254 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. VIII. 
R. Murchison to R. Owen 
April 2, 1845. 
‘ My dear Owen, — The enclosed letter from 
Sedgwick will explain to you that he is not to be 
had. In speaking to Lockhart long ago on this 
subject, I said to him that of all persons In this 
town you were the most fit to review the 
“ Vestiges,” but that I doubted the possibility of 
your finding time to do it. Now, however, that 
the book has passed through four editions and 
is really taking considerable hold on the public 
mind, a real man in armour is required, and if 
you would undertake the concern you would do 
infinite service to true science and sincerely oblige 
your friends. With your facility in composition I 
doubt not that a day or two would suffice, and 
your article would completely mesmerise the 
“ Monmouth Street philosophy,” as Sedgwick 
calls it. ... I cannot say how you would gratify 
your friends and admirers by this effort, which 
would entitle you to another niche in the temple 
of good works in which you already occupy so 
high a place. 
‘ To be done at all it must be done by a 
master hand ; at present, notwithstanding the on 
dits of men of science, the book rides triumphant. 
‘ Ever yours most sincerely, 
‘ Rod. I. Murchison.’ 
