1 88 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. vi. 



After his return home, his sister becomes again 

 his correspondent. In November he describes an 

 interview with the Queen of Holland : — 



* Last Monday was a fine bright day, so I 

 walked across the park to Pembroke Lodge, and 

 at 1.30 the Queen of Holland arrived, attended 

 by a young lady and a Dutchman with a riband 

 in his button-hole. I was the only guest invited 

 to meet Her Majesty, who had intended to have 

 proceeded to Bushey to visit the Due de Nemours, 

 but had received a call to Windsor, so we had a 

 long talk on divers subjects, for Her Majesty 

 knows much both as to things and persons.' 



On December 5 Owen was subpoenaed to 

 appear on the 9th at the Court of Common 

 Pleas, Guildhall, in the case of a vessel which 

 claimed damages from the underwriters on ac- 

 count of a hole, some three inches in length, 

 which had been bored in the side. The question 

 was, whether the leak was made purposely or 

 whether it was the work of a swordfish. Owen's 

 opinion was asked as to the power of the fish to 

 withdraw the sword after piercing the ship, which 

 seldom happens. His evidence persuaded the 

 jury that the leak was not an intentional act of 

 dishonesty, as had been supposed. The hole was 

 made by a young swordfish, and as it had only 

 entered three inches, its sword could have been 

 withdrawn. This would not have been the case 



