1850-51 
THE WINDOW TAX 
365 
population. Our evidence, I find, is really very 
meagre, either as to the influence of light per se, or 
of light as an agent of ventilation, upon the health 
or disease of the population. . . . Could you, if 
you have either observed or thought upon the 
subject physiologically or medically, give me a few- 
quotable sentences or dicta which I might send 
to him upon the subject? Very short. 
‘ Y ours ever, 
‘ E. Chadwick.’ 
Owen in reply sent some remarks, which 
would now be considered perfectly obvious, as to 
the necessity of windows for proper ventilation 
and light. It is astonishing to think that these 
matters once occasioned so much opposition and 
debate. 
At this time there were several meetings of the 
Committee for the ‘ Great Exhibition of the Works 
of Industry of all Nations,’ which was to be opened 
on May i, and these, with the Hunterian Lectures, 
kept Owen fully occupied. On April 27 he 
was informed of his appointment as ‘ Chairman 
of Jury IV.’ of the Exhibition. On May i the 
opening day is thus described in the diary : ‘ We 
got up at half-past five, having ordered a coach at 
a quarter to seven, which was half an hour late . 
We drove to the upper end of Piccadilly, where 
•we formed in line with an enormous string of 
carriages. Many carriages dashed past our 
