WCP2996

[1]¹

July 8th 1867.

My dear Sir

How very odd this difficulty about a name[,] that no two can agree upon it — I myself had a try at it[,] see Letters² p 17 and suggested Phreno-Physiology. Gall's³ term was physiology of the Brain[,] Dr Maudsley⁴ calls his work — on the physiology of the mind⁵ — Dr Hitchly[?]⁶ is for mental science & we have your p fresh suggestion which some would object to on account of word psychical [2] as implying soul — and I suppose it is on such differences that deMorgan [sic]⁷ supposes we might not agree — sufficient[l]y to work the society — perhaps after all mental science would be most simple & least objectionable, but strictly speaking we cannot name a matter until we agree what it is[;] with Gall mind was physiology — with Combe⁸ a mind is using the brain as an instrument, so he termed his system phrenolo[g]y. Science I believe assumes the[?] study[?] of[?] [3] phenomena with their causes [,] see Letters P 20: I enclose a note by[?] Mr Simon[?] the Berklyite[?]⁹ to inform you ^{there are} no physical facts at all. I think[?] I hover [?] very close upon this idea. I ask Hunt¹⁰ to let me answer Mr Simons[?] which he has printed but he wont [sic]. — said[?] it was printed by mistake & I [one or two words illeg.]; a Psychol[og]y. [1 word illeg.] thinks Physio-Psychol[og]y. right & here is Mr[?] Brookes¹¹ programme in[?] [1 or 2 words illeg.] suggesting another term — so here we are "in the beginning was the word and the word was God" is soon to really seem so[?].

Sincer[el]y yours | Henry Atkinson [signature]

[4] I do not leave until next week I think I said for the Royal Hotel[,] Boulogne S[ur].M[er]. for 3 months

need not return Mr S's letter