60 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. if. 



itself to our union — to the consummation of the 

 great happiness, as I do believe it will be, of both 

 our lives.' 



In the same letter Owen refers to his income, 

 and gives some interesting details of his work : — 



' I have heard that Harrot 1 and you once 

 projected living like two Vestals in a cottage ; do 

 you think she would object to your introducing a 

 third party into the plan, in the shape of your 

 husband, who, besides the additional protection, 

 might add to the resources of the company 200/. 

 per annum ? You know it must be in time, but 

 at present our ruling Goths are blind to what 

 every one else sees, which, to speak very modestly, 

 is my merit. Mr. Keate is, I understand, very 

 wrath because I have been proposed for the New 

 Council at the Zoological Society, together with 

 two lords and a baronet, but only let him express 

 it in a tangible form. Nautilus 2 is nearly com- 

 pleted, and I am preparing a paper for the R.S. 

 which, if the subject were your merits, would give 

 me little trouble notwithstanding its necessary 

 length. . . . 



' Above all, trust me,' he concludes, ' your 

 ever devoted and affectionate Richard.' 



On May 3, 1832, Owen again writes to Miss 

 Clift, who had answered the former letter : — 



1 A great friend of Miss Cliffs, 2 Memoir 071 the Pearly 



afterwards her bridesmaid, by Nautilus. 

 name Miss Harriet Sheppard. 



