1837 38. THE DESIRE OF HIS HEART. 135 



where God could not be invoked as the spectator or disposer of 

 what was just or good, but ' an undevout anatomist/ Dr. 

 Fletcher says, 'is a maniac;' and while perhaps the chemist 

 has less powerfully than the anatomist the incitements to de- 

 votion, yet must he study his subject in a wrong way if he find 

 them not. I have no altar to kneel at but my own bedside, 

 where I have often prayed to God for you ; but there I have 

 prayed for success in my endeavours, and there, should God 

 grant me the honour of going deeper into His laws than others, 

 I would pour forth my sincere thanks and gratitude. I found 

 a strange verse in reading over the Psalms. I have not now time 

 to look for the exact place, but it was to this effect, that he who 

 obeys God ' shall have the desire of his own heart.' Do look 

 at the passage. I think it is in the early Psalms ; but of course 

 to love God should be the primary feeling, though the secondary 

 ' desire' will in our minds too often supplant it. ... 



" You say the folks ask if I'm coming to town. I think you 

 might have told me whether it was ladies or no. As to my 

 reaching London, you know, Dan, nothing would give me more 

 pleasure ; and to spend a winter there would greatly delight 

 me, and I'm sure I could turn it to very great professional 

 benefit. Dr. Christison and Mr. Kemp would give me letters 

 to Professor Graham, and I would perhaps get introduced to 

 Faraday ; also there are classes there that I cannot attend here, 

 and I won't state any hypothetical objections, but I do not en- 

 tertain a hope of being there. Had I gained that Essay, I should 

 have come up in autumn to spend the winter with you ; but I 

 did not, and I ceased to look forward to the realization of my 

 hopes. Further, and let this be your consolation, I would not 

 like to leave Mary at present. Meanwhile, I shall be very busy 

 preparing for my first physician's examination in May. I, in 

 the midst of much haziness from dull weather, remain your 

 very affectionate brother, GEORGE." 



" March, 20, 1838. 



"I am breaking my promise in taking up a sheet of long- 

 paper, though that is but half- stating my crime, for I sent out 

 expressly for it, that you might have no cause of complaint con- 



