i88 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. VI. 
After his return home, his sister becomes again 
his correspondent. In November he describes an 
interview with the Queen of Holland : — 
‘ Last Monday was a fine bright day, so I 
walked across the park to Pembroke Lodge, and 
at 1.30 the Queen of Holland arrived, attended 
by a young lady and a Dutchman with a riband 
in his button-hole. I was the only guest invited 
to meet Her Majesty, who had intended to have 
proceeded to Bushey to visit the Due de Nemours, 
but had received a call to Windsor, so we had a 
long talk on divers subjects, for Her Majesty 
knows much both as to things and persons.’ 
On December 5 Owen was subpoenaed to 
appear on the 9th at the Court of Common 
Pleas, Guildhall, in the case of a vessel which 
claimed damages from the underwriters on ac- 
count of a hole, some three inches in length, 
which had been bored in the side. The que.stIon 
was, whether the leak was made purposely or 
whether it was the work of a swordfish. Owen’s 
opinion was asked as to the power of the fish to 
withdraw the sword after piercing the ship, which 
seldom happens. His evidence persuaded the 
jury that the leak was not an intentional act of 
dishonesty, as had been supposed. The hole was 
made by a young swordfish, and as it had only 
entered three Inches, its sword could have been 
withdrawn. This would not have been the case 
