1857-59 
JOHN BROWN’S BEQUEST 
89 
'^his morning to ask me to write the epitaph for 
father’s monument in Westminster Abbey. 
^ shall try, to-night. ... We have had severe 
Winter weather — thermometer at 20° — and have 
been lighting coke fires in the sunk-pits, where 
'^be most delicate flower plants are wintered.’ 
On December 3, 1859, he sends a letter to his 
Sister Eliza, announcing the death of John Brown, 
Stanway, and stating that he has been be- 
queathed some books, instruments, and collections, 
^ud a legacy of 50/., and that he is going down 
''’bh the executor. Professor Henslow, to make 
Arrangements for the funeral. He continues : ‘ I 
®snd Kate a “ Times,” in which a “ leading article ” 
*^Ay amuse her. The “Thunderer” proclaims to 
'■be universe that he believes in your affectionate 
brother, R. O.’ 
Mr. John Brown’s collection, amounting to 
®ume 8,000 specimens, was bequeathed to Pro- 
cessor Owen, who immediately transferred it to 
'■be British Museum, ‘ with the view that a selec- 
be made of all such objects as were 
be desiderata to the geological de- 
PArtment.’ The National Collection was thus 
^jiriched by a large number of interesting spe- 
^urens relating to the Pleistocene geology of 
Essex. 
In the latter part of 1859 Charles Darwin 
Published his ‘ Orig in of Species,’ and we gather 
® value he set upon Owen’s opinion from the 
non might 
Cuund to 
