ear, and that the organs in this part are more remarkable for length of fibre than for breadth and bulk. Behind the ear again, though there is a greater mass of brain, the organs are rounder and more conglomerated; and their breadth is much greater than that of the organs in front. This difference in configuration leads, of course, to a corresponding difference in the mode of the manifestations. I believe it is Dr Spurzheim's opinion, that length of fibre gives activity, and that breadth, or mass of cerebral substance, gives power. If this is a correct explanation, it deserves to be attended to in estimating phrenologically the manifestations of such a head. Of course, it leads us to the conclusion, that in Sheridan the organs of the propensities, lying chiefly behind the ear, are the most powerful, but that those of the intellectual faculties and moral sentiments are the most active. The latter should be most easily put in motion, but the former, when moved, should be capable of far greater effects. It is just the development of all others most fitted to make a conspicuous and a brilliant figure in life; the intellect possessing an acuteness and a promptitude ready for every emergency, not being encumbered nor trammelled by too strict a morality, nor by too refined a sensibility of sentiment; while the propensities supply an energy and a force to all its movements,-as the edge of the axe is driven forward by the weight of the head. The wedge-like form of such a head may, without great stretch of fancy, be said to be in some measure emblematic of its power; and of the effect which it is calculated to produce in circumstances suited to its favourable action.

The head is greatly above the average size; and the development, although not of the most intellectual kind, is far from indicating an ordinary or common-place character. With a very considerable proportion of kindly and affectionate feeling, we have here the elements of undaunted courage and

inflexible resolution,* combined with a gay and cheerful temper, which would lead the views always to the bright side of things. With a tendency to respectful deference towards rank and wealth, there would be a strong desire to lead and command others;§ but this so modified by the love of popularity and the desire of pleasing,|| that he would always wish to command by soft means, and rather by flattering the weaknesses of others than by alarming their terrors. His conscience would be of that courtly description that never runs far in advance of the morality which is fashionable for the day, and would not probably stand much in the way of his preferment, unless when aided by what he considered to be due to his fame. To all this would be added a power of observation that never slept ;** a memory for facts and ordinary occurrences uncommonly retentive;†† an intellect more remarkable for sound practical sense than for deep reflection and metaphysical acuteness ;‡‡ and last, though not the least source of his power, the gift of penetrating the thoughts of others and concealing his own,§§ which would give him a tact in his intercourse with the world that would turn all his other talents to the very fullest advantage, and enable him, on many occasions, to obtain a reputation for far higher talents than he really possessed. We see also here the elements that would lead to a shewy, expensive, and extravagant course of life,||||-very far removed from the sober, regular, and frugal habits of the industrious tradesman.¶¶¶ Conscientiousness not being so strong as to point out regularity to be a moral duty, in the absence of all natural inclination to observe it, it would be most natural to expect, that this disposition would lead, as it generally does, to pecuniary em

Combativeness very large, Destructiveness large, Firmness large.

+ Hope large. Veneration large. § Self-esteem very large.

Love of Approbation very large. Conscientiousness only rather full. ** Lower Individuality very large. ++ Upper ditto large.

Comparison, Causality, and Wit, only rather full.

SS Secretiveness large

Ideality full, Hope large, Love of Approbation very large, with Acquisitiveness only rather full.

¶¶Order small.

barrassment, and that this, in its turn, should suggest many unworthy shifts and disguises, (Secretiveness large,) in order to put off the evil day, and to postpone a reckoning which only becomes the heavier the longer it is delayed. Let any one read this hasty sketch, drawn by the plainest and most obvious deduction from the development before us, and say if it does not present, at every point, the very form and pressure of the character of Sheridan. It is not a casual hit here and there, but it is point device the very man. It is a full-length portrait, representing him as much to the life as the outward form is represented in a mirror.

We shall now proceed to state in detail, some of the more prominent parts of Sheridan's character, as manifested in the principal events of his life. We profess not to follow an accurate chronological order, but shall rather take them up the way that appears best calculated to illustrate our subject.

in

Sheridan, it appears, was not one of those geniuses whose talents display themselves at a very early age. When at home, and under the tuition of his father, who does not seem ever to have understood his character, or the proper method of dealing with it, he was pronounced to be an incorrigible dunce. Being sent to Harrow, where his large Love of Approbation would naturally urge him to exertion, in order to avoid the contempt, at least, if not to procure the applause of his companions, he seems never to have attained that rank as a scholar which his subsequent celebrity would have led us to expect. We suspect that Conscientiousness is a considerable element in the character of a diligent and studious youth; and, that prior to any pleasure derived from learning, the daily task is only got with alacrity from a strong sense of duty. The want of this feeling, probably, leads to idleness; and we see that Conscientiousness is by no means a predomi nant quality in Sheridan. Accordingly we find, from the account of Dr Parr, "that although he did not incur any corporeal punishment for idleness, his industry was just suffi"cient to protect him from disgrace." This is just the degree

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of diligence we should expect from a sharp boy, in whom Love of Approbation, not as yet directed to the desire of literary fame, is stronger than Conscientiousness. Dr Parr goes on to say,-"All this while, Sumner and I saw in him the vestiges ❝of a superior intellect; his eye, his countenance, his general "manner, were striking." The manner and expression of the countenance are indicative more of the propensities and sentiments than of the intellect. The Combativeness, Selfesteem, and Love of Approbation of Sheridan would render his manner marked and striking. "His answers to any com"mon question were prompt and acute." The large Individuality accounts for this, joined to the combination of feelings before noticed-"We knew the esteem, and even admiration, "which, somehow or other, all his school-fellows felt for him." Here we see the influence conferred by a large head, which Phrenologists know is always, when healthily organized, accompanied with power of character. This influence was not known by Dr Parr, who did not see in any of the apparent qualities or talents of the youth what it was that had procured him this esteem and admiration, and therefore he introduces the phrase "somehow or other," shewing that he was ignorant of the source from whence they arose. But, independently of size, Sheridan's development was just such as to make him acceptable in the society of a school. His Combativeness, Hope, Self-esteem, and Love of Approbation, all of which were large, would make him the foremost in those daring exploits wherein school-boys generally take the greatest pleasure and pride. Indeed these faculties, with a moderate Conscientiousness, would all receive much higher gratification from this sort of fame than that which arose from successful scholarship. All these qualities are indicated in what follows:-" He was mis"chievous enough; but his pranks were accompanied by a sort of vi"vacity and cheerfulness which delighted Sumner and myself. I "had much talk with him about his apple-loft, for the supply of "which all the gardens in the neighbourhood were taxed, and "some of the lower boys were employed to furnish it. I threaten"ed, but without asperity, to trace the depredators, through his

"associates, up to their leader. He, with perfect good humour, "set me at defiance, and I never could bring home the charge to "him." We beg our readers to take notice of this last statement, as indicating the exercise of two faculties which are both strongly marked in the development before us, Firmness and Secretiveness. These qualities, we shall afterwards see, are most conspicuous in the character of Sheridan in most of the events of his life; and, in almost all of them, as well as in these his youthful exploits, we shall find occasion to say, that he would have possessed almost every valuable quality, had he only been endowed with a little more of that invaluable one, a conscientious feeling of duty.

When he was taken from Harrow, as his father's circumstances did not admit of sending him to the University, he was kept for some time at home. As his father's profession of an actor led him to an unsettled life, residing, alternately, at one or other of the capitals of England or Ireland, and occasionally at Bath, so acute an observer as Sheridan must have easily picked up, among other knowledge, an accurate acquaintance with what is called the World, and with the varieties of character to be met with in great cities. About the age of eighteen he entered into a kind of literary partnership with a Mr Halhed, a young man of great talents, afterwards well known for his proficiency in oriental literature. They projected various works, of which none ever saw the light except a translation of Aristænetus. Whatever might have been his literary acquirements at this period, Sheridan never seems to have entertained the least doubt of ultimate success. He felt conscious of mental power; but his intellect was not of that kind that sees things by intuition, or blazes forth at once with a lustre purely and originally its own, but rather such as requires the borrowed light of experience and intercourse with life before it appears in all its splendour. His development is decidedly more of the knowing than of the reflecting kind, the higher faculties not being more developed than is required for giving plain shrewd sense, and the power of enjoying, more perhaps than that of