The History of Phrenology on the Web (http://www.historyofphrenology.org.uk/)
 
By John van Wyhe
Last modified 24.2.2002

Proceedings of the Boston Phrenological Society, for the year 1835. Being a Report (unofficial) read to the Society, Jan. 14, 1836.

It has been suggested to the Secretary, by some members of the Society, that a sketch of the labors of the members, during the last year, would be particularly acceptable, as going to show that much has been done for the improvement of the members in the science of phrenology; and that no little has been attempted by the Society, towards perfecting the beautiful system which originated with Gall, and has been improved by Spurzheim and Combe. In consequence of these suggestions,.your Secretary has copied from the records a brief list of the papers, reports, 6c, which have been read before the Boston Phrenological Society, during the year 1835. It is as follows:--

Jan. 15.--A report was read by Mr Fowle, upon an unknown scull, presented to the Society by Dr Lewis. A paper was afterwards read from Dr Lewis, stating that the scull was that of the pirate Delgardo, who committed suicide in Leverett-street prison.

A report was read by Mr Sleeper, on a cast of the head of Henry Joseph, a negro, who was executed in this city for the murder of Capt. Crosby.

A paper was read by H. T. Tuckerman, in relation to Bulwer's 'Last Days of Pompeii,' going to show the opinions entertained and expressed, by the author, in favor of Phrenology.

Feb. 5.--A report was read by Mr Fowle, from the Committee appointed to examine and report upon a scull of some individual unknown to the Society, transmitted from the Phrenological Society, in South Reading.

Feb. 19.--A report was read by Dr N. B. Shurtleff, on twelve sculls of natives of the East Indies, Hindoos and Mussalmans, which were presented to the society by Mr Dixwell.

Mr. Tuckerman read a phrenological analysis of Dr Channing's Sermon on war, in which he stated that the Philosophy of that celebrated Divine and the doctrines of phrenology were based on the same fundamental principles of the mind.

Mr Fowle read from the Paris Phrenological Journal, an interesting account of the post mortem examination of the head of Cuvier.

March 6.--Mr Sleeper read a report from a committee who were appointed to examine into a singular case, in relation to the organ of Reverence, as manifested in the cranium of an individual, residing at Lowell.

Dr M. S. Perry read a paper on the organ of Alimentiveness, and related two remarkable cases of the development and manifestation of that organ.

April 2.--A report was made by Mr Sleeper, on a cast of the head of Asa Low, a paper manfacturer, in Vermont, whose organization presented a remarkable appearance.

A report was read by Dr Shurtleff, on the anatomical structure of the cranium of Dr Spurzheim.

A translation of an interesting paper on education, which originally appeared in the Paris Phrenological Journal, was read by Mr Clark.

April 1T.--Mr Powle read a paper, being an analysis of a pamphlet, written by M. D: Richard, of Paris, entitled 'Phrenology et Napoleon.'

A paper relating to the organ of Locality, was read by Mr Sleeper, in which he stated, that a remarkable instance was to be seen in the person of Abraham Courtney, a blind man, who frequented the streets of the city.

May 1.--A report upon the character of Asa Low, of Vermont, was read by Mr Sleeper, from a committee appointed to ascertain whether it corresponded with the former report on the cast.

A report was read by Mr Sleeper, on the cast of a scull, unknown to him, presented to the society at a previous meeting by Dr. Shurtleff. It was subsequently stated to be that of the negro, Henry Joseph.

June 5.--Mr Powle read a report written by Mr Coxe, of Edinburgh, on a cast of the head of Whitefield. He also read an analysis of this report, in which he took occasion to compare it with one written by himself on the same cast, .and with the real character of that individual. In corroboration of some sentiments expressed in his former report, he also read a letter written by Dr Stiles, of New Haven, in 1755, and addressed. to Edward Wigglesworth, of Boston.

Mr Sleeper read a paper with some extracts, from an old periodical, on the character of the Prince Potempkin, of Russia.

June 19.--A report was read by Mr Sleeper, in the cast of the scull of a :forth American Indian, presented to the society, at the previous meeting by L. D. Chapin, of New York.

Mr Powle read a report from a committee appointed to examine the two reports, made on the cast of the head of Henry Joseph, and the scull of that individual.

Dr John Flint read a paper on idiocy, and stated a remarkable case, which came to his knowledge, in relation to deficiency of intellectual power, in an individual.

A paper was read by Mr Sleeper, on the character of the pirates, who were executed for robbing the brig Mexican, of Salem, on the high seas.

Mr Fowle read a report relating to the scull of Delgardo, which had been reported on at a previous mecting, detailing various circumstances, illustrative of the character of that individual.

July 17.--A report was read by Mr Sleeper, from a Committee appointed at the previous meeting, to compare the contents of a letter received from the South Reading Society, relating to a scull sent some time before to be examined, with a report made by a committee of this society, on said scull, which proved to be that of J. P. Rog, who was executed in this city, a number of years ago, for piracy.

Mr Sleeper read a report of a committee appointed to examine a cast of the head of a person unknown to the committee, which was handed in to the society at the previous meeting.
After which, Dr. Fox read a statement relating t0 the character of the individual, from whose head the above cast was taken, and who proved to be Mr S. Willard, well known as a clock manufacturer.

Mr. Bugard read a report from cast 169, being one of the phrenological specimens, received by the society, from Europe.

September 4.--Mr Frothingham read a paper explaining the functions and locality of a new organ, which he denominated Associativeness, supposed to be situated between Self-Esteem and Concentrativeness.

Mr.Fowle read a paper relating to an interesting case of practical phrenology.

Sept. 18.--A report was read by Mr Fowle, on the merits of a former report on the cast of the head of Mr Simon Willard. and confirming the character deduced from an examination of the developments of the organs, as stated in the report of Mr Sleeper, with the known character of the individual.

Oct. 2.--A report was read by Mr Fowle, on Dr Antommarchi's mask of Napoleon.

Mr Frothingham read a report, relating to a report previously made to the society, on a cast of an Indian scull, and also on several sculls which were corrnitted to him, in which he entered largely into the subject of the character of the North American Indian.

Mr Sleeper read a report on a scull, which was referred to a committee at the previous meeting, which, it afterwards appeared by a statement of Mr Bugard, who presented the scull to the society, was found in a mound or Indian burying-ground in Georgia--where it has probably been buried for centuries.

A paper was read by Dr John Flint, relating to the cure of a diseased organ of Amativeness, and a post mortem examination of the individual.

Oct. 16.--Mr Sleeper read a report on the cast of the bust of an individual, unknown to him, which was presented to the society at the previous meeting, by Mr Fowle, and which subsequently proved to be a cast of the head of the late Dr Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia.

Dr Flagg read an interesting case, from the London Lancet, relating to Mary Murdoch, who with Wade, her accomplice, was executed near Bristol, Eng. for poisoning Mary Smith.

Mr Frothingham read a paper, in relation to an organ which he supposed to exist, and which he styled Watchfulness--located over the ear, between Caution and Acquisitiveness.

Nov. 6.--Mr Sleeper read a report on a cast of the upper part of a cranium, of extraordinary organization, which had been sent to the society, by Baron Pisani, of Palermo, in Sicily.

Mr Frothingham read a paper, being a final report on the Indian sculls, presented to the society by Dr Powell, of New Orleans.

Nov. 20.--Dr John Flint read a re,,ort from a committee appointed to visit the boys' school, connected with the House of Industry, at South Boston, and stated the developments and probable characters of several of the lads In that institution.

Mr Fowle read a report, relating to a report previously made to the society, on the cast of the head of Dr Rush, of Philadelphia.

Mr Frothingham read a report on the cast of Mark Winslow, a notorious counterfeiter, who committed suicide, In Leverett-street gaol.

Mr Sleeper read a report from a committee appointed to ascertain the correct character of Mark Winslow.

Dec. 19.--Mr Fowle read a paper relating to the opinions of the Edinburgh 'and London phrenologists on the cast of the scull of Whitefield, which had been sent to each of these societies.

Mr Frothingham read a paper, describing more fully and particularly the functions of the new organ of Associativeness.

A paper was read by Mr Sleeper, descriptive of a visit lately made to the State Prison, at Charlestown, and an examination of the heads of several of the convicts.

In addition to the reports and papers which have been communicated, a number of letters have been received from abroad, and read to the society; and a great number of verbal communications have been made by various members, on interesting subjects connected with Phrenology. A number of reports have also been made on matters of business, which are not included in the above list, and several -aimated discussions have taken place among the members, at the meetings, on questions proposed for debate by the Executive Committee. We trust and believe that it will be seen from the above, that the members of this Society have not been idle during the past year; and now, having succeeded, although at a great expense, in procuring a catalogue of the phrenological specimens obtained more than a year since from England, it is but fair to presume that the proceedings of the society for the present year will be of a character more interesting than the last. It is hoped that every member of the society will not content himself with attempting to gain instruction, but will voluntarily communicate all the information which he may from time to time obtain, which may prove interesting or instructive to those who are pursuing the study of the science of Phrenology.

J. S. Sleeper, Rec. Secretary


---Annals of Phrenology 2, 1835, pp. 501-506.

From: John van Wyhe, The History of Phrenology on the Web (http://www.historyofphrenology.org.uk/)