1841-42 
CIVIL LIST PENSION 
203 
her six sacks of potatoes. She records sadly ; 
‘ We had to pay 2/. 33. ^d. for carriage ! ’ 
On November i Owen took the nautilus 
which he had received from Captain Belcher to 
the Linnean Society, and read a paper there on 
the subject. 
On his return to the College of Surgeons he 
found, to his surprise, a letter awaiting him from 
Sir Robert Peel, containing the intelligence that 
he had advised the Queen to put Owen on the 
Civil List for an annual pension of 200/. 
Whitehall : November i, 1842. 
‘ Sir, — It is my duty to offer advice to H.M. 
in respect to the appropriation of a public fund 
which is annually disposable and which may be 
applied to the recognition and reward either of 
distinguished public service or of eminence in 
literature or science. The amount within my 
control for the present year (so far as science is 
concerned) is very limited. It does not exceed 
300/. in the whole, but as I know no public claim 
preferable to yours I shall have great satisfaction 
in proposing to H.M., with your consent, that an 
annual pension from H.M. Civil List of 200/. 
^hall be granted to you. Your acquiescence in 
this proposal will not in the slightest degree fetter 
your independence. I have not inquired what 
^re your political opinions, and am wholly unaware 
them. My only object In making this com- 
