394 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. XII. 



of artificial teeth when he spoke or ate. My last 

 impression of the living features is a very pleasing 

 one. I brought it away vividly in my mind from 

 Lord Ellesmere's great ball last July.' 



In this year Owen had the offer of the 

 Presidency of the Geological Society, which he 

 declined. Edward Forbes, who accepted the post, 

 wrote him the following letter on the subject, dated 

 Sandown, Isle of Wight, December 16, 1852 : 

 1 I thank you heartily for your kind and frank 

 letter. As you know all the particulars respecting 

 the Presidency of the Geological Society matter, 

 I need not repeat them here. I was very much 

 astonished when the President mentioned my 

 name as that of his possible successor. There are 

 many members who have not filled the chair and 

 who have claims before mine, but pre-eminently 

 before them all is yourself. This is the opinion 

 of every member of the society, so far as I am 

 aware, and certainly is that of Mr. Hopkins. I 

 regret that you will not take the post, and doubly 

 regret the only valid reason for your declining — 

 viz. the personal annoyance that it might cause 

 you through the body with which you are officially 

 connected. I feel ashamed of our country when 

 I think of it. . . .' 



Amongst Owen's favourite amusements was 

 that of fishing. He was always a keen fisherman, 

 and was constantly to be seen exercising the 

 ' gentle art ' from the banks of the lakes or ponds 



