400 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. xii 



At the end of April Owen received the 

 following letter from Lord Derby, who had just 

 been appointed Chancellor of the University of 

 Oxford, inviting him to attend the ceremony of 

 his installation : — 



Lord Derby to R. Owen 



St. James's Square : April 28, 1853. 



1 Dear Sir, — I hardly know whether I am suffi- 

 ciently justified by the extent of our acquaintance 

 in writing to you to say how much it would gratify 

 me if you were disposed to pay me the compliment 

 of attending the ceremony of my installation as 

 Chancellor of the University of Oxford on Tues- 

 day, the 7th of June ; and if you would further 

 allow me, in that case, to insert your name in a 

 small list of men distinguished in various capa- 

 cities, whom, in accordance with the usual custom, 

 I am called on to recommend to Convocation for 

 the honorary degree of D.C.L. Allow me to 

 say that I should look upon your acquiescence 

 not only as a personal compliment, but that I feel 

 the University will do itself honour in conferring 

 such a mark of its respect on one whose scientific 

 claims are so universally known and acknow- 

 ledged. 



' I have the honour to be, dear Sir, 



1 Yours faithfully, 



1 Derby.' 



