RESIDENCE AT EDINBURGH. 13 



that of another writer no less eminent, Sir John Herschel, 

 whose "PreHminary Discourse on the Study of Natural 

 Philosophy" contributed another potent element to the 

 formation of William Carpenter's intellectual character. 

 Just before his departure from London to Edinburgh, at 

 the end of October, 1835, he wrote to his parents — 



I quite agree with you in all your feelings respecting the 

 valuable influence of my stay here upon me. I feel, however, 

 that the high standard I have set myself of intellectual ex- 

 cellence is no small assistance to religious principle; and I 

 should say that I have derived more benefit in a moral point of 

 view from Sir John Herschel's book than from any other than 

 my Bible. 



II. 



To his residence at Edinburgh, William Carpenter 

 always looked back afterwards with deep and abiding 

 pleasure. He formed there some of the most valued of his 

 friendships ; he laid the foundations of some of his most 

 fruitful work ; he felt a more vivid mental stimulus 

 from the society around him than he had found in London ; 

 and he gained a heightened confidence in his powers. He 

 carried with him letters to some of the most eminent 

 teachers of the University, and the leaders of the literary 

 and scientific coteries of the Northern Athens. One of his 

 first visits was paid to Professor Wilson, who had been a 

 class-mate of Dr. Lant Carpenter's, at Glasgow. The 

 following account of it ' in due time found its way to 

 Bristol : — 



Edinburgh, November 15, 1835. 

 I was not a little astonished to be introduced to a very wild- 

 looking man, with a velveteen shooting-coat, and his hair stray- 

 ing down his shoulders in all directions, looking as little as 

 possible like a professor of moral philosophy. ... On a little 



