1857 59 SUCCESS OF LECTURES 61 



writes : ' Their success had exceeded my utmost 

 expectations. Milman, Lord Lansdowne, and the 

 Duke of Argyll hardly missed one. I am arrang- 

 ing with John Murray to publish them. Sir R. 

 Murchison made a grand party for Carry and me. 

 Poor Lady Franklin was there, also General 

 Sabine and Dr. Livingstone.' 



In a letter dated February 27, 1857, Sir 

 Roderick thus refers to Owen's first lecture and 

 to his work at the Museum : — 



4 I never heard so thoroughly eloquent a 

 lecture as that of yesterday ; and I can assure you 

 that I have not in the course of my life been more 

 gratified than by the proofs which Owen gave of 

 his admirable qualifications for carrying out those 

 higher behests which, as a Trustee of the British 

 Museum, it has been my pride to have warmly 

 assisted in promoting. It is the first time I have 

 had the pleasure of seeing our British Cuvier in 

 his true place, and not the less delighted to listen 

 to his fervid and convincing defence of the 

 principle laid down by his great precursor. 

 Every one was charmed, and he will have done 

 more (as I felt convinced) to render our institution 

 favourably known than by any other possible 

 event' 



At this time Owen saw much of Dr. Living- 

 stone, who was preparing for publication an account 

 of his African experiences. The great traveller 

 presented Owen with a large elephant's tusk, 



