284 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. ix. 



Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte to 

 Richard Owen 



Rome : June 29, 1846. 



' My dear Friend, — I am really ashamed of 

 myself for not having as yet answered to such a 

 friend and master ! Your excellent letter of Milan 

 reached me in proper time, and caused great joie in 

 all my family, as you may have heard from our 

 common friend Pentland, who can truly take charge 

 of our sincere wishes, and made me feel less weary 

 among my sufferings and business about my appa- 

 rent neglect of your friendship. But you are as 

 busy a man as myself (I can't say more), and you 

 will know how time passes with us ! In how many 

 things do we not sympathise ! Your deep at- 

 tachment to your family. . . the philanthropy I 

 should like to imitate ! the footsteps I should be 

 so proud to follow ! ! ! are all ties that will always 

 strengthen the feelings I vowed you from the very 

 moment I enjoyed your acquaintance. Italy you 

 must visit again ! and visit it with your wife and 

 your dearest child. I cannot hope to see you at 

 Genoa, but will amicably calculate on some of those 

 fine labours, or at least interesting letters which 

 you so well know how to write for your friends 

 and dcoliers. ... My wife is now quite well, but 

 I cannot say so of my poor legs, which are as 



