The organ of destructiveness is immediately over the external opening of the ear, being more or less forward as the developement is more or less intellectual. The faculty is indispensable to all animals who live on flesh, and it differs from the preceding organ in being more permanent. Combativeness gives courage to meet danger, or oppose it without terror. Destructiveness lends a _constant power_ of overcoming and destroying as long as the object of opposition remains; its energy is thus a permanent stimulus to exertion, so as to overcome whatever object is in view--if learning, indefatigable perseverance; if riches, a constant plodding in the pursuit; if virtue, a firm and unvarying opposition to the myriad phases of sin. Combativeness is the _active_ momentary stimulus that requires excitement. Destructiveness, the _passive_ energy that supports continued exertion. The organ is thus valuable when rightly used, but unfortunately it lends its energy to evil pursuits as well as good ones--it is found in the hardened and unrepentant sinner, as well as in the noble and energetic patriot; it is thus highly dangerous in persons whose organization is not under the government of moral principle; a good endowment is indispensable for a proper discharge of duty, as the sword, the emblem of destructiveness is often combined with the scales of justice, the one to measure the offence, the other to punish the contemners of the law; those who have the organ small, are deficient of energy, incapable of fighting with the turmoils of the world.--on the other hand the abuse of it is recognised in petty tyranny, a desire to trample on those beneath us; a carelessness to the happiness of others, and a severity of punishment for the minutest fault; In common life we may trace the operation of this faculty; a preacher, with the organ large and benevolence small, would hold out the _threatenings_ of the Gospel, a preacher of the opposite organization would dwell upon its _promise of pardon_; the ill-treatment of animals and children, results from this faculty, uncontrolled by moral sentiments; the crowds of ignorant persons who assemble at bull-baits, cock fights, and other species of cruelty are led to gratify the organ from a want of moral principle: the dreadful practice of swearing, uttering threats of vengeance far beyond human power, and calling down imprecations on the heads of others, arises from the same cause, and how rarely are these seen (to any extent) in educated society--where the energy of character has been directed by moral training into useful channels;--The abuse of this organ is therefore to be earnestly cautioned against, because, lending its energy to evil, it is productive of the worst results. Destructiveness itself is rarely found as a principle of destruction, but the various degrees of vice and crime are often persevered in till they become more evil than this organ. A person