40 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. II. 



' Farewell ! God bless you, my love, and kiss 

 your mother for me. 



' Your Richard Owen.' 



To Miss Clift. 



Writing to William Clift from Birmingham 

 on January 9, 1830, he says : ' The sentiment ex- 

 pressed by all the medical officers I have spoken 

 to is that they are afraid the situation is too 

 poor an object, or hardly worth my acceptance, 

 and that they should consider themselves for- 

 tunate to have me elected to it — a sentiment both 

 flattering and discouraging. My heart yearns 

 towards the " happy Fields." . . .' After stating 

 that he has enclosed notes for Sir Astley Cooper 

 and John Abernethy asking for their testimonials, 

 he adds : ' I am ashamed of this disjointed scrawl 

 and of causing so much trouble about my stupid 

 self, who ought to have staid at home and 

 minded my bottles.' 



It soon becomes evident that Owen found the 

 post unequal to his expectations, and that he 

 abandoned all desire to obtain it. 



On January 12, 1830, he again wrote to 

 William Clift from Temple Row, Birmingham 

 (Mr. Middlemore's) :— 



' Mr. Hodgson explained to me many par- 

 ticulars respecting the situation, which they have 

 cut down a good deal ; he entered very fairly into 

 every advantage connected with it, and what it 



