232 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. vn. 



the rest soon followed. We had a very gracious 

 reception, and I had time for a little conversation 

 with Lady Peel. , . . About ten minutes to eight 

 a servant came and whispered to Sir Robert, who 

 then left the drawing-room with Lady Peel, and 

 soon returned walking backwards into the room 

 followed by the King and his suite. We fell into 

 a large semicircle, and Sir Robert introduced us 

 one by one to the King. He addressed a few 

 words in French to each. He told me how much 

 his physician, Dr. Carus, had been gratified by 

 my attentions at the museum, and I replied by 

 observing on the high value which we placed 

 upon Carus's discoveries. . . . We broke into 

 smaller groups, I soon joining Carus, who was 

 introduced by his desire to Buckland. . . . 

 Sydney Smith and Buckland soon began to grow 

 jocular, and opened on me about the big-bird. 

 "Ah!" said S. S., with reference to some re- 

 mark on my joy at the safe arrival of the box 

 from New Zealand, "that was Owen's magnum 

 bonum" . . . The evening company had begun 

 to assemble, and the rooms were soon filled by 

 all the names in science and art. I saw Edwin 

 Landseer, Eastlake, and Sir J. Rennie. . . .' 



The following extracts from the journal may 

 serve as examples of Owen's ordinary occupations 

 at this time : — 



'March 14. — R. at the day meeting of the 

 Royal Society. Enlivened the evening when he 



