Text: Lorenzo Niles Fowler, “Tact and Talent; A Lecture,” London: W. Tweedie, [1862]

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DIFFERENT kinds and degrees of education lead men to look very differently at the same subject. A person who studies one authority imbibes a certain class of opinions, his neighbour arrives at conclusions from another authority, while a third is governed by his own judgment. All cannot see alike unless they have the same quality of mind, education, degree of health and experience.

The dyspeptic man sees the world, eats his breakfast, goes to work, reads his Bible, and says his prayers with a very different frame of mind from the one who is blessed with health and vigour of body. We are not surprised at the diversity of opinion among men in their views of God, politics, law and education, or that there are eleven hundred forms of religion or modes of worship in the world. It is not because there are so many gods, or that truths clash with each other in different countries, but because the mind of man is shaped by education and its surroundings. We hope that the time is coming when we shall see “eye to eye,” and the truth as it is without the modifications of law, education, and circumstances which affect our views at the present time.

One of the strongest evidences in favour of Phrenology, is, that it explains and accounts for the natural differences existing among men. There are artificial distinctions, such as grades in society, rank, titles, family dignities, &c., with which Phrenology has but little to say or do. There is also a morbid or abnormal condition of the mind that it will not always reach. But one well versed in the science can judge with great accuracy the class of crime which a person is liable to commit, when he is found in prison. Many years ago I was in the habit of frequenting prisons and Insane asylums, and could almost invariably [page 2:] tell the class of insanity under which the particular individual was suffering. Twenty-five years ago I was taken into the Asylum at Charleston, near Boston, Mass., to test Phrenology. I examined several of the inmates, and pronounced successfully upon the different kinds and degrees of their insanity. Finally, the head-physician of the place, Dr. Bell, came into the room, dressed as an insane man, with his hair very much disarranged, his eyes staring, and his general expression wild, and that of a raving maniac. I examined his head carefully, supposing that he was one of the patients. After I had made my examination I said, “I cannot think why this man should be insane, unless it has been because he could not have his own way, and carry out his peculiar ideas, for I perceive that Firmness and Self-esteem are his leading organs.” The attendants were highly pleased, and introduced me to Dr. Bell, the physician of the establishment, one who would either be at the head or not at all; who was considered dogmatical in his own ideas and opinions, but a very talented man. The doctor said “that he was perfectly convinced of the truth of my science, but wished to put it to the severest test.”

While at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a few years since, I was invited to visit the State prison, to examine the heads of several marked convicts. Soon after I entered, they selected eleven prisoners, and I made remarks upon each individual, describing the crime of which they had been respectively guilty, pointing out their phrenological developments to the warder of the prison. In every instance, my delineations were said to be appropriate to the life and crime of the individual.

About twenty-eight years ago I went into a prison at Pittsburg, Penn., and examined forty prisoners, and did not fail in a single case to declare the crime which had brought the unfortunate men there. In one case of a boy I said, “I cannot think of any crime that this boy would commit of his own accord. He must have been induced to do it by the force of circumstances that he could not control, or possibly was hired by another person.” I was informed that he was there for being concerned in a murder; that he and a number of other boys had been hired and almost driven to do the deed by a wicked man who had got a mastery over them.

But there are instances where the mind becomes morbid as a whole, or where some particular faculty has been thrown out of balance. In these cases we cannot always judge of its action any more than a physician who thoroughly understands the body can always discover some hidden difficulty that defies his past experience; but the natural tendencies of the mind Phrenology clearly and beautifully explains.

Bodily condition, also, has a powerful influence on mental action. The shape of the brain, as a whole, is in harmony with the development of the mind, yet the state of the body affects the manifestation of mind, either for good or evil. No one, at the present day, who observes the form and configuration of objects will deny that there is every variety in the shape of heads. I will not stop to prove this point so well-established by the artist and sculptor, but affirm that [page 3:] long, short, high, low, broad or narrow heads manifest minds similar to their peculiarity of form. When the brain is sharp in development the mind will be keen and sharp, and when the organs are evenly developed the mind will be harmonious in its actions. These rules will be found to hold good in every case, with slight modifications produced by education.

I propose to hold up to your view a few mirrors, and think that nearly every one can see their own likeness reflected in one if not more of them. Some individuals, as Locke, Bacon, and Cicero have a large and comprehensive mind, which is extended in its range of action. Such have large heads, fully developed in the coronal and frontal regions, with full, high foreheads. Others, as Richard III., have small and contracted ideas, are narrow in their views and thoughts, and this peculiarity will be seen in the wedgelike shape of their foreheads. They will be developed distinctly in the crown of the head, and will have a predominance of the bony structure, with but a limited degree of the mental temperament.

Some, like William the Conqueror, are strong, enduring, can sustain severe trials without breaking down under them. They will lose friends, property, position in society — may be depressed for the time being, but seem to rise above all disasters in the end. They can bear a greater amount of mental excitement than the generality of people. Such individuals will have a compact organization, and there will be a great sympathy between the body and brain. The organization, as a whole, will be well developed in all its parts, the functions will be active, ‘the digestive power healthy, the circulation quick, and the faculties of Causality, Cautiousness, Conscientiousness, Combativeness, Destructiveness, Firmness, and Self-Esteem, will be prominent.

Others, like Louis XIV. of France, are weakly, easily discouraged and broken down. After one failure they give up in despair. Such individuals have a small body, weak digestion, not very vigorous circulation, oftentimes have palpitation of heart, with but an ordinary degree of Combativeness, Destructiveness, Firmness, and Self-Esteem. Again, some, like Cardinal Richelieu, are hidden, reserved, retired, and difficult to be understood. You may live with them year after year, and still not feel any familiarity with them. They rarely confide in others, but lead an internal life. Such persons have broad heads, are somewhat after the type of the cat or fox. Secretiveness and Cautiousness, Veneration, and perhaps Causality, will be large in the head; also Destructiveness and Acquisitiveness, while Self-Esteem and the Social Brain will be small. Such individuals always act from design and with some motive, are not rash and impulsive, but do and say what is absolutely necessary to accomplish their particular purpose.

Others are surface men — free, open, transparent, undisguised, easily “found out.” I examined the head of a young lady at one time, and said to her, “You may whisper when you talk, but you whisper so loud that everybody in the room can hear what you say. If anyone should confide to you a secret, you are so plain, frank, and free, that you would [page 4:] tell everybody the next day the whole affair.” “That is very correct,” she replied, “for I cannot keep a secret half a day.” Persons of this class have a narrow head. Secretiveness, Cautiousness, and Acquisitiveness are comparatively small, while Approbativeness, Adhesiveness, and Language will be large, the circulation of the blood rapid, and the temperament warm and active.

Some persons, like Dickens, are clear, bright, susceptible, and full of vivacity. These will have quick circulation and a thin skin. The nerves will be near the surface of the skin. They will have a predominance of brain over the body, and the brain is sharply developed. The utterance will be clear and distinct. There is not a surplus of adipose matter to impede speech or any mental or bodily action.

There are others, like Dr. Horner, who are dull and confused in thought, indistinct in expression, thick-tongued and guttural in their speech. The louder they speak, the less you hear what they say. Such will have an organization similar to their peculiar mental state, not clearly made up or defined, lacking somewhat in blood, with a feeble circulation, and but little sharpness of phrenological development. They will generally have uncommonly large stomachs, short necks, large tongues, and large mouths. They cannot articulate clearly, and as their words come from the mouth, they sound very much as if a blow had been made on a large drum.

Some, like Professor Owen, Professor Parks, and Rev. Baptist Noel, are high, lofty, noble, elevated, and aspiring; and these peculiarities are indicated in both the mental and physical organisation. We find in this class tall men. The upper portions of the head and face are more prominent than the basilar region, and the thoracic region predominates over the abdominal. A tall, thin, spare build, with a development of the coronal brain, will generally be seen where there is loftiness and nobility of mind. We rarely see a very elevated mind connected with a short, thick, stout, plethoric-looking man, when the coronal region is deficient and the basilar portion prominent.

Some men, like roughs, fighters, boxers, are low, grovelling, sensual, debased, and inferior to others. They frequent low places, enjoy themselves in low associations, and talk in basilar tones of voice. They tell indecent stories, and pervert the meaning of all they hear. These individuals have a heavy base to the brain, are wanting in the coronal region, and defective in Causality. The nervous system is in a low state of development, and the bodily powers have the ascendancy. The lower portion of the brain, face, and body predominate. Where there is a large jaw and a great amount of flesh hanging under it, the tendency of the mind is much lower than where there is a small jaw or maxillary bone with little flesh on or underneath it. An individual may have refined and noble qualities joined to those of a grosser nature, and then circumstances will decide which class shall be the most prominent, and sometimes there is a powerful struggle as to which shall have the ascendancy.

Some persons, like “detectives,” are keen, sharp, sagacious, penetrating, [page 5:] intuitive, and intense in mental action. A person of this class will, with one glance, look you “through and through,” and seem to understand what you are thinking about as well as if they had been acquainted with you for a long time. They will have a vigorous constitution, and the central portion of the head will predominate. Individuality, Eventuality, Comparison, and Human Nature, will be large, and the quality of the brain of fine texture.

Again, a class of persons are blunt, obtuse in their feelings, inappropriate, and out of place in their remarks. They talk indiscreetly and imprudently, and give offence when they do not really intend it. Such possess small intuition; there will be a depression in the central portion of their forehead, above Comparison. Individuality, Comparison, Eventuality, and Human Nature (the Phreno-faculty) will be small, while the impulses are strong and restraining elements weak. Conscientiousness may be large. The person will mean well, yet will not adapt himself agreeably to times or circumstances, and will often defeat his purpose by the careless way in which he works.

A young man who had not confidence enough in himself to select a wife, but had faith in Phrenology, invited two young ladies to come to my rooms, so that I might examine their heads. After I had given their delineations, he asked them to go into the next room, while he had a few words of private conversation with me. He then conferred as to the one best suited to his organisation. But there was so little management or delicacy manifested in the affair, that I would not have insulted the ladies so much as to have decided, so I told him that I thought neither would answer. If he had been more sensitive, he would have come with each one at a separate time, and consulted me in their absence, when they would have been none the wiser for his consultation.

Some, like Hugh Miller and other students, are constantly aspiring after information, are drinking continually at the fountains of knowledge. Such will have Causality, Comparison, Ideality, Cautiousness, Secretiveness, Conscientiousness, and Veneration largely developed, while Self-Esteem and the Social Brain are small.

Others, as Gossé, are as free to communicate their knowledge as to receive it. They will go abroad for information, and, after gaining it, will make it known to the whole world, and will also give their time and property as freely. They have small Acquisitiveness, Secretiveness, Combativeness, Destructiveness, and Alimentiveness, with large Adhesiveness, Approbativeness, Benevolence, and Language, an active temperament, and a disposition to be constantly busy, even though it may be at their own expense.

Some, like Franklin, are naturally thinkers, inventors, and investigators of new principles. I know of a man who has spent thirty-five years in trying to discover “ perpetual motion.” He has given his mind entirely to the subject, and must either be insane, or have a peculiar organization. When the above class act naturally, they have generally large Causality, Constructiveness, Ideality, Firmness, and Conscientiousness. [page 6:] The inventor believes that he has the clue to a right principle, so he investigates, and by the aid of Hope expects to succeed by-and-by, so he will sacrifice every present good for future p prospects.

Others, like Kossuth, are talkers, and naturally unfold the subjects they understand. It is as easy for them to express their ideas as for water to run down-hill. These have a retreating forehead, Causality only average, large Ideality, Constructiveness, Language, Mirthfulness, Individuality, and Eventuality, joined with a strong Social Brain, and large Approbativeness.

Some, like Voltaire, are quick, prompt, off-hand, wide-awake, always ready for action, while others never keep their engagements at the appointed time, even though there is nothing to prevent them but their own sluggish natures. The former will have quick circulation, fine hair, fine skin, with a predominance of the brain and nervous system. The body is not much in their way. They are nimble on the foot, run when they are going up or down stairs, and whatever their hands find to do, they do with all their might.

Some are still, slow, plodding, and restrained. They have a predominance of bone and muscle, poor circulation, large Cautiousness, small Combativeness and Eventuality. They are afraid to do anything, cannot make up their minds, and when they have formed a decision, they cannot hold on to it, if there is any excuse to change their minds.

Some, like Professor Bush, are spiritual, sentimental, exalted in their thoughts, and naturally dwell on immortality. They delight to live in their spiritual natures, are interested in prophecies, and fond of contemplating the mysteries that come under their observations. Such have large Constructiveness, Ideality, Spirituality, Hope, Veneration, and Causality, with the base of the brain rather small, and the bodily powers not very strong.

Other individuals, as Arkwright, are practical, physical, individual, interested in what they see, hear, know and perceive by the senses. These persons will have a full base to the brain from the frontal to the occipital bone, large Alimentiveness, Acquisitiveness, Eventuality, and Comparison. The perceptive faculties generally will be large, and the life of such a person will be real, literal, practical and positive.

Some, like Shelley, are imaginative, poetical, refined, and exquisite in their tone of mind, are very fond of the Beautiful. Some men in prison will beautify their cells: even though they have committed crime, yet they will leave the impress of their genius on the walls, while other prisoners think about digging holes in the walls, to make an escape, if possible. The imaginative class will have large Ideality, Spirituality, Hope, Veneration, Benevolence, Comparison, Approbativeness, and Adhesiveness, and a predominance of the Mental over the Vital temperament.

Others, like Cobbett, are definite, direct and positive in their thoughts, dealing in laws, facts, and things. Some authors, like Hume, write about what they positively know and have seen: they deal altogether [page 7:] in facts. While others, like Edgar A. Poe, have an imaginative brain and will only develope thoughts by the aid of their imagination. Those who are definite have the central portion of the head prominent, with large Order, Calculation, and Constructiveness, which enable them to deal in positive philosophy.

Some are abstract, theoretical, original in their ideas, with a type of head similar to that of Socrates and Galileo. The forehead is high and fully developed in the upper portion of it. Such men will delight in theories, to discuss abstruse questions, they will burn the midnight lamp to obtain a new idea, will gaze at the stars to discover a new planet if possible, and, having seen one, will endeavour to make mathematical calculations with regard to its distances from the earth, the sun, and will strive to learn everything with regard to it.

Some have a peculiar combination of the scientific and ethereal elements of mind, as in the case of Swedenborg. He had a fully developed brain in the frontal and coronal regions. The faculties which would give sentiment, religious and spiritual emotions, were all prominent. Hence, while in his youth he was remarkable for scientific attainments and inventive genius, and wrote many books which have made him noted as a learned and scientific man, he, at the age of fifty-four, devoted his attention to subjects of a theological nature, and whether the religious system which bears his name be true or false, he has left on record the indications of great genius in that direction.

But Baron Cuvier was a man remarkable only for his scientific attainments, and the large collection of specimens that he accumulated, which are now at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, and are a noble monument to his memory.

Some are harmonious, consistent and uniform, always the same, and there is such a great harmony between the body and brain as was remarkably true of Washington; very few men manifested so much consistency and uniformity of mind. He was a worthy statesman, led a most exemplary private life, and set a better example than most men in his position. He was not fickle, but possessed the same general cast of mind under all circumstances, whether prosperous or not. He was a man of prayer, and before a great battle would ask for the blessing of God to rest on his efforts. Prince Albert was a fine type of this class of men. His character was a beautiful harmony and consistency, and his brain evenly developed.

Some are irregular, inconsistent, eccentric, and badly balanced. Their heads are uneven in development, and such have a predominance of Destructiveness, Combativeness, Firmness and Self-Esteem, in the absence of the moral faculties.

A Mr. Roman, who was committed twice for “manslaughter,” and spent a long life in prison, and all those who are repeatedly in prison for committing crimes of various kinds, belong to this class.

Some persons, like Sterne, are mirthful, joyous, amusing, entertaining, sanguine, and hopeful. These have large Hope, Mirthfulness, Language, Approbativeness, Adhesiveness, with a good arterial circulation, and [page 8:] they are generally healthy, and enjoy life in every condition. They are enterprising, ready to go ahead, to take the chances and run the risks of business. I saw a young man in the splendid gaming establishment at Baden Baden: his head was high, his face animated, and his hands were in his pockets. Here was an opportunity for him; he threw down a handful of gold upon the table, and entered the lists with some of the company. When the calculations were made, it was found that he had lost, and his money was drawn in by the banker. Not discouraged by one failure, he drew out another handful of gold, at least amounting to £20. This was laid upon the table, and another game was played, and again he lost. In five minutes he had lost two handsful of gold. His head now began to hang down, and he went into the next room. Whether he played there I cannot say, but he soon returned with his head hanging still lower, and then disappeared at the door. Probably he had large Hope, and expected to win. It is a great pity that his enthusiasm could not have been expended on a more worthy object. Others like

Others, like Blackhawk, are gloomy, serious, steady, grave, moody, and dispirited. They go through the world with long faces, which hardly ever relax into a smile, are continually grumbling about their stomachs, and eat their bread with anxiety and carefulness. It is their piety to be sedate and sanctimonious. Such individuals will have a deep sunken eye, poor circulation, but little arterial blood. They have dark spots under their eyes, and seem ready to weep every time they speak. This class will have narrow heads in front, will lack Mirthfulness, Hope, Spirituality, Causality, Tune, Constructiveness, Self-Esteem, Order, and Language, and they will be deficient in the central portion of the forehead, while Conscientiousness and Cautiousness may be large.

Some are very modest, diffident, and sensitive. They would not speak before an audience if they could thereby gain a large fortune, They do not like to hear their own voices in company. A young man, whom I once knew, was so very modest that at one time he thought he saw a piece of burning ember fall upon a lady's dress in company. He dared not tell her for fear of hearing himself speak. Some are so very sensitive that they almost faint when they are criticised, as though their characters had been ruined and could never be retrieved, while others are bold, and egotistical, as if really they were “lords of creation.” George F. Train is an excellent example. You cannot pay compliments to individuals of this class. If you attempt it, they will say, “It is not only true, but you have not praised me sufficiently.” The modest man has large Cautiousness, Conscientiousness, Approbativeness, and Benevolence. His skin is thin, and the blood circulates freely and comes to the surface, while the bold man has a predominance of Self-Esteem, Combativeness, Firmness, and Hope, with rather small Veneration and Approbativeness.

Some, like Father Oberlin, are devotional, reverential, and dependent. They y will approach you with a low obeisance, and will worship their Creator with a solemn tone of voice. They feel their dependence on a [page 9:] Higher Power, and will make requests of their fellow-men in a manner that indicates a consciousness of inferiority. Such are respectful under all circumstances. They will have Veneration larger than any of the other moral organs, though the coronal brain, as a whole, is well developed. Destructiveness is generally small.

Some, like Theodore Parker, are naturally radical in their views by constitution, and break away from old associations almost as soon as they begin to think. These men help on the car of Progression, and they generally have large Combativeness, Causality, active circulation, and small Veneration. I think Oliver Cromwell must have been an exception to this rule in reference to Veneration, for in all the drawings of him this organ appears to be prominent, and he certainly exhibited Veneration in a powerful degree in his prayers and in the religious influence which he exerted over his soldiers. He broke away from the established order of things, but was actuated by his zeal and active Conscientiousness.

Some are very kind, tender in their feelings, generous, and sympathetic; have always a tear to shed for those who have occasion to weep, are ready to assist every object of charity, and really take pleasure, like Howard, in doing good. They are warm-hearted, cordial, and inviting. They draw you to their confidence, and you cannot help loving them when you first see them. They have a healthy condition of the body, great magnetic power, buoyancy of disposition, a strong social nature, large Approbativeness, Benevolence, Adhesiveness, Philoprogenitiveness, Veneration, and frequently a practical intellect which gives definiteness and directness to all their mental operations.

Others are cold, unsocial, loveless, hard, severe, harsh, repulsive, and distant. William II., son of William the Conqueror, was a type of this class. You are disinclined to go near such persons, and you feel that they have no sympathy when you tell them a tale of distress, and that there is a great barrier between you and them. Such persons like to remain at home, care very little for society, rarely become interested in any one, and have very little knowledge of what is going on in society. These individuals have large Inhabitiveness, Continuity, Acquisitiveness, Secretiveness, Combativeness, Destructiveness, Cautiousness, a limited degree of Benevolence, Adhesiveness, Ideality, Mirthfulness, and Spirituality. These persons will have a coarse temperament and a predominance of the bony structure.

Some are firm, steady, tenacious, and persevering. They work in a kind of routine, tread-mill manner, walk the same number of miles every day, and continue in the same business as long as they live. They may have opposition, but they are inspired by it to trudge along till they accomplish their undertakings. I had a great curiosity, when sailing down the Rhine, to visit the Cathedral at Würms, where Martin Luther said “he would go if there were as many devils as there were tiles on the roofs of the houses on the way.” Luther had the organ of Firmness largely developed, a good vital organisation, and a heavy basilar brain. Melancthon had not as much Firmness, was not so [page 10:] positive a man, and had not as much force of character. He was more disposed to be mild and pacific, in consequence of a smaller development of brain in the region of Firmness and in the occipital portion.

Others are yielding, fickle, uncertain, unstable. This was the case with Edgar A. Poe. With an engagement to lecture on hand, he would accept an invitation to drink with some friend, and would go to such excesses as to be unable to fulfil his appointment. On one occasion he was so intoxicated when he appeared on the platform as to insult his audience. He lacked stability of character, was wanting in Firmness, Self-Esteem, Continuity, and in the basilar brain and vital power.

Some are neat, systematic, regular, and methodical; all that they do is done according to rule. I examined the head of a young lady in Kentucky, and remarked to her mother “that her daughter was very neat and particular. If she had been out to a party and came home at 4 o’clock in the morning, before going to bed she would put away her dress, and arrange her clothes as if she had the whole day for it. She could not sleep unless her room was in order.” Her mother said “it was a remarkable coincidence, for they had never known her to omit it.” This young lady had the Perceptive faculties very prominent — large Order, Constructiveness, Ideality, and Locality.

There are others who are untidy, slovenly, careless and irregular in their habits. They are not neat in their persons, dress, closets, or drawers, and are always at a loss where to find anything. They are continually talking about their things being out of place, but somehow they never succeed in applying the remedy. This class will want Order and the Perceptive Faculties generally. Ideality will also be deficient, and there will be a want of culture. Some are full of life, vitality and constitutional strength. They are boiling over with animal spirits, and seem to have a surplus on hand for emergencies. They can work all day, and are full of mirth at night. In fact, it is necessary for them to work off their energy, as they manufacture it faster than an ordinary life would exhaust. Their vital functions are so well balanced, that all they have to do is to breathe fresh air, and eat a moderate amount of food. These individuals will have good digestion, a healthy, active circulation, a good development of bodily strength, with a heavy base to the brain, well sustained by a full coronal region. They will have large Language, Individuality, Mirthfulness, Hope, Approbativeness, Benevolence, and the Social Brain generally will be largely developed. Hugh Stowell Brown is a fine example of the above.

Others are always delicate, weakly, sickly, half-alive, and constantly fretting because something is wrong. Such are only half-born. They had weakly parents, who did not give them stock or stamina of constistitution. With but a limited degree of vitality for a start in life, when fully grown, they will be characterised by weak digestion, weak lungs and weak circulation. Fresh air gives them a cold, or some other difficulty, and in general they hang upon their friends to carry them through the world.

Some are liberal, free, generous, noble and whole-souled in their [page 11:] natures. These will have high heads, in addition to a good physical constitution. Rarey, the horse-tamer, is a fine example of this class of organizations. He had a warm, sympathetic nature, and by means of it controlled the fiercest animal. Those who are of this class have a long fibre of brain from Individuality to Benevolence. The forehead will be high, and the temperament warm and arterial; while those who are close, penurious and selfish in their dispositions will be low in the upper region of the brain. There is little nobleness in such organizations, no expansion of mind, nor sympathy with men or animals. If they have more property than they can use, they will hoard it in a miserly way, till they can find future opportunity to enjoy it.

This subject can be carried to an almost indefinite extent. I hope that I have been sufficiently plain that all may see themselves reflected in one of the many mental mirrors. Human character depends upon certain combinations of faculties, and, as in throwing the dice an endless variety of numbers can be produced, so by the infinite development of the faculties we see an infinite variety of individual power, yet the primitive faculties in each brain are the same.

There are two elements of success in every profession or business, viz. tact and talent, and an individual must possess one or both of these to accomplish anything in the material, scientific or philosophical world. These elements depend upon the peculiar development of the brain and body. The following qualifications are necessary for the display of talent; a large brain, a good od development of the frontal and coronal regions, length of fibre in the frontal portion, as well as in the occipital. Such a brain with fair opportunities and education would enable its possessor to exhibit talent, and to exert a swaying influence in society.

Tyndall was one of this class. He had the natural organization for a man of talent. In the translation of the English Bible he has had an extensive influence, and manifested much talent, strength and power of mind; also great ability to comprehend subjects and throw off ideas. What he undertook was done in a masterly style. This was the case with Sir Astley Cooper, who possessed possessed the above combination of qualities. He had a high, high, full brain in the coronal region, and also possessed a well-developed frontal lobe. He displayed great talent in his profession, and was remarkable for the grasp of intellect which he possessed.

Michael Angelo was a fine specimen of a talented man, remarkable for strength and comprehensiveness of mind. He had a vigorous constitution, an extraordinarily perceptive intellect, a full development of the reflective powers, and especially a full development of brain in the coronal region. This organization qualified him to exert a very extensive influence, and to carry out his plans in spite of opposition from every quarter. Napoleon I. was a man of decided talent, and also of consummate tact. He knew how to use his own gifts and forces to the best advantage. These qualities, combined with his unbounded energy, will, and ambition, gave him great success, and enabled him to rise from an inferior to the highest position. [page 12:]

Napoleon III is also a man of talent, and not wanting wanting in tact, management, and shrewdness, but is more remarkable for his power to think, comprehend principles, and act from judgment. His talent is in managing his subjects, by understanding their natures, and adapting his rules to their dispositions. His great tact was manifested in securing the throne of France.

Count Cavour belonged to the same class of superior talent; had some tact, but great ability to understand principles, and take large, comprehensive and philosophical views of subjects. He could accomplish more business with less mental friction and labour than almost any other known man.

Prince Menschikoff, the Russian general, was a man of the most distinguished talent. He exerted a very powerful influence in the army while he was in it, and so long as he was in command, both French and English combined, found it next to impossible to accomplish their designs upon Sebastopol; while Talleyrand was remarkable for his tact, power to manage and turn everything to account, shrewdness, sharpness, and availability of intellect.

Men remarkable for tact will have a distinct organization, quick circulation, a good base to the brain, an active appetite, large Acquisitiveness, Secretiveness, Approbativeness, a strong social brain, and good perceptive intellect, which incline them to come in contact with the outer world. They are not much educated by studying books in school, but have acquired their experiènce and knowledge by their intercourse in daily life, and have developed their gifts by using them in the accomplishment of their ends.

A man may be very learned, have a great amount of talent, and yet be as ignorant of the common affairs of life as a distinguished professor in Trinity College, Dublin, was, many years since. He was riding out one day in the country, and saw a very common animal in the field. With great curiosity, he asked what it was. His companion said it was a sheep! He was a very learned man, and had studied natural history from books, but was not a very deep student of Nature.

“Lord Dundreary” is a good specimen of a man of tact. You see him puzzling his brain “to find out who his mother was.” His brother Sam had a mother, and he supposes that he must have had a mother. But his brother Sam's mother was a nurse, then who was his mother; and he puzzles his brain to find it out, until he finally comes to the conclusion “that it is one of those things that nobody can find out ;” and he tries to count his fingers, and is puzzled again. He begins, one, two, three, four, five, and then the other five make ten; and beginning at the end, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, he stops again and begins again at the wrong end, ten, nine, eight, seven, six and five are eleven. “How is this?” said he. He counts them again and again. Every time he makes out eleven, when he knows that there are only ten. The audience will go night after night to see Lord Dundreary attempt to solve these and other nonsensical problems, while Macready and other talented actors on the stage will often play to thin houses. Lavater was a man of [page 13:] tact. He knew how to take the ideas of others and turn them to account, and has written a very clever book on Physiognomy; but Daniel Webster had the power of giving off his own thoughts, of generating ideas, comprehending principles, and swaying the minds of the multitude by the force of his massive and talented brain, but he lacked tact in the common affairs of life. Some men can comprehend much beyond the judgment of their contemporaries. They are called foolish and visionary for the time being, but after a while society perceives that they were right, were wiser than their generation, and finally commends them for their genius and sagacity. In this case there is talent. There are others who can make the most of surrounding circumstances, doing that which the occasion seems to inspire, only acting for the present, and thus showing tact — I do not mean that kind of deception usually termed tact, when grocers wet their sugar, mingle sand and other substances with articles of commerce and manufactures, and weave cotton instead of silk and wool into their fabrics.

I examined the head of Mazzini in London this last summer. He is remarkable for a high degree of the nervous temperament, the predominance of his brain is in the superior region, and gives him a great versatility of talent. He has large Constructiveness, Ideality, Benevolence, Firmness, Self-Esteem, with a strong reasoning brain. These faculties give him ingenuity, imagination, liberal views of things, independence, a positive, unyielding spirit, and a love of liberty. The perceptive faculties are not prominent. He is more of a poet, philosopher, schemer — a man capable of devising ways and means for others than one remarkable for available, practical intellect. He has talent, but not tact.

In the case of Garibaldi, he has a large brain. The head is very high, from the root of the nose upward to Benevolence. His forehead is lofty. The perceptive intellect is large, and the reasoning faculties very large. He has strong Benevolence and a powerful imagination, which is joined to a strong constitution, built up of good, solid, compact bone and muscle, well knit together. This combination gives him energy, force, sympathy, scope of mind, originality of thought, and practical talent. He thus possesses the qualities for a man of talent and of tact, but more for tact than talent. If Mazzini and Garibaldi could work together, the one to plan and the other to execute, they would accomplish great things. Neither could do so well alone. Of the two, there is more of available power in the organisation of Garibaldi than in Mazzini, who has more of a literary, abstract, and philosophical mind. The Social Brain is stronger in the head of Garibaldi than in Mazzini. Persons who are attached to the latter love him for his theories, plans, genius, and principles; but those who love Garibaldi are drawn to him personally. They love him as their friend, cling to him as to a brother, and admire his self-sacrificing devotion to his country. He is a patriot of the purest type, disposed to forget himself if he can thereby accomplish the salvation of Italy. Some may think that he acted unwisely [page 14:] in the last step he took, but it was his excessive Benevolence that impelled him onward. He had been looking, month after month, year after year, for some change to take place that would be favourable to freedom, and, becoming weary with waiting until his sympathies burst forth, he rushed on to the contest without listening to the voice of reason.

But, aside from his efforts for Italy, his organisation is a favourable one for the benefit of his race, and whatever side may happen to receive his support will find him one of the most faithful adherents on the side of liberty. He has a genial spirit, a large soul, a comprehensive mind, which, combined with great natural tact and talent, places him in the front rank of the great men of our age.

To be a little more specific — talent thinks, tact acts; talent writes, tact talks; talent works by rule, tact works by circumstances; talent is something, tact is everything; talent is sober and plodding, tact is prompt and wide awake; talent embodies learning, theory, and sentiment, tact embodies sense, ingenuity, and experiment; talent originates and invents, tact makes and puts into practice; talent acts best in a committee of ways and means, tact is in its element in the lobby, manœuvring behind the curtain; talent draws up the resolutions, while tact makes the speeches, rouses the people, and carries them to a decision; talent is used to advantage at times, tact comes into use on all occasions; talent conforms to circumstances, tact takes advantage of circumstances; talent is power, like bank-bills, tact is skill, like small change; talent is fit for employment, while tact is fitted for employment and adapted to it; talent requires much drilling, while tact has no left hand, deaf ear, or blind eye; talent is weighty and cumbersome, tact is portable and marketable; talent is dignified and aristocratic, while tact is available and democratic; talent is possessed by a few, tact belongs to the many; talent plans the campaign, tact knows how to fight and win the battle; talent opens the way into life, but tact conducts us through it; talent knows what to do, tact knows how to do it; talent instructs, tact enlightens; talent appeals to your reason, tact appeals to your senses; talent toils for posterity that will never pay for it, while tact wastes no labour, but makes the most of everything for the present; talent requires the way to be prepared, needs a committee, a chairman of ways and means, while tact asks no aid and does the work itself, it slips into its place easily, and does its work immediately; talent addresses “them,” and “the past,” tact means “us,” and “now;” talent reasons clearly and convinces the understanding and makes a profound sensation, while tact refutes with contradicting puzzles the profound without profundity, and without wit outwits the wise — it is the talent of talents, the availability of resources, the application of power, the eye of discrimination, and the right hand of intellect.

Talent sells goods and manages business, tact purchases goods and is the out-door agent. Talent in the pulpit unfolds the book of Revelation, explains prophecy, clears up mysteries or accounts for miracles, [page 15:] presents the responsibilities of life, the value of the soul, the nearness and duration of eternity, and the relation of man to his Maker.

Tact in the pulpit shows man how to live, and how to make the most of his talents. It applies the truths of Revelation, using familiar language, suiting the Bread of Life to all classes, feeding the children with milk and the strong men with meat.

Talent at the bar expounds the law and the constitution, argues mathematically, brings out logical decisions, makes everything clear, gives a reason for every step taken, speaks slowly, looks wisely, dresses like a sage, and has a dignified walk; while tact at the bar deals in facts, makes the most of every circumstance, acts on the feelings of the jury, slights the arguments of its opponent, and makes wit and fiction take the place of philosophy and sound reason.

Talent in the theatre dazzles the eye, startles the ear, puzzles intellect, suspends the breath, amazes and astonishes the hearers, makes the most talented man act like a man of talent, but the play is not repeated.

Tact in the theatre studies to please, adapts itself to the hero, makes the talented man act like a fool, the learned man commit great errors, the fool look very wise; it raises a laugh, draws a full house, and repeats the play every night for the season.

Talent in the school-room opens the text-book, and talks learnedly about laws, the origin of things, and the importance of understanding first principles.

Tact in the school-room explains the laws and principles of Nature, and shows their application to the various interests of life, in pointing out how to secure life, wealth, and happiness.

Talent writes a book of reference that is put upon the shelf, while tact writes a book that is read and laid upon the table. The man of talent is better known and appreciated after his death, while the man of tact is known as he goes along, and appreciated at the time, but is soon forgotten. Monuments are raised to men of talent, while fortunes are made by men of tact. Talent makes statesmen, tact makes diplomatists. Tact and talent combined make an universal genius.

Man has talent, is powerful, executive. He makes, conquers, and destroys kingdoms, builds ships, ploughs the seas, captures the whale, cages the lion, rides on the elephant, bores the tunnel, lays the cable, paints by the sun's rays, talks by lightning, travels by steam, rides in the air, makes iron ships to float on the waters, discovers new planets, subdues the earth, controls the elements, moulds matter to his liking, is the driver of the van, is the head of animal creation. He has power on the earth; in fact, is “lord of creation,” and is a little lower than the angels.

Woman has tact, is sagacious, shrewd, ingenious, makes the most of everything, accomplishes her ends without tools, pays debts without money, softens, hardens and breaks hearts without instruments, conquers without fighting, kills without shedding blood, rules without showing authority, guides without taking the lead, conquers nations [page 16:] without drawing the sword, rules them without swaying the sceptre. She is the essence of talent and power, she allows man to hold the reins, but shows him the way to go. She is the climax of creation, the perfection of all that has gone before her, “she sticketh closer than a brother, is a friend, indeed, in times of need,” and, therefore, an angel of mercy.

Decide, then, whether you have tact or talent. It is better to have both, but if you possess only tact or talent, it is better to select a partner for life, or an associate in business who has the opposite element, so that the firm and family may embrace as much comprehensiveness of mind and availability of power as is possible. By studying nature you will become acquainted not only with her varied manifestations, but the best way to regulate and control them.

Phrenology will aid more than any other system of Mental Philosophy in the reading of character, and will enable you to understand more fully and clearly the persons with whom you have to deal, and will introduce you to the whole man physically and mentally, so far as it is possible to observe him externally.

THE END.

London: W. TWEEDIE, 337, Strand.