22 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. I. 
out delay. . . . Have you thought of the ‘ Swiney 
Professorship?’ It is just the occupation or 
amusement that would suit you, and do you good. 
‘ I was glad to hear from old Kaup, one of the 
worthiest of men. 
‘ Ever yours, 
‘ Richard Owen.’ 
On November 28 Owen writes to his sisters 
to tell them of the death of an old friend, and 
continues : — 
‘Yesterday, singularly enough, I was an hour 
by the sick bed of another friend, at his special 
request— Lord Ellesmere. I fear he has not the 
strength to fight through his present attack. The 
Duke of Argyll called on me to acquaint me with 
Lord Ellesmere’s illness, and to tell me that he 
had expressed a wish to see me. I went directly 
after Museum hours to Bridgewater House, and 
was immediately admitted on sending in my card. 
The half-lit halls looked like dark unexplored 
caverns ; the noble owner of all on a pallet in a 
small closet-like room, which seemed like a recess 
on one side. His fine features and expressive 
eyes bespoke sickness and suffering. I talked on 
a variety of topics, with intervals of quiet, until 
the Duchess of Sutherland and the Duchess of 
Arygll entered. . . . That morning (yesterday) 
I breakfasted with Mr. Henry Taylor, and met 
Lord Monteagle and a very interesting party. 
