1852-54 R- H. HORNE 387 



night as to the public neglect of your works — you 

 who possess the highest European reputation. 

 Profoundly as I have long felt the sympathy that 

 must exist between Science and Poetry at the pre- 

 sent time and in all the future, I was not prepared 

 to hear one in your position display a similarity 

 of treatment to this which now drives me — to 

 Australia. 



1 I sail on the 30th inst. for Port Phillip. 



' The highest private appreciation of my poetry 

 by the noblest intellects of the time would forbid 

 me to despond, even if I did not find self-sustain- 

 ing energies; but the fact of the public neglect 

 for twenty years drives me to Australia. . . . 



1 I shall be a miner or a shepherd, as the case 

 may be. I do not go to seek for great wealth, 

 but only an independence, so that I may indulge 

 in the luxury of printing what I can but write, 

 I shall occasionally make an exploring expedition. 

 If I can in any way serve you, pray command me. 



1 I am, my dear Sir, with kindest regards, and 

 farewell to yourself and Mrs. Owen, 



' Yours always, 



< R. H. Horne.' 



After the publication of his ' Archetype of 

 the Skeleton,' Owen had a seal engraved with the 

 idea symbolised, and he gives the following account 

 of it to his sister Maria : ' I enclose with pleasure 

 a wax impression of my adopted cognizance. . . 



c c 2 



