1837-38 HIS MOTHER’S DEATH 141 
a little wine. She expired in peace at eleven 
o’clock last night. If I had left home on Thursday 
night, I should not have found her in a conscious 
state, as she has slept from early on Friday morn- 
ing. I found my sisters and Cousin Grace much 
comforted at seeing me. 
‘ I have had a cold and melancholy journey, 
not being able to sleep, and now can scarcely 
guide my pen. . . .' 
On November 30 he sent his wife further par- 
ticulars of his mother’s death and says : ‘ Y ester- 
day I followed the remains of my dear mother to 
their last resting-place. My sisters and Cousin 
Grace — few and sincere mourners — were her only 
followers, for she had outlived all her old friends 
save one or two who are confined by the infirmities 
of age to their beds or houses. She rests beneath 
the tree which she pointed out to me at the con- 
clusion of our last walk together ; and her usual 
stroll last summer was into the churchyard, where 
she used to sit on a gravestone having a view of 
the place she had selected for her last home, and 
often cast a weary eye around as if longing to be 
at rest. She was then too feeble to walk alone, 
and her active mind and habits made her feel her 
increasing infirmities and, as she expressed it, her 
uselessness here. . . .’ 
On December 2, 1838, Owen wrote to Clifton 
general matters, and mentions : ‘ As my report on 
British Saurians requires me to examine Sir Philip 
