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OF THE

LIFE AND PHILOSOPHY

OF

SPURZHEIM.

BY

ANDREW CARMICHAEL, M. R. I. A.

LATE PRESIDENT OF THE PHRENOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF DUBLIN; AND
PUBLISHED AT THE DESIRE OF THAT SOCIETY.

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION,

WITH NOTES.

'Friend of Man-of God the Servant;
Advocate of truths divine;

Nature's Priest-how pure and fervent

Was thy worship at her shrine !'

Rev. Mr. Pierpont's Ode at the Funeral of
Spurzheim. Nov. 17, 1832.

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY MARSH, CAPEN & LYON,

AND LILLY, WAIT & CO.

1833.

General Library System
University of Wisconsin-Madison
728 State Street

Madison, WI 53706-1494

U.S.A.

106,118

RECEIVED

JAN 2 2 1900

WIS. HIST. SOCIETY,

Phrenologists are much indebted to Mr. Carmichael for this valuable contribution towards a full biography of Dr. Spurzheim. A fine spirit of devotion to the cause of calumniated merit, and of affection for the man, pervades every page of it; and it is impossible not to love and admire the author, in perusing the glowing and beautiful effusions of lofty feeling with which his work abounds. Edinburgh Phren. Journal.

Printed by Kane & Co.
127 Washington street.

B 3577

TO THE

PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENTS, AND MEMBERS OF
THE PHRENOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF DUBLIN,

IS INSCRIBED

THIS imperfect and inadequate Memoir of the efforts and triumphs of our common Friend. Justly attached to him, you extend your good-will to every thing connected with his name; and too hastily presume, that whatever is interesting to you will prove of equal interest to the world. Your wishes are commands to me; and they have been obeyed. Yet we may find that the world will sympathize but little with us, in the studies we pursue, or the loss we deplore.

Amongst you are many of the most valued and attached of my Friends. To each and to all, these pages are dedicated; but particularly to HIM, who, more partial still than others, imposed this task as a sacred duty upon me-who, ardent in the cause of TRUTH, yet delights in QUIET as his element-and whose affectionate, cheerful, philosophic, rationally-religious converse has mingled such rare felicity with so many of my hours. Next; to HIM, of similar dispositions, but more adventurous daring-equally a man of

peace, yet shrinking from no field of controversy-alike in diversified excellence, alike in unvarying kindness, and alike in the happy inclination to encourage and approve. Again: to HIM, who was the first to commend, and call forth the commendations of others-to HIM, and to every one, who reflected back his good-nature, and re-echoed his suffrage; and who, I am confident, will form an union of talent, energy, and information, amply qualified to disseminate through the community the principles and influence of Phrenology-ambitious as they must be to emulate the example of that highly-gifted body, which is the ornament and the boast of the Athens of Britain

'THE PHRENOLOGICAL SOCIETY.'

To the Members of that enlightened Association, whose breath has dissipated the mists of ignorance, prejudice, and malignity, which overclouded the horizon, not only of their own, but of many another realm, I also tender my devotedhomage. But particularly to HIM, who was first and last in the sacred cause-always persevering, always indefatigable, always victorious; and who, more than all others, participates in our present regret, because, more than all others, he knew the value of SPURZHEIM; and is competent to appreciate the magnitude of a bereavement like THIS, to the disappointed affections of Friends, and the unsatisfied wants of Society-who already has achieved such HERCULEAN labors in vindication of THE TRUE SCIENCE OF MIND-who alone can replace the unwearied ATLAS We have lost; and sustain the ponderous burthen he so proudly upheld.

And lastly, I am desirous to include, in my warmest professions of respect and admiration,

THE PHRENOLOGISTS OF BOSTON,

AND

THE OTHER CITIZENS OF AMERICA,

who, trained to liberty, untrammelled by prejudice, and disdaining every species of mental bondage, sought, from the opposite side of the globe, an Instructer, well knowing how to emancipate Minds from the despotism of Error, and establish the commonwealth of Truth and Nature, Freedom and Morality, Reason and Religion. Every city, every village, every university, every school of art and academy of science, thirsted for the promised stream of knowledge; but while it yet poured its living waters, the source was dried up-the current ceased to flow. How inscrutable are the ways of Providence! The good intended by God is always, in the end, accomplished—yet how seldom accomplished by the means expected or prescribed by man. In the mid-day exertion of his resplendent usefulness, SPURZHEIM perished. It is for Providence, who has the will and the power, to repair this great calamity.

The Americans at first welcomed him as a stranger— early they acknowledged him as a friend-too early they wept over him as a Brother. At this side of the Atlantic, with the tears of sorrow for the man, are mingled tears of applause, of gratitude, of sympathizing affection, an unex

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