330 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. X. 
The task of the Commissioners was a some- 
what thankless one, even though their services 
were entirely unpaid in this instance. ‘ Article 
this^ morning (November 15) in paper, calling R. 
a “ jack-of-all-trades,” apropos of his multifarious 
duties sewage, anatomy, health of towns, and 
geology.’ 
This Commission work, in fact, brought so 
many fresh things to light which it was absolutely 
necessary should be inquired into that Owen 
thought he could not possibly give his attention to 
all that it entailed, and therefore announced his 
intention of resigning. He received the following 
letter on the subject from Mr. (afterwards Sir 
Edwin) Chadwick, a fellow-Commissioner, who 
became a lifelong friend and was in after years 
the near neighbour of Professor Owen : 
‘ Dear Owen,— I wrote to Lord Morpeth that 
you wished to retire from the Metropolitan Sewers 
Commission. In a letter of to-day he says ; 
‘“T do very much lament the intention of Pro- 
fessor Owen to retire. We cannot, indeed, spare 
his enlightened ])hilanthropy. 
Could you not in our joint name beg him at 
least to belong to us at first 1 ” 
‘ Unless you give me insuperable reasons I 
shall still clap down your name. 
‘ Yours ever, 
‘ E. Chadwick.’ 
