34 MEMORIAL SKETCH. 



so closely related to what there is of heaven in mortal feelings. 

 I shall be better pleased when I have Dagon again, for at pre- 

 sent I do not feel the music of our little service as connecting 

 me with public worship — a piano and organ are so different — 

 but perhaps you may not understand this, and may think that 

 I set too much value on trifles. But you know that different 

 minds are differently constituted, and that the feelings, espe- 

 cially, are affected in different ways. It takes a greal deal to 

 move me on some subjects, but I am susceptible enough 

 (with all my philosophy) on others. . . . 



Never since I have begun to look at the subject at all, have 

 I felt so much hope of human progress as I do now. The 

 advance, almost silently for a long time, but now manifesting 

 itself in a variety of ways, towards what I deem right views on 

 a great variety of subjects, is to me most wonderful and cheer- 

 ing, and I hope I shall never feel discouraged at want of 

 success in any of my own individual efforts to forward it. 



The year 1844 was distinguished by the publication of 

 the remarkable book entitled " The Vestiges of Creation," 

 which first suggested the theory afterwards known as 

 " genetic development," or the lineal descent of the higher 

 forms of plants and animals from the lower. The parallel 

 between many of its conceptions and those expounded in 

 Dr. Carpenter's writings, led some readers to ascribe it to 

 him. Early in 1845 he met, at Lady Byron's, the Hon. 

 Miss Murray, one of the Queen's maids of honour. 



She was very amusing (he reported), especially as she was 

 full of royal and noble opinions upon phrenology and mes- 

 merism, and especially upon the "Vestiges," which is being very 

 extensively read in the highest circles, and generally attributed 

 to me. Prince Albert is reading it aloud to the Queen in an 

 afternoon. This is his customary employment,- and they read 

 through many valuable works in that manner. 



In an article in the British mid Foreign Medical 

 Review, published in January, 1845, Dr. Carpenter ex- 

 pressed his sympathy with many of the author's positions, 



