226 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. vn. 



the Chief Justice Tindal, Baron Alderson, Dr. 

 Southey, Baron Rolfe, the Bishop of Lichfield, 

 Mr. Hallatn — cordially elected. 



' Believe me, my dear Sir, 



' Very faithfully yours, 



' Robert H. Inglis.' 



Owen gives the following account of his first 

 dinner at the Literary Society in a letter to his 

 sister Maria : — 



' I was at the Old Thatched House ten minutes 

 to six, just as Sir R. Inglis was going up the 

 stairs, and received a kind welcome from him. 

 The room, you may be aware, is famous for 

 Reynolds's finest portraits of the original members, 

 some of them in groups — one a beauty, the wel- 

 come back given to Cook and Banks after the 

 first voyage ; they are clinking glasses across the 

 table German fashion. The single portraits are 

 all in fancy costume. Our party, as far as I now 

 remember, consisted of Sir R. I[nglis] in the 

 chair, myself on his right as the new member, 

 Hallam on his left, next me Sir Geo. Staunton, 

 then Sir J no. Barrow of the Admiralty, two other 

 old gentlemen, and Dr. Southey as croupier. 

 Next Southey was Lockhart ; the others were 

 Sir J. Westmacott, Phillips the painter, and one 

 more. No judges ; all on circuit. I came out on 

 unicorns and mammoths ; Hallam discussed Lord 

 Derby's claims to the Duchy of Hamilton, which 



