3i8 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. X. 
fitting monument, and of which science, and, let us 
hope, its cultivators in his native country more 
particularly, will long continue to reap the 
benefits.’ 
The British Museum purchased the collection 
in 1866. 
Owen’s power of concentration and absorp- 
tion in a subject which interested him, was not 
confined to professional or scientific matters. 
We find that on January 22, ‘after having 
heard a lecture of Whewell’s, he went on to 
the Club,- and took up Thackeray’s “ Vanity 
Fair” to read. He became so deeply absorbed in 
the book that he sat on, oblivious of the fact that 
everyone else had disappeared one by one. He 
was also apparently deaf to coughs and hints of 
attendants, &c. ; but still sat there reading and 
laughing to himself. At last in desperation the 
men came forward and began to take away the 
lamps. Then, having looked at his watch and found 
it considerably past 2 a.m., he rushed wildly out of 
the Club, and, like a scientific Cinderella, left his 
umbrella and great-coat behind.’ 
He watched for the monthly numbers of 
Dickens’s works with great eagerness, and read 
them with much enjoyment as they came out. 
On February 29 No. 18 of ‘ Dombey ’ appeared, 
and he ‘ stayed up very late reading it.’ He thus 
states his opinion as to the manner of Carker’s 
“ The Athenjeum. 
