204 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. VI. 



munication to you is that the favour of the Crown 

 may be the most worthily bestowed, and in the 

 manner best calculated to encourage that devotion 

 to science for which you are so eminently distin- 

 guished. 



' I have the honour to be, Sir, 



' Your obedient servant, 



' Robert Peel. 



' Professor Owen, F.R.S., &c.' 



' As soon as R. had digested Sir Robert's 

 letter,' Mrs. Owen writes, ' he put on his boots 

 again, and sallied forth to our good friend Justice 

 Broderip, and found him just going to bed. 



' Mr. B. soon hurried on a dressing-gown, and 

 they agreed as to the manner of an answer, and 

 R. wrote it out when he came back. Before he 

 left, some sherry was poured out on the ground by 

 Mr. Broderip as a libation.' 



1 November 8. — A number of congratulatory 

 letters. One from Lord Enniskillen and Sir 

 Philip. Curious that they should even write in 

 couples ! ' 



Amongst these letters of congratulation there 

 was one from Whewell, now Master of Trinity : — 



' My dear Owen, — I was most glad to receive 

 the intelligence which your letter of this morning 

 contains. I hope the substantial part of the Pre- 

 mier's offer will do much, added to your other 

 resources, to place you in a condition to pursue 

 your researches at your ease ; and that the well- 



