44 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. II. 
evening it must have struck him that it was, to 
say the least, a rather curious coincidence that a 
proposal to vote 600,000/. for a new collection of 
birds, beasts, and fishes at South Kensington 
should have been brought forward on the very 
evening when the leadef of the Opposition had 
made a speech denouncing that exorbitant ex- 
penditure — a speech, he might add, which was 
re-echoed by many Liberal members of the 
House.” 
‘ It was, however, not a “curious,” but a “de- 
signed coincidence.” Mr. Disraeli, knowing the 
temper of the House on the subject, and that the 
estimates for the required Museum of Natural 
History were to be submitted by Mr. Gladstone, 
chose the opportunity to initiate the business by 
an advocacy of economy which left its intended 
effect upon the House. In vain Lord Palmerston, 
in reply to the Irish denunciators, proposed as a 
compromise to “ exclude whales altogether from 
disporting themselves in Kensington Gardens.” ^ 
The Government was defeated by a majority of 
ninety-two, and the erection of a National or 
British Museum of Natural History was post- 
poned, to all appearance indefinitely, and in reality 
for ten years. 
‘Nevertheless, neither averments nor argu- 
ments in the House on May 19, 1862, nor testi- 
monies in the hostile committee of i860, 1861, 
“ Hansard^ 1862, p. 1918. “ /iJ. p. 1931. 
