PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. VI. 
‘ I have such a dread of the personality of an 
author destroying in great measure his ideality,’ 
Owen said to his wife after Carlyle’s visit, ‘ that I 
am pleased to find in this case that it is not so 
and that Carlyle proved to be, as far as I am con- 
cerned, much what one could wish.’ Carlyle was 
always good friends with Owen, and described 
him as one of the few men ‘ who was neither a 
fool nor a humbug.’ 
It was in this month (August) that London 
was disturbed by Chartist riots. 
‘ On the 20th we were at a musical party at 
Arthur Farre’s, but had to come away early, as R. 
was not at all sure that the Chartists might not 
have taken it into their heads to attack the College, 
it being a public and useful building ; but though 
there was some cheering and much noise, there 
was no rioting.’ 
On August 3 1 the diary continues : — 
‘ Mr. Lyell here ; back from America. He was 
highly gratified there, and brought an enticing 
invitation to R., telling him it would be well worth 
his while from every point of view ! ’ 
In September 1842 we find Owen again at 
Lancaster in order to attend a public dinner given 
by the town in honour of Whewell and himself. 
He did not go away without visiting his old 
school and asking for a holiday. Writing to his 
wife on the 15th, he says : — 
‘ . . . I heard that old Beetham had had the 
