tranquilly closed, if they can be closed without constraint; (d) the middle of the upper lip, in particular, and (e) of the under lip; (f) the bottom of the middle line, at each end; and, lastly, (g) the extending of the middle line on both sides. For, unless you thus distinguish, you will not be able to delineate the mouth accurately.

As are the lips so is the character.

Firm lips, firm character; weak lips, and quick in motion, weak and wavering cha

racter.

Well defined, large, and proportionate lips, the middle line of which is equally serpentine, on both sides, and easy to be drawn, though they may denote an inclination to pleasure, are never seen in a bad, mean, common, false, crouching, vicious

countenance.

A lipless mouth, resembling a single line, denotes coldness, industry, a lover of order, precision, housewifery, and if it be drawn upward at the two ends, affectation, pretension, vanity, and, which may ever be the production of cool vanity, malice.

Very fleshy lips must ever have to contend with sensuality and indolence. The cut-through, sharp-drawn lip, with anxiety and avarice. .

Calm lips, well closed, without constraint, and well delineated, certainly betoken consideration, discretion, and firmness.

A mild overhanging upper lip generally signifies goodness. There are innumerable good persons, also, with projecting under lips, but the goodness of the latter is rather cold fidelity, and well-meaning, than warm, active friendship.

The under lip hollowed in the middle denotes a fanciful character. Let the moment be remarked when the conceit of the jocular man descends to the lip, and it will be scen to be a little hollow in the middle.

A closed mouth, not sharpened, not affected, always denotes courage and fortitude, and the open mouth always closes when courage is indispensable. Openness of mouth speaks complaint, and closeness endurance.

Little as the physiognomists have hitherto noticed, much might be said concerning, the lip improper, or the fleshy covering of the upper teeth, on which anatomists have not, to my knowledge, yet bestowed any name, and which may be called the curtain, or palVOL. III. 1

lium, extending from the beginning of the nose to the red upper lip proper.

If the upper lip improper be long, the proper is always short; if it be short and hollow, the proper will be large and curved; another certain demonstration of the conformity of the human countenance.-Hollow upper lips are much less common than flat and perpendicular: the character they denote is equally uncommon.

F.

TEETH.

NOTHING is more certain, striking, or continually visible, than the characteristics of the teeth, and the manner in which they display themselves.

The following are the observations I have made.

Small, short, teeth, which have generally been held by the old physiognomists to denote weakness, I have remarked in adults of extraordinary strength; but they seldom were of a pure white.

Long teeth are certain signs of weakness and pusillanimity.

White, clean, well-arranged teeth, visible as soon as the mouth opens, but not projecting, nor always entirely seen, I have never met with, in adults, except in good, acute, honest, candid, faithful men.

I have also met foul, uneven, and ugly teeth, in persons of the above good character; but it was always either sickness or some mental imperfection, which gave this deformity.

Whoever leaves his teeth foul, and does

not attempt to clean them, certainly betrays much of the negligence of his character, which does him no honour.

As are the teeth of man, that is to say, their form, position, and cleanliness (so far as the latter depends upon himself) so is his

taste.

Wherever the upper gum is very visible, at the first opening of the lips, there is generally much cold and phlegm.

Much, indeed, might be written upon the teeth, although they are generally neglected, in all historical paintings. To be convinced of this we need but observe the teeth of an individual, during the course of a single day; or contemplate, with reference to this particular, an apartment crowded with fools. We should not then, for a moment, deny that the teeth, in conjunction with the lips, are very characteristic; or that physiognomy has gained another token which triumphs over all the arts of dissimulation.