PROGRESS OF PUBLICATION.
HR. GEORGE COMAE is well known as an able man and a most zealous phrenologist. His Constitution of Man considered in relation to Eternal Objects has been published long enough for it to be also known that the work is a popular attempt to place the Mental Science—i. e. Phrenology—upon a sound basis, and to de- monstrate that the qualities of the mind have their organs as dis- tinctly and palpably existent as the bodily organs of respiration, digestion, &c. Not content with endeavouring to establish the truth of his views, Mr. COMB& shows their practical applicability to the purposes of life,—as in the case of marriage, for instance; in determining upon which connexion, beauty should be consi- dered as frail and fleeting, manners and even actions as deceptive, but the general formation of the skull (in respect to which he presents us with some diagrams) as leading to sound conclusions and connubial happiness. All these points, as well as a tendency to what is popularly termed scepticism, are or might have been known a little month before the Spectator was in being; and into their details it is not our intention to enter. The singularity of the present edition is the point to be noted; for it is an endowed book. Mr. HENDERSON, "younger of Warriston and .Eildon Hall "—a true believer in Phrenology—left the residue of his pro- perty to trustees for the purpose of advancing the science. Look- mg at the change of circumstances which lapse of time might induce, he did not fetter his representatives by positive directions, but he expressed a wish, could it reasonably be complied with, that one of the first applications of the trust fund should be to publish a cheap edition of GEORGE COMBE'S Constitution of Man. The de- votee died earlier perhaps than he anticipated; but if departed spirits be conscious of the doings of this world, it will console his shade to perceive that his death has hastened the publication he had so much at heart. Though some life interests are chargeable upon the residue, and the funds are consequently not in full play, the trustees determined to forestal a year's income; and the result of their decision is the volume before us,—whose appearance makes us wish that publication endowments were in fashion. Here we have more than four hundred pages, extremely well printed, on good paper, and the tout ensemble of the book wearing a most respectable appearance, for half-a-crown. Let us add a word of advice to those who would profit by the zeal of the departed Laird of Warriston and Eildon Hall—they must be particular to order -"the Henderson edition."
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