Dr. W. B. Carpenter and Mr. W. I. Bishop

Abstract

I AM sorry to find that Dr. Carpenter is “greatly surprised” at my allusion to the effect which has been produced by the circulation of his letter to Mr. Bishop, for in making that allusion I was under the impression that this letter had been put to a use other than that which Dr. Carpenter could have either intended or desired. If, as it now appears, I was wrong in entertaining this impression, it is needless to say that I am willing to apologise for having so far given it public expression; and in this case I can only infer that my error arose from an unfortunate difference in the estimate which we have respectively formed touching the scientific importance of the phenomena which Mr. Bishop has displayed. Such physiological and psychological interest as these phenomena present appeared to me to call for investigation in the ordinary way, i.e. by one or a few competent persons; it did not occur to me that they were of so much scientific value as to call for such “an assembly of gentlemen” as that which met at Bedford Square. Therefore, in writing my report, I took it for granted that Dr. Carpenter would have concurred in the “regret” which I expressed that his friendly recommendation should have been, as I thought, so far misused by Mr. Bishop as to constitute a general advertisement to scientific men; and my expression of regret was thus intended to show that I did not suppose Dr. Carpenter was to be considered intentionally responsible for the excitement which Mr. Bishop has succeeded in creating. It would no doubt have been wiser had I ascertained Dr. Carpenter's views upon this subject before assuming that they were the same as my own, and I do not yet quite understand whether he considers Mr. Bishop's manifestations worthy of all the attention which they have received. But in any case I hope that Dr. Carpenter will accept as more satisfactory an expression of further “regret”, when I say I am very grieved to find that my allusion to his relations with Mr. Bishop, although intended as a friendly allusion, does not appear to have met with his approval.