82 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. ni. 
audiences,’ he writes to his sister, ‘ at both 
Albemarle Street and Jermyn Street. Thacke- 
ray told me the other day that “two young ladies 
(I suppose his daughters) were among my great 
admirers.” ’ 
He also delivered in 1859 the ‘ Rede’ lecture 
at Cambridge. He gave this lecture, which 
was on ‘ The Classification of Mammalia,’ on 
May 10. and afterwards received the degree of 
LL.D., the first honorary degree given by that 
U niversity. 
‘ I went to Cambridge last Monday,’ he writes 
to his sister Catherine, ‘ to fulfil my duties as 
“Sir Robert Rede’s Lecturer” in that Uni- 
versity. . . . Next day I gave my lecture at 
2 P.M. in the Senate House, before the Vice- 
Chancellor and University. . . . Wednesday I 
had a long morning’s work in the Anatomical and 
Woodwardian Museums, with Professor Clark 
and others. . . . As the new constitution and 
statutes of Cambridge now give the Senate the 
power of conferring honorary degrees, a special 
grace was passed for meeting on Thursday to 
confer the first they have given on me ; and mine 
is the first name in the book prepared for the 
record of those so honoured. ... I was arrayed 
in a scarlet robe and cap, led by the public orator 
to the middle of the hall, addressed by him in a 
Latin oration, then conducted to the Vice- 
Chancellor’s throne ; knelt down, placing my. 
