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PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. IX. 
CHAPTER IX 
1846-47 
Owen’s proposal of a National Collection of Fossil and Recent 
Comparative Anatomy — The British Association at Southamp- 
ton, 1846, and at Oxford, 1847 — Literary Work — The Rajah of 
Sarawak at ‘ The Club,’ 1847 — Member of the Commission 
of Sewers — Foundation of the Palaeontological Society, 1848. 
A SCHEME which Owen had very near at heart 
was the furtherance of the growth and utility 
of the collections under his charge and those 
at the British Museum, and the following copy 
of a letter which he addressed to Sir Robert Peel 
shows that he lost no opportunity of advancing 
his plans ; — 
Richard Otven to Sir R. Peel 
Royal College of Surgeons : February 13, 1846 
‘ Dear Sir Robert, — The report [on the 
Hunterian Museum] which you will hear to- 
morrow is limited to the statement of the depart- 
ment of the Physiological and Comparative Ana- 
tomical Museum which requires increase ; and 
of the extent of space which would be required 
for the display of such a museum if it were 
