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"Sheridan enjoyed no slight reputation as a wit, but any one taking the trouble to analyze his manifestations in that way, will soon perceive that the wit of this remarkable individual almost always consists of comparisons, or contrasts of proportion, position, objects, and events, with little or no reference to their attributes or inherent properties. For instance, he compares a tall thin man with a short fat wife, to a church and steeple; beaux flirting with a lady seated in a very high carriage, to supporters hanging half way up the door; a tall thin man, to a tree run up against a wall; and such an one with his arms spread, to a cross on a Good-Friday bun."

"As, therefore, in the works of individuals noted for the large developement of Wit, we find a peculiar tendency to dwell on the essential properties of things, and, at the same time, in some of them an equal tendency to ridicule all fancy, philosophy, and reasoning, wherein there appears neglect or ignorance of these attributes;—as we are not aware of any other organ which can include perceptions of this nature in its function ;-and as the inherent properties of the constituent parts of creation seem to be intellectual perceptions, equally distinct from those of condition or dependence as those of objects are from those of their position and physical properties; there seems no slight probability for supposing the existence of some distinct organ for such perceptions; and, further, if we find them manifested strongly when the organ of Wit is large; if the peculiar wit and satire believed to be connected with the function of this organ is found to depend essentially on such perceptions; and if other kinds of wit—that of Curran and Sheridan, for instance-may exist with a moderate or deficient endowment of this organ; we shall be almost necessarily forced to the conclusion that perception of inherent properties does depend on the organ of Wit, unless it can be shown to exist powerful when the organ is feebly developed, which we have in vain looked for.

"It hence appears that the range of this faculty is far more extensive, and that it forms a much more essential ingredient, in our philosophic capacities than could be predicated from only

observing its manifestations when acting along with Secretiveness, Self-Esteem, Combativeness, and Destructiveness, to produce irony, sarcasm, ridicule, and satire; or, with other intellectual powers, to sparkle in the sallies of wit. Directed towards man, it probably gives a tendency to investigate the real character, instead of resting content with observing appearances or actions, which seems to have been greatly the bent of Sterne's mind, and considerably so of that of Franklin. Taking the direction of Religion, it will inquire into the nature and attributes of God, as manifested in creation. Cowper affords an example of this, and Socrates may be also named. In physiology, primary or essential function, as distinct from modes of manifestation, and particular actions and directions, will be its aim. To the metaphysician it will impart a strong desire for ascertaining the nature and inherent powers of mind, and of creation in general. Phrenology, being an union of the two latter-the metaphysician and the physiologistits founders will afford us a suitable illustration. In the bust of Dr. Gall the organ is represented much less developed than in that of Dr. Spurzheim; and the superiority of the latter in discriminating modes of manifestation and particular directions of the mental powers from the powers themselves, is familiar to all phrenologists. Perhaps, too, we shall not err in adducing Locke as a negative instance of the faculty. In the portraits of this philosopher, Comparison and Causality appear greatly larger than Wit; and his system derives not only ideas, but the mental feelings, from external impressions; but as he was obliged to give the mind a capability of being affected by impressions on the external senses, he endowed it with the faculties of perception, contemplation, memory, comparison, and abstraction, which are in reality but modes of activity, not inherent powers. His grounds for denying the innateness of ideas were their non-manifestation, or various modifications in different individuals, from which it would seem that modes of being were to him in lieu of innate powers.

"It has been supposed that the organ of Wit gives a tendency to view every thing in a ludicrous light; but if the ideas here proposed concerning its function prove correct, such a supposition

must be untenable; and that it is so, in point of fact, may be shown by reference to nature. The masks of Drs. Cullen, Franklin, and Spurzheim, exhibit a greater developement of the organ than do those of Curran, Swift, and Sheridan. And further, let any one appeal to his own private friends in whom the organ is largely developed, and ask whether they are not oftener pained than pleased by things of opposite and unharmonizing nature brought into unnecessary contact; and, on the other hand, delighted by harmonies between the properties or attributes, whether real or imaginary, of different objects."

"It seems that almost all amusing wit consists in a slight resemblance addressed to the function of one organ, and at the same time a difference to that of another, thus coming still nearer to Mr. Scott's theory of laughter than his own view of wit could do. For, if there were distinct organs to perceive resemblance and difference, each would be similarly excited by the specimens of wit; but if these be modes of activity common to all the intellectual powers, then one of them is agreeably excited by the similarity, and the other jarred by the contrast, producing different states of excitement. We say "jarred," because the more any organ is developed, the more are similarities and harmonies between its perceptions sought after; Tune, Color, and Number, for example."

I present these different views, because they are ingenious; but the facts adduced are much too few for forming a judgment on the question. Mr. Watson's observations are highly interesting, but considerable difficulties attend them. In Sheridan, Individuality and Eventuality are by much the predominant intellectual organs, but Wit is also moderately developed; and his manifestations are in exact correspondence with Dr. Spurzheim's views ;—namely, his elementary ideas are drawn chiefly from Individuality and Eventuality, and they receive a coloring from Wit, which renders them ludicrous; but they do not partake very highly of this quality, and in their nature they differ from the witty manifestations of Sterne and Voltaire, in whom large Causality was combined with large Wit. I am acquainted with two individuals in both of

whom Individuality and Eventuality are large; but in the one Wit is small, and in the other rather large, and the former almost never intentionally presents witty combinations of ideas, while the latter is prone to do so, as a habitual disposition of mind, without study or intention. This case also is in harmony with Dr. Spurzheim's doctrine.

When this organ large is combined with much Combativeness and Destructiveness, it leads to satire. It gives the talent also for epigrams. Persons in whom it is small, if their predominating faculties be grave, regard Wit as impertinence, and are apt to be offended by it. It is greatly aided by Individuality, Eventuality and Comparison, which furnish intellectual materials which it invests with a ludicrous appearance.

I include Wit among the sentiments in the present edition, with a view to preserve uniformity with Dr. Spurzheim in the numbering of the organs with reference to the bust. Dr. Spurzheim, in the dissection of the brain, shows that, anatomically, Ideality and Wit belong to the same department of convolutions; whence a presumption arises of their functions belonging to the same class of mental faculties; and as Ideality has been uniformly regarded as a sentiment, Wit may with propriety be placed under the same head. Mr. Watson has been led to regard Ideality also as an intellectual power; but his ideas are not sufficiently matured for publication. It will be observed, that all these differences relate to the metaphysical analysis of the faculty, and that phrenologists are agreed on the fact, that witty and mirthful manifestations are connected with the organ now under consideration. The organ, and its general functions, therefore, are regarded as ascertained.

21.-IMITATION.

DR. GALL gives the following account of the discovery of this faculty and organ. One day, a friend with whom he conversed about the form of the head, assured him that his had something particular, and directed his hand to the superior-anterior region of the skull. This part was elevated in the form of a segment of

a circle; and behind the protuberance there was a depression. Before this time Dr. Gall had not observed this conformation. This man had a particular talent for imitation. Dr. Gall immediately repaired to the institution of the deaf and dumb to examine the head of the pupil Casteigner, who only six weeks before had been received into the establishment, and, from his entrance, had attracted notice by his amazing talent for mimicry. On the mardigras of the Carnival, when a little play was presented at the institution, he had imitated so perfectly the gestures, gait, &c. of the director, inspector, physician, and surgeon of the establishment, and above all of some women, that it was impossible to mistake them. This exhibition was the more amusing, as nothing of the kind was expected from this boy, his education having been totally neglected. Dr. Gall states, that he quite unexpectedly found the part of the head in question as fully developed in this individual as in his friend Hannibal, just mentioned.

Is the talent for mimicry, then, said Gall, founded on a particular faculty and organ? He sought every opportunity of multiplying observations. He visited private families, schools, &c., and everywhere examined the heads of individuals who possessed a distinguished talent for mimicry. At this time, Mons. Marx, secretary to the minister at war, had acquired a great reputation, by several characters which he played in a private theatre. Dr. Gall found in his head the same part of the head swelling out as in Casteigner and Hannibal. In all the other persons whom he examined, he found the part in question more or less elevated in proportion to the talent for imitation which they possessed. It is told of Garrick, says Dr. Gall, that he possessed such an extraordinary talent for mimicry, that, at the court of Louis XV., having seen for a moment the King, the Duke D'Aumont, the Duke D'Orleans, and Messrs. D'Aumont, Brissac, Richelieu, Prince Soubise, &c. he carried off the manner of each of them in his recollection. He invited to supper some friends who had accompanied him to court, and said, "I have seen the court only for an instant, but I shall show you the correctness of my powers of observation, and the extent of my memory;" and placing his

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