254 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. viil 



R. Murchison to R. Owen 



April 2, 1845. 



' My dear Owen, — The enclosed letter from 

 Sedgwick will explain to you that he is not to be 

 had. In speaking to Lockhart long ago on this 

 subject, I said to him that of all persons in this 

 town you were the most fit to review the 

 " Vestiges," but that I doubted the possibility of 

 your finding time to do it. Now, however, that 

 the book has passed through four editions and 

 is really taking considerable hold on the public 

 mind, a real man in armour is required, and if 

 you would undertake the concern you would do 

 infinite service to true science and sincerely oblige 

 your friends. With your facility in composition I 

 doubt not that a day or two would suffice, and 

 your article would completely mesmerise the 

 " Monmouth Street philosophy," as Sedgwick 

 calls it. ... I cannot say how you would gratify 

 your friends and admirers by this effort, which 

 would entitle you to another niche in the temple 

 of good works in which you already occupy so 

 high a place. 



' To be done at all it must be done by a 

 master hand ; at present, notwithstanding the on 

 Hits of men of science, the book rides triumphant. 

 1 Ever yours most sincerely, 



' Rod. I. Murchison.' 



