1872-S2 RUSKIN DISAPPROVES 245 



abode, I wished yesterday Guy were himself 

 again, and would blow up both Houses of Parlia- 

 ment, and all the West End with them ; then 

 there might be a chance for the east, and for the 

 Sun and Aurora again. 



' Ever yours affectionately, 



' J. Ruskin. 



' I can write steadily still when I am not in a 

 rage — but that's not often.' 



1 1 dine with Paget,' Owen writes 3 (March 23, 

 1 88 1 ), ' the day after to-morrow to meet Tennyson. 

 I fear the poet will miss his pet pipe.' In another 

 letter (March 27) he gives a description of some 

 of the conversation, and continues : ' When the 

 ladies retired our host benevolently sent for the 

 Pipe ; we accompanied, with mild cigarettes, 

 the Poet, who then began to unroll (a hedgehog 

 simile). But in the drawing-room he was " very 

 good," and read to us his " Maud " — I think his 

 favourite.' 



In the Grosvenor Gallery of 1881 Professor 

 Owen's portrait appeared, painted by Mr. Holman 

 Hunt. The * Times,' in speaking of this portrait, 

 says (May 2) : ' Perhaps the finest portrait in the 

 gallery among so many that are very fine is the 

 " Professor Owen " of Mr, Holman Hunt. This 

 is a work which is full of Mr. Hunt's peculiarities 

 of colour. The flesh of the face is that curious 



3 To Dr. Pearson Langshaw. 



