ree with the views which the
phrenological physiologists entertain on the subjects of temperament and
general organization. But, in spite of all this, phrenology, as I hear
it perpetually referred to and mixed up by them with their habitual
speech (it forms indeed so completely the staple of their phraseology
that one had need be familiar with the terms to follow their usual
conversation), produces no conviction on my mind beyond the recognized
fact that a nobly and beautifully proportioned head indicates certain
qualities in the human individual, and _vice versa_.

It appears to me merely a new nomenclature for long-known and admitted
phenomena; and beyond those, they seem to me to involve themselves in
contradictions, divisions, and subdivisions of the brain, so minute and
various, and requiring so much allowance for so many conditions, as
considerably to neutralize each other, and render the result of their
observations, which to them seems positive and conclusive, to me
uncertain and unsatisfactory.

There are many things which my intellectual laziness prevents my
examining, which I feel sure, if I did examine, would produce positive
results on my mind; but phrenology does not seem to me one of these. If
it had been, I should have adopted it, or felt the same sort of belief
in it that I do in mesmerism, about which, understanding nothing, I
still cannot resist an impression that it is a real and powerful
physical agency.... Now you must draw your own conclusions as to the
causes of this state of mind of mine with regard to phrenology. The
phrenologists, you know, say I am deficient in "causality"--and
undoubtedly it is not my predominant mental quality; but I incline to
think that I _could_ think, as well as the average number of professing
phrenologists, if I would take the trouble, for I have known some
amongst them who certainly were anything but logical in their general
use of their brains.

The only time I ever was in the Highlands was when I went with Dall and
my father to Loch Lomond twenty years ago. I had never seen a drop of
Loch Katrine till now. We went from Glasgow to Stirling by railroad in
an hour, on Saturday morning. From Stirling we took a light open
carriage, a kind of britzska, and pair of horses, and posted the same
afternoon sixteen miles to Callander, where we slept. Sunday morning we
took the same carriage with fresh horses to Loch Katrine. The distance
is only ten miles of an enchanting d