400 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. XII 
At the end of April Owen received the 
following letter from Lord Derby, who had just 
been appointed Chancellor of the University of 
Oxford, inviting him to attend the ceremony of 
his installation : — 
Lord Derby to R. Owen 
St. James’s Square : April 28, 1853. 
‘ Dear Sir, — I hardly know whether I am suffi- 
ciently justified by the extent of our acquaintance 
in writing to you to say how much it would gratify 
me if you were disposed to pay me the compliment 
of attending the ceremony of my installation as 
Chancellor of the University of Oxford on Tues- 
day, the 7th of June; and if you would further 
allow me, in that case, to insert your name in a 
small list of men distinguished in various capa- 
cities, whom, in accordance with the usual custom, 
I am called on to recommend to Convocation for 
the honorary degree of D.C.L. Allow me to 
say that I should look upon your acquiescence 
not only as a personal compliment, but that I feel 
the University will do itself honour in conferring 
such a mark of its respect on one whose scientific 
claims are so universally known and acknow- 
ledged. 
‘ I have the honour to be, dear Sir, 
‘ Yours faithfully, 
‘ Derby.’ 
