386 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. xn. 



clever woman even, and that prevented her from 

 feeling the only object in such a place. After a 

 tour round the museum we went into the dining- 

 room, and, a propos of some remark concerning 

 our fine Shakespeare's bust, which was looked at 

 with interest and its history given, R. brought 

 out the Becker-case containing Shakespeare's 

 cast, taken after death. The tears came into Miss 

 Kemble's eyes as she looked at it. There may 

 have been a touch of the actress in the emotion 

 which she displayed, but there was a great deal 

 of the true worshipper of Shakespeare in it too. 

 She was quite convinced that the auburn hairs 

 sticking to the plaster cast once adorned Shake- 

 speare's face.' 



In April 1852 Owen wrote to the ' Times ' a 

 very strong letter against the demolition of the 

 Crystal Palace. He writes: ' I feel it my last duty 

 to the Crystal Palace to make this effort to pre- 

 serve it worthily.' 



It is interesting to note that Owen felt some 

 disappointment with regard to the sale of his 

 numerous scientific works. He once expressed 

 that feeling in the presence of the poet Home, 

 who wrote him the following letter a day or two 

 afterwards : — 



R. H. Home to R. Owen 



College Road, Haverstock Hill : May 1852. 



' My dear Sir, — I cannot tell you all I felt on 

 hearing you make the statement you did the other 



