1833-36 LETTER TO MISS CLIFT 83 



with my own feelings and enjoyment of them gives 

 me double pleasure in attempting to communicate, 

 to you what I can scarcely find words to express. 

 ... I have no water colours with me, or I would 

 have painted a group [of flowers] which I amused 

 myself with composing. ... I have attempted 

 some sketches with the camera lucida, which 

 answers the purpose of giving a correct outline 

 very well.' He describes his tour to Ambleside, 

 Rosthwaite, the Langdales, and Red Pike, and, 

 referring to his endeavour to find a safe descent, 

 says : ' Fact lis descensus is Virgil's expression under 

 circumstances somewhat analogous, but he was 

 evidently no Highlander.' Describing a somewhat 

 difficult descent, he writes : ' I confess at one 

 time the sight of a carrion crow winging its way 

 far below me led me to a serious speculation 

 on the probabilities of his having a meal upon 

 the carcass of an unfortunate anatomist' He 

 refers again to the wish that Miss Clift shall visit 

 Lancaster, as his ' mother is particularly anxious 

 to see you ; she is visibly aged, but in good 

 health.' 



On his journey back to London, Owen visited 

 Derby, and from there writes to Clift, August 21, 

 1834: 'I have visited the Infirmary, and seen 

 their plan of mending broken legs without splints, 

 and afterwards went to the china factory and saw 

 the process of the reparation of broken plates. 

 Jones and I travelled from Liverpool to Man- 



