From Richard Owen   30 November 1859

My dear Henslow,

I was much grieved to learn from your kind letter the demise of my respected old friend John Brown, and I am deeply touched by the mark of his regard— so wholly unexpected by me. I would certainly have paid my respect to his memory by attending his remains to the grave if it had been possible for me to have absented myself from the Museum on Monday & Tuesday next. But we are just in the midst of the most important work —for one Department— the question of enlargement or severance. L. ^d Palmerston & all the Ministers attended the Meeting last Saturday, going into the question in earnest; & there are almost daily Committees & Subcommittees, requiring reports & much & various information: so that I dare not & cannot now be absent for a day.

When I again hear from you I will determine what steps to take.

I have no Museum or specimens of my own & always transfer specimens presented to me personally, to such public museums as they may be most useful in. It will require a personal inspection to determine which may be best for the British Museum, which for Ipswich. Meanwhile,

Believe me | most truly your’s,| R. ^d Owen