33o PROFESSOR OWEN ch. x. 



The task of the Commissioners was a some- 

 what thankless one, even though their services 

 were entirely unpaid in this instance. ' Article 

 this morning (November 15) in paper, calling R. 

 a " jack-of-all -trades," a propos of his multifarious 

 duties — sewage, anatomy, health of towns, and 

 geology.' 



This Commission work, in fact, brought so 

 many fresh things to light which it was absolutely 

 necessary should be inquired into that Owen 

 thought he could not possibly give his attention to 

 all that it entailed, and therefore announced his 

 intention of resigning. He received the following 

 letter on the subject from Mr. (afterwards Sir 

 Edwin) Chadwick, a fellow-Commissioner, who 

 became a lifelong friend and was in after years 

 the near neighbour of Professor Owen : — 



' Dear Owen, — I wrote to Lord Morpeth that 

 you wished to retire from the Metropolitan Sewers 

 Commission. In a letter of to-day he says : 



' " I do very much lament the intention of Pro- 

 fessor Owen to retire. We cannot, indeed, spare 

 his enlightened philanthropy. 



' " Could you not in our joint name beg him at 

 least to belong to us at first ? " 



' Unless you give me insuperable reasons I 

 shall still clap down your name. 



' Yours ever, 



' E. Chadwick.' 



