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hearted and malignant persons in the world who hate merit for its own sake, and who are in instant hostility with a warm, susceptible, and sanguine disposition, especially if with it should be united the buoyant and somewhat intractable energies of genius. These people are perpetually at work in misrepresenting and depreciating characters whom nothing but the dignity and generosity of their own nature could save from utter misanthropy:

"And only not to desperation driven,
Because not altogether of such clay

As rots into the souls of those whom they survey."

Mr. Cooke was not one of those: he would gently repress the extravagancies of such individuals; but he had a moral pleasure in contemplating their energies, in directing their exertions, and encouraging their hopes, having a strong confidence in the influence of a good understanding, which, for the most part, will be found united with generous sentiments, and is the best ground for hoping that its possessor will

eventually be found in the onward path of virtue and honour.

He constantly maintained that the science of Physiognomy was, on the whole, calculated to exhibit human nature in a favourable point of view, and had no relationship with those persons of narrow understanding and perverted hearts, who, if once they imbibe a prejudice, ever afterwards turn aside from the lustre of merit, however conspicuous, and however unequivocal in a character, because it is their pleasure to dislike; and who, if there were no vice and error in the world (save their own), would have no objects for the gratification of their malignity. Such a disposition would naturally dispose him to a favourable view of his fellow beings, and incline him rather to praise than to blame. Just praise is the natural reward of merit, as it is a strong incentive to deserving it; and, without relinquishing the consideration of yet higher motives, is one of the subsidiary aids designed by Providence to maintain and strengthen the virtue of our imperfect world.

The editor would venture to observe, that for one instance, in which it is withheld from a scrupulous principle, entitled to respect, in a thousand, it is denied from malignity. "I trample on the pride of Plato," said the surly cynic of antiquity, to which the amiable and penetrating philosopher replied, "But with greater pride, Diogenes."

Mr. Cooke was singularly happy in extinguishing prejudice in the minds of others, and of making them love and admire such as were his own favourites; on the other hand, in the exhibition of what was mean, selfish, and distorted, he had a power of conveying his sentiments in such a manner, and with such an instantaneity of effect, as to excite uncontrolable merriment and diversion, reminding you sometimes, on such occasions, of the bold and original sarcasm of Voltaire.

As a companion, such a man could not fail to be interesting; but he had virtues of a higher order than those which merely minister to con

vivial and social intercourse. His friendships were warm and inextinguishable; and for the excellency of his character in the domestic relations of life, the editor knows he could appeal to the tears which will be shed over this humble memoir, by those with whom he stood in still more tender relations than with himself, by one with whom he lived a long life of constant tenderness and unchanging affection, and by the sons and daughters who mingle their sorrows with her's, for their common and irreparable loss.

Many of the friends too, whom his society has so often and so long delighted, will participate in the grateful sadness; and if he had enemies and calumniators, the thought of this would serve to increase the pleasure the editor feels in endeavouring to discharge this debt of justice, and of gratitude to the memory of his interesting, excellent, and lamented friend.

PHYSIOGNOMICAL FRAGMENTS,

&c.

SECTION 1.

ON THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN PHYSIOGNOMY

AND PATHOGNOMY; WITH AN ATTEMPT TO PROVE THAT THE FORMER IS INDEED A SCIENCE.

PHYSIOGNOMY, scientifically considered, and in its widest signification, comprehends the entire fund of human faculties, with all those external signs, which in man directly force themselves on the observer. It embraces, according to the excellent Lavater, every feature, every outline, every modification, active or passive, every attitude and passion of the human body. In short, every thing that immedi

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