25S PROFESSOR OWEN ch. villi 



His services on various Commissions in later 

 years were given gratuitously. 



The diary continues : — 



'January 31. — To Faraday's lecture at the 

 Royal Institution. The largest crowd I have 

 ever seen there. Many gentlemen were obliged 

 to come into the ladies' gallery, as they could 

 not get seats elsewhere. After an exceedingly 

 interesting lecture, Faraday said he had a few 

 remarks to make on some new reform laws for the 

 Institution. These remarks were admirably made, 

 and no one could feel offended, although it was 

 a direct attack on those gentlemen who helped to 

 render the ladies very uncomfortable sometimes 

 by filling seats, and often the front seats, in the 

 part intended only for ladies. Wearing a hat in 

 the library was one of the delinquencies, likewise 

 sitting in the seats reserved for the directors, 

 who were obliged by their office and duties to 

 be the last in. Mr. Faraday also remarked that 

 the formation of two currents, caused by certain 

 gentlemen rushing upstairs the instant the lecture 

 was over in order to fetch their lady friends, was 

 not conducive to the comfort of those coming 

 downstairs. Everything taken very well.' 



A few days before this lecture Faraday wrote 

 Owen an amusing letter about a three-legged frog 

 which had come into his possession : — 



'Dear Owen, — Who cares for bipeds or quad- 

 rupeds ? They are as common as discontent, 



