Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
. - 9 ......r.......-
,.i.t..-.....-4“-'-
P-lzysiogiioiiigj. - it 39.
the subject should be farther considered, by way of analysis.--I have
been thinking much on'this science, and beg leave to submit to you
some ideas that have occurred tome. ' e I ‘ V ‘ .
It willbe admitted, then, that to a certain degree, physiognomical
truth mawas a science, be defined and communicated. .Of the truth of
the science there cannot exist a. doubt. 5 Eyery countenance,;eve‘ry fo;-pm,
every created existence, is individually distinct, as well as'diff'erent,' in
respect of class, race, and kind. "No one beinginpnatureis precisely”
similar to another. This proposition, in so far regar.ds.,man,e is the
foundationystone of physiognomy. . There may exist an intimate analo-
gy, a striking similarity, between two men, who yet, being brought’
together, and accurately compared,‘ will appear to be remarkably dif-
ferent. N 0 two minds perfectly resemble each other. Now, is it pos-
sible to doubt, that ‘there must be a certain native analogybetwcen the
external varieties of countenanceeand form, and "the internal varieties of
the mind? By -angerthe muscles are rendered protuberant: are not
then the angry mind, and protuberant muscles, as cause and effect P The
man of acute withas frequently a quick and lively eye. Is it possible
to resist the conlusion, that ‘between such’ a mind and such a counte-
nance there is a determinate relation ?" ‘ s ’ N
Every thing in nature-is’ estimated. by itspphysiognomy; that ‘is,
by its cxternalappearance. The trader Judges by the fineness, the exte-
rior, the physiognomy of every article of tiaflic; and at once decides
that the buyer has‘ an ‘honest look," or ‘a pleasing ‘or forbidding
countenance." I ‘ > J y ,‘ M I ' ‘ .1 ‘A
> That knowledge and ‘science are detrimental to man, that a state'oF
rudeness and ignorance are preferable and productive of more happiness,‘
are tenets now deservedly exploded. They do not merit serious opposition.
The extension and increase of knowledge, "then, island object of 'im-
portance to man ; and what object can be so important asthe knowledge
of ‘man himself ? If knowledge can influence his happiness, the know-
ledge of himself must influence it the most. This useful knowledge
is the peculiar province of the science of physiognomy. To conceive
a just’ idea‘ of the advantages of physiognorny, let us for a moment
suppose that all physiognomical knowledge were totally forgotten
among‘ men; what confusion, what uncertainty, what numberless
mistakes, would be the consequence? Men destined to live in society ‘
must hold mutualtintercourse. The knowledge of man imparts to this
intercourse its spirit, its pleasures, its advantages. '
- Physiognomy is‘ ‘a source of pure and exalted mental gratification.
It affords a View of the perfection of the deity; it displays a new‘ scene
of harmony and beauty in his works ; it reveals internal motives, which
without it would only have been’ discovered in the world to come. The
physiognomist distinguishes accurately the permanent from the liabis
tual, the habitual from the accidental, in character. Difficulties, no
doubt, attend the study of this’ science.‘ The most‘ minute shades,
scarcely discernible to the unexpeiienced eye, denote often total op-A
position of character. 'A small infiexion, diminution, lengthening or
sharpening", ’ even‘ though but of a hair’s breadth, may, alter‘ in. an
astonishing degree the expression of countenance and character-' HOW
difficult, then, how impossible, indeed, must this variety of the Silmc
countenance render precision 9 The seat of character is often so hidden.
so masked, that it can only be detected in certain, perhaps uncommon,
3