40 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. 11- 
‘ Farewell ! God bless you, my love, and kiss 
your mother for me. 
‘ Your Richard Owen.’ 
To Miss Clift. 
Writing to William Clift from Birmingham 
on January 9, 1830, he says : ‘ The sentiment ex- 
pressed by all the medical officers I have spoken 
to is that they are afraid the situation is too 
jDOor an object, or hardly worth my acceptance, 
and that they should consider themselves for- 
tunate to have me elected to it — a sentiment both 
flattering and discouraging. My heart yearns 
towards the “ happy Fields.” . . .’ After stating 
that he has enclosed notes for Sir Astley Cooper 
and John Abernethy asking for their testimonials, 
he adds : ‘ I am ashamed of this disjointed scrawl 
and of causing so much trouble about my stupid 
self, who ought to have staid at home and 
minded my bottles.’ 
It soon becomes evident that Owen found the 
post unequal to his expectations, and that he 
abandoned all desire to obtain it. 
On January 12, 1830, he again wrote to 
William Clift from Temple Row, Birmingham 
(Mr. Middlemore’s) : — 
‘ Mr. Hodgson explained to me many par- 
ticulars respecting the situation, which they have 
cut down a good deal ; he entered very fairlv into 
every advantage connected with it, and what it 
