of prosecuting his inquiries into the nature of this remarkable disease. , St lu , • , I? am P. n . let 1S P lam and simple, the.cases well selected, the physiological and pathological inquiries curious and instructive. We may add that the public-, no than the members of the nrnfpssinn m