ix A NEW SITE VOTED 133 



Scientific men recognised its value. But at first it 

 incurred criticism from most, and by some it was 

 ridiculed. It was too far in advance of the time. 

 Mr. Gregory, M.P. for Galway, got it referred to a 

 select committee, when the proposal was debated 

 in the House of Commons, regretting in reference 

 to its author, "that a man whose name stood so 

 high should connect himself with so foolish, crazy, 

 and extravagant a scheme." 



In Flower's memoir of Sir Richard Owen, 

 published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, he 

 notes that the division of the Museum establishment 

 into four distinct departments, each under its own 

 head, left the Superintendent practically powerless. 

 Besides this, Owen was in his seventy-seventh year 

 when the Museum was opened to the public. 



Owen's first idea had been that the land should 

 be purchased near the British Museum in Blooms- 

 bury. Later, convinced in part by the suggestions 

 of others, he steadily advocated its removal to a 

 fresh and distant site. Mr. Gladstone, then Chan- 

 cellor of the Exchequer, gave the scheme his hearty 

 support. On May 12, 1862, he moved for leave to 

 bring in a bill to effect the change. Unfortunately 

 Mr. Disraeli saw in opposition to it a political move 

 which might embarrass the other side, and obtained 

 an adjournment of the proposal. But in 1863 

 Parliament voted the purchase of five acres in 

 South Kensington, an area which Owen induced 

 the Government to increase to eight acres. But 



