Brooke, Henry (c. 1703-1783)

The Fool of Quality, or, the History of Henry Earl of Moreland

Dublin

Printed for the Author by Dillon Chamberlaine

Published serially, 1765-1770

Characters are not impressed on the countenance independent of the characters in the mind because that would "overthrow the whole System of Physiognomists" and becuase "it would overthrow the Opinion of Socrates himself, who allowed that his Countenance had received such Impressions from the natural Bent and Disposition of his Mind"

By no means Madam, answered Mr. Fenton. For, if such Characters are impressed by Nature on the Countenance, independent of any such Characters in the Mind, this would, first, overthrow the whole System of the Physiognomists, who judged of the Mind by the Countenance alone. And, secondly, it would overthrow the Opinion of Socrates himself, who allowed that his Countenance had received such Impressions from the natural Bent and Disposition of his Mind. But, again, if the Mind has really a Power to impress her own Character or Likeness on the Countenance; what should take away this Power, why does she not retain it? Why should not a total Change of Character in the Soul, make some suitable Change of Character in the Aspect? It does, Madam, it does make a total Change. And there are thousands of Faces, in yonder sanctified City, that, once, expressed all the Sweetness of bashful Modesty; and yet are, now, as much hardened and bronzed over with Impudence; as the Face of the Statue at Charing-Cross.
(pp. 127-8)

Impressions Body::Face

Searching "mind" and "impression" in HDIS (Prose)

17 entries in the ESTC (1765, 1766, 1767, 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1776, 1777, 1782, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794).

Text from The Fool of Quality, or, the History of Henry Earl of Moreland. (Dublin: Printed for the Author by Dillon Chamberlaine, 1765-1770). <Link to ECCO>. Note, vol. 2 is dated 1766, vol. 3 1768, vol. 4 1769, vol. 5 1770.

Physiognomy

05/23/2005