. 130 PROFESSOR OWEN CH. IV. 



evenings at home. . . . My last letter was dated 

 Leyden. After examining the collections and 

 noting the interesting objects contained in them 

 (contemplating the gigantic salamander living in 

 his tub of little fishes, on which he has grown 

 fat, and is now 3 ft. 3 in. long, examining the 

 portraits of the Professors of the University, 

 among whom Salmasius, Albinus, Boerhaave, &c, 

 promenading round the Botanic Garden with old 

 Professor Reinwardt), we set off one fine morning 

 for Utrecht.' Here follows an account of his 

 visit to Dr. Suerman and Van der Capella, and 

 of a tea he had with the Suerman family, and 

 concludes : ' After tea the Professors of the 

 University arrived to pipes, coffee, and hock, and 

 a long night was made of it, in which my wits 

 were kept at full stretch. Made my first essay in 

 conversing in German ; not so difficult after a 

 while. . . . Kind remembrances and thanks [to 

 Clift] for his experienced hints to Mr. Hills ; 6 he 

 beats many of the Dutch still at the beasts.' 



On September 20, 1838, he wrote again to 

 his wife from Freiburg im Breisgau : * To-day 

 about four hundred sat down to the table (T hote of 

 the Association. I was between Mrs. Buckland 

 and the Prince of Musignano, 7 and England and 

 home came again very near and warm to my 



6 Robert Hills, Secretary to 7 Charles Lucien Bonaparte, 



the Royal Institute of Painters Prince of Musignano and of 

 in Water Colours. Canino. 



