1837-38 HIS MOTHER'S DEATH 141 



a little wine. She expired in peace at eleven 

 o'clock last night. If I had left home on Thursday 

 night, I should not have found her in a conscious 

 state, as she has slept from early on Friday morn- 

 ing. I found my sisters and Cousin Grace much 

 comforted at seeing me. 



' I have had a cold and melancholy journey, 

 not being able to sleep, and now can scarcely 

 guide my pen. . . .' 



On November 30 he sent his wife further par- 

 ticulars of his mother's death and says : ' Yester- 

 day I followed the remains of my dear mother to 

 their last resting-place. My sisters and Cousin 

 Grace — few and sincere mourners — were her onlv 

 followers, for she had outlived all her old friends 

 save one or two who are confined by the infirmities 

 of age to their beds or houses. She rests beneath 

 the tree which she pointed out to me at the con- 

 clusion of our last walk together ; and her usual 

 stroll last summer was into the churchyard, where 

 she used to sit on a gravestone having a view of 

 the place she had selected for her last home, and 

 often cast a weary eye around as if longing to be 

 at rest. She was then too feeble to walk alone, 

 and her active mind and habits made her feel her 

 increasing infirmities and, as she expressed it, her 

 uselessness here. . . .' 



On December 2, 1838, Owen wrote to Clifton 

 general matters, and mentions : ' As my report on 

 British Saurians requires me to examine Sir Philip 



