Small and special: the development of hospitals for children in Victorian Britain

changes that took place from the early Victorian to the modem age. The perception of a divinely designed world was transformed to that of a godless universe, and in the process Huxley famously coined "agnosticism". Desmond follows Bernard Lightman in ascribing religious qualities to Huxley's agnosticism. Specifically and most intriguingly, he characterizes Huxley as a Cromwellian Calvinist, relying in part on Mario di Gregorio's ponderings on the subject. This characterization is casually woven into the fabric of the story, without much argument. Anglican opponents of Huxley may well have agreed: connecting Huxley with Calvinism would have been like debasing two enemies by a single equation. Not many thoroughbred Calvinists, however, would recognize in Huxley a kindred spirit or even a renegade son, and the issue needs more discussion. Such points of possible disagreement apart, Desmond deserves sustained applause for this latest show of his remarkable scholarly productivity.