250 THE LIFE OF PHILIP HENRY GOSSE. 



animals, in the hope that these might be extensively 

 patronized by wealthy amateurs. Hence it became an 

 object with him to be widely recognized as the man who 

 had been the first to give attention to the subject, and 

 who possessed unique experience in it. On his side, 

 from a business point of view, he was disappointed that 

 the Zoological Society had not permitted some slight 

 allusion to his name to appear in connection with the 

 numerous descriptions of the new vivaria which were com- 

 municated to the public prints. Relations had certainly 

 become strained on both sides, and it is impossible, with 

 the correspondence before me, to exculpate the Zoological 

 Society from some lack of justice, as well as generosity, 

 in the matter. By the intervention of Professor Thomas 

 Bell, however, civilities were resumed, but Philip Gosse 

 ceased to supply the Zoological Gardens in Regent's Park 

 with specimens ; .nor was the dispute brought to a close 

 until fourteen months later. 



Partly owing to the worry involved in this dispute, he 

 began in August to suffer again from violent pains in the 

 head. He went on, however, very assiduously collecting 

 animals, the public having thoroughly awakened to the 

 interest which attached to the vivaria. In particular, the 

 Surrey Zoological Gardens, at the Crystal Palace, were 

 abundantly stocked by Philip Gosse. In September he 

 writes from Weymouth: "We have not at present any 

 thoughts of leaving this place. Perhaps we may remain 

 here all the winter." He was busily occupied in construct- 

 ing a small tank for himself, and this was set up, filled with 

 living creatures, and started as an article of drawing-room 

 furniture, in the Weymouth lodgings on September 5, 1853. 

 This, the first private marine aquarium ever made, still 

 exists in my possession. 



The Devonshire Coast had been published, as we have 



