33 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. n. 



will, moreover, I may venture to affirm, set all poor 

 students a good example for close application 

 and attention to their professional and moral 

 duties. 



* With best wishes for your health, I remain, 

 • My dear Sir, yours very sincerely, 



' Wm. Clift.' 



Joseph Hodgson, Esq. 



Four days later Clift addressed a letter to John 

 Abernethy, on the same subject, from which the 

 following is an extract : — 



January n, 1830. 



' I have this morning received the enclosed 

 letter from Mr. Owen, who is now in Birming- 

 ham. 



' If he succeeds, as he deserves to do, I fear 

 I shall lose the advantage of his assistance just 

 now when it was most needed, and when he was 

 becoming most useful from the knowledge he 

 had acquired of the business of the museum ; but 

 of course no one can blame him for endeavouring 

 to better his condition if it is in his power, and 

 I only hope that the situation, if he succeeds in 

 getting it, will be to his advantage, for I really 

 believe him to deserve all the good that may 

 befall him ; and from his steadiness and sedate- 

 ness, combined with his extensive knowledge for 

 so young a man, I think the Hospital must be 

 much benefited if they retain him there .... He 



