From C. Kegan Paul, William Godwin: His Friends and
Contemporaries
(London: Henry S. King & Co., 1876), 289-90
{289}
| Newman Street,
Sept. 18, 1797. |
Dear Sir, -- When I had the pleasure of seeing your
little daughter this morning, and you asked my opinion concerning her
physiognomy, I experienced some difficulty, partly from an ill-grounded
sense of ridicule in seeming to assume the character of fortune-teller,
partly from a consciousness of imperfect knowledge, but chiefly from the
little probability that the opportunity would afford time for a calm
consideration of the individual, and of my own associated notions, which
require meditation and development before I can satisfy myself. My view
was, in fact, slight and momentary. I had no time to consider, compare,
and combine. Yet I am disposed to think the following imperfect
observation may lead you to more than a suspicion that our organization at
the birth may greatly influence those motives which govern the series of
our future acts of intelligence, and that we may even possess moral
habits, acquired during the foetal state.
- The outline of the head viewed from above, its profile, the outline of
the forehead, seen from behind and in its horizontal are such as I have
invariably and exclusively seen in subjects who possessed considerable
memory and intelligence.
- The base of the forehead, the eyes and eyebrows, are {290} familiar to
me in subjects of quick sensibility, irritable, scarcely irascible, and
surely not given to rage. That part of the outline of the forehead, which
is very distinct in patient investigators, is less so in her. I think her
powers, of themselves, would lead to speedy combination, rather than
continued research.
- The lines between the eyes have much expression, but I had not time to
develope them. They simply confirmed to me the inductions in the late
paragraph.
- The form of the nose, the nostrils, its insertion between the eyes,
and its changes by muscular action, together with the side of the face in
which the characteristic marks of affection are most prominent, were
scarcely examined. Here also is much room for meditation and remark.
- The mouth was too much employed to be well observed. It has the
outlines of intelligence. She was displeased, and it denoted much more of
resigned vexation than either scorn or rage.
On this imperfect sight it would be silly to risk a character; for
which reason I will only add that I conjecture that her manner may be
petulant in resistance, but cannot be sullen. I have chosen to send you
these memoranda, rather than seem to shrink from the support of truth by
declining to practise what I have asserted could be done without
difficulty in the case of my own children.
That she may be everything your parental affection can desire is the
sincere wish of -- Yours, with much regard,
