From Richard Owen   [17 September 1841?]¹

The date is conjectured from the address, and from Owen’s reference to a ‘holiday musical evening’ (see n. 2, below). Owen is recorded in the Royal blue book as residing at this address from 1840 to 1842.

On 8 September 1841, Owen wrote to William Clift that he hoped that Clift would come to dinner ‘at No. 6 Park Cottages’ on 12 September, following Owen’s return from holiday on 11 September. He promised: ‘a long and most delightful tour through Cornwall will be re-performed, with innumerable and most rare adventures by land, rock, mine, and sea; and the characters of divers amiable and hospitable friends will be portrayed’ (R. S. Owen 1894, 1: 187). It is probable that Owen performed other holiday entertainments during this period. Owen’s biographer records: ‘About this time Owen and his wife saw a good deal of Mr. and Mrs. Darwin’ (ibid., p. 188). In 1841, the first Friday after 12 September was 17 September.