394 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. XII. 
of artificial teeth when he spoke or ate. My last 
impression of the living features is a very pleasing 
one. I brought it away vividly in my mind from 
Lord Ellesmere’s great ball last July.’ 
In this year Owen had the offer of the 
Presidency of the Geological Society, which he 
declined. Edward Forbes, who accepted the post, 
wrote him the following letter on the subject, dated 
Sandown, Isle of Wight, December i6, 1852 : 
‘ I thank you heartily for your kind and frank 
letter. As you know all the particulars respecting 
the Presidency of the Geological Society matter, 
I need not repeat them here. I was very much 
astonished when the President mentioned my 
name as that of his possible successor. There are 
many members who have not filled the chair and 
who have claims before mine, but pre-eminently 
before them all is yourself. This is the opinion 
of every member of the society, so far as I am 
aware, and certainly is that of Mr. Hopkins. I 
regret that you will not take the post, and doubly 
regret the only valid reason for your declining— 
viz. the personal annoyance that it might cause 
you through the body with which you are officially 
connected. I feel ashamed of our country when 
I think of it. . . .’ 
Amongst Owen’s favourite amusements was 
that of fishing. He was always a keen fisherman, 
and was constantly to be seen exercising the 
‘ gentle art ’ from the banks of the lakes or ponds 
