130 SIR WILLIAM FLOWER CHAP. 



greatest marks of intellect. In the case in question 

 the appreciation of Owen, which first put him in a 

 position to make his practical suggestions to those 

 in authority, came from Lord Macaulay. In one of 

 his letters he says, " I am extremely anxious that 

 something should be done for Owen. I hardly 

 know him to speak to. His pursuits are not mine, 

 but his fame is spread over Europe. He is an 

 honour to our country, and it is painful to me to 

 think that a man of his merit should be approaching 

 old age amid anxieties and distresses." The result 

 was that Owen was appointed to a new post, created 

 for him, in the British Museum at Bloomsbury. 

 " He was to stand towards the collection of Natural 

 History in the same relation that the librarian did 

 towards the books and antiquities, and to be directly 

 responsible, as he was, to the Trustees." 



The appointment was made in 1856. 



Unfortunately, while what was desirable was 

 quite clearly present to those who made the appoint- 

 ment, which gave Owen a salary of ^800 a year, 

 they entirely forgot one of the important details 

 which alone could have ensured success. The new 

 officer was given no control over his subordinate 

 officers. They were practically independent, and 

 desired to remain so. Owen, who had always been 

 accustomed to work for his own hand with con- 

 spicuous success, was not equipped with the power 

 necessary to deal with a situation which would have 

 been difficult for any one to cope with. He there- 



