On one occasion Mr. Combe was consulted by Prince Albert with regard to the royal children, and was desired to examine their heads.  He did not, of course, repeat any of the opinions he had given upon the young princes’ “developments,” but said they were very nice children, and likely to be capitally educated, for, he added (though shaking his head over cousinly intermarriages among royal personages), Prince Albert was well acquainted with the writings of Gall and Spurzheim, and his own work on “The Constitution of Man.”  Prince Albert seems to have known something of every thing that was worthy of a Wiseman’s knowledge.

In spite of my inability to accept his science of human nature, Mr. Combe was always a most kind and condescending friend to me.  He was a man of singular integrity, uprightness, and purity of mind and character, and of great justice and impartiality of judgment; he was extremely benevolent and humane, and one of the most reasonable human beings I have ever known.  From first to last my intercourse with him was always delightful and profitable to me.  Of the brothers, however, the younger, Dr. Andrew Combe, was by far the most generally popular, and deservedly so.  He was one of the most excellent and amiable of men; his countenance, voice, and manner were expressive of the kindliest benevolence; he had none of the angular rigidity of person and harshness of feature of his brother:  both were worthy and distinguished men, but Andrew Combe was charming, which George Combe was not—­at least to those who did not know him.  Although Dr. Combe completely indorsed his brother’s system, he was far lass fanatical and importunate in his advocacy of it.  Indeed, his works upon physiology, hygiene, and the physical education of children are of such universal value and importance that no parent or trainer of youth should be unfamiliar with them.  Moreover, to them and their excellent author society is indebted for an amount of knowledge on these subjects which has now passed into general use and experience, and become so completely incorporated in the practice of the present day, that it is hardly remembered to whom the first and most powerful impression of the importance of the “natural laws,” and their observance in our own lives and the training of our children, is due.  I knew a school of young girls in Massachusetts, where taking regular exercise, the use of cold baths, the influence of fresh air, and all the process of careful physical education to which they were submitted, went by the general name of Combeing, in honor of Dr. Combe.

Dr. Combe was Mrs. Harry Siddons’s medical adviser, most trusted friend, and general counselor.  The young people of her family, myself included, all loved and honored him; and the gleam of genial pleasant humor (a quality of which his worthy brother had hardly a spark) which frequently brightened the gentle gravity of his countenance and demeanor made his intercourse delightful to us; and great was the joy when he proposed