1837-38 LETTER FROM UTRECHT 129 



the head precisely resembles that of the Oxford 

 Museum specimen. . . . For all the Dutch 

 peculiarities I see reason, the more I observe the 

 conditions under which these worthy people exist. 

 A sale or fade depressing odour pervades the 

 country, at least at this season, arising from the 

 stagnation of the canals ; and when the heat of the 

 day no longer serves to retain in suspension the 

 vapours of the canals and swamps, the foggy and 

 chilly atmosphere at once explains the utility of a 

 warm dry whiff of baccy ; the extra quantity of 

 moisture inhaled equally demands the counter- 

 action of a dram. A great proportion of the 

 working people have the trunk bent like a quad- 

 ruped at right angles to the legs, in the universal 

 occupation of pushing along the innumerable 

 boats of all shapes and sizes which cover the 

 canals, by means of long poles pressed against 

 from the breast and shoulder by the whole weight 

 of the body and working of the hind-legs. . . . 

 This morning I have visited Temminck, Professor 

 v. d. Hoeven, and the museum ; dictated several 

 notes to Cooper, who scribes capitally.' 



Owen gave his address at Cologne, and in his 

 next letter, dated Utrecht, September 10, 1838, 

 continues the story of his travels : ' Here 

 [Amsterdam] are several of the Dutch painters' 

 chefs-d'oeuvre — Dow, Wouvermans, Rembrandt, 

 &c, &c, but I have a Catalogue with notes and 

 marks to comment and descant on some fireside 



vol. 1. k 



