326 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. x. 



1 R. was extremely busy, and asked me to 

 investigate and report on it. After looking at the 

 two pieces of coal I began to wonder whether the 

 two edges of the hole coincided exactly, which of 

 course they ought to do, as the lump of coal was 

 split right in the middle. After carefully taking 

 an impression of the edges on some paper by 

 inking them, and then placing them in juxtaposi- 

 tion, I ceased to wonder. It was quite plain the 

 whole thing was a fraud. Yet there must have 

 been much trouble spent on it, for the hole was 

 carefully coloured with the same stuff as the toad 

 was, and the tout ensemble was most plausible.' 



Amongst the entries for June we find a de- 

 scription of Emerson, whom Owen met at a 

 friend's house. ' Emerson is a tall, thin, gentle- 

 looking man, with a refleciive expression, good 

 regular features, with dark hair, smooth and thin, 

 and, I think, dark grey eyes. Much pleasant con- 

 versation at dinner. Mr. E. not at all positive in 

 his manner, and very liberal in his general views. 

 We all went to the Marylebone Institution after- 

 wards, Emerson having just preceded us. The 

 lecture was on the " Superlative." I like Mr. 

 Emerson far better in conversation than as a 

 lecturer. His manner in lecturing is studiously 

 flat and cold. The matter good, but not strik- 

 ing. Long quotations from a Persian poet. The 

 room quite full ; saw Lady Franklin there.' 



'June 30. — Mr. Emerson here for several 



