MISS CLIFT 
39 
1824-33 
passed very creditably at Apothecaries Hall at 
Only one day’s preparation or rather reconsidera- 
tion, which was no bad proof of what was in him, 
as he could hardly have been said to have attended 
to that subject for the last three years ’ 
The first letter of Owen s which is preserved 
is one written about this time to his future wife, 
tvith reference to this appointment. All his letters 
to her are characterised by sound common-sense, 
^od are affectionate in tone without being senti- 
mental. There is emphatically ‘no nonsense 
about them.’ 
Richard Owen to Miss Clift 
January 9, 1830. 
‘ Dear Caroline,— At present the chances are 
that I shall return to you for good and all. 
‘ The greatest advantage that can accrue from 
my present undertaking is a lucrative practice in 
the town of Birmingham, and that (Jidlas !) only 
^fter some time. I therefore hope rather to 
'^oturn to you, even in the event of my election, 
should any circumstances ever render my services 
of worth to the College, and I shall return with 
the satisfaction of having studied my profession 
practically under a surgeon like Mr. Hodgson, and 
perhaps be able to compete with some of the 
Londoners. 
‘ Whatever be my lot, it is now more interest- 
mg to me than ever, for such must be yours. 
