16 PROFESSOR OWEN ch. i. 



also took the opportunity of attending some of 

 Faraday's at the Royal Institution. In describing 

 one of these lectures, which took place in January, 

 he says : ' The Prince of Wales and Prince Arthur 

 there. They seemed much interested, and sat on 

 chairs, with a footstool, as their feet did not reach 

 the ground. Faraday in great force — on Metals. 

 Gold, silver, &c, were rolled into long ribbons. 

 The theatre crowded.' 



At another lecture * Faraday explained the 

 magnet and strength of attraction. He made us 

 all laugh heartily ; and when he threw a coal- 

 scuttle full of coals, a poker, and a pair of tongs 

 at the great magnet, and they stuck there, the 

 theatre echoed with shouts of laughter.' 



On January 8 Owen accompanied Sir Joseph 

 Paxton to Coventry, where, he says, 'there was 

 a deputation to meet us. Bells ringing, &c. Gave 

 lecture on " Ruminants" at 8.30 in an old hall to 

 a crowded audience, which was largely composed 

 of the ribbon-weavers — men and women — watch- 

 makers and so on, all very attentive : a good 

 many open-mouthed listeners.' 



On April 13 Owen went to Manchester, 

 where he gave a course of four lectures, and then 

 to Liverpool, where he also gave a short course. 

 1 At my first lecture at Liverpool,' he writes to 

 his wife, ' the managing committee had Haydn's 

 overture to the " Creation " played by a good 

 orchestra, whilst the audience was assembling in 



