RESIDENCE AT EDINBURGH. 15 



chemistry in classes— a row of young ladies performing experi- 

 ments all at the same time, like a company of soldiers going 

 through the exercise. 



The subject remained in his mind, for he recurred to it 

 a few weeks later : — 



I should be very sorry to see women restraining their 

 natural feelings by reason and philosophy as much as men ought 

 to do. I have often been afraid myself lest too close attention 

 to scientific subjects should blunt my natural feelings ; and I 

 should think that the new-fashioned system of female education 

 might be in danger of making the pupils too much matter-of- 

 fact. 



Shortly after his arrival in Edinburgh, William Carpenter 

 joined the Medical Society, formed in connection with the 

 University, and at once began to take an active part in its 

 debates. " I find it exceedingly useful," he said, in writing 

 home ; " and in nothing more so than in showing me my 

 " deficiencies, for I find many here who in purely professional 

 " knowledge are far before me." His mind at this time pre- 

 ferred to dwell on large and general conceptions, to discover 

 analogies, to follow out principles, rather than to come into 

 close contact with actual facts. He was capable, as many 

 of his subsequent writings showed, of minute and laborious 

 investigations ; and he could marshal details with singular 

 skill as soon as he could reduce them into classes. But 

 though his memory was well-trained and retentive, it did 

 not easily assimilate much of the material presented to 

 him in the lecture-room, or prescribed for an examination. 

 When the news reaches him of the college successes of his 

 younger brothers, Russell and Philip, "Alas, poor me!" he 

 exclaims (July 4, 1836), " I seem doomed to get no prizes." 

 But he adds : " However, it does not make me despair of 

 " myself, for I feel a good deal more confidence in my powers, 

 " if I have strength to exert them, than I have ever done ; 



