52 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. II. 
took the liberty to suggest that many objects of 
natural history might afford subjects for archi- 
tectural ornament ; and at Mr. Waterhouse’s 
request I transmitted numerous figures of such I 
as seemed suitable for that purpose. 
‘I must mention that in 1867 Lord Elcho 
pressed upon the House of Commons, through 
the Hungerford Bridge Committee, the Thames 
Embankment as a site for the new Museum 
of Natural History, but unsuccessfully. The de- 
bates thereon, nevertheless, caused some further 
delay. 
‘In 1871, a vote of 40,000/. for beginning 
the museum buildings at South Kensington was | 
carried without discussion. In 1872 a vote of 
29,000/. for the same building was opposed by 
Lord Elcho, but was carried by a majority of 40 j 
(85 against 45). I 
‘At last the necessary building was com- ' 
menced after conflicts stretching over a score ! 
or so of years. [ 
‘Mr. Alfred Waterhouse, R.A., for the reali- 
sation of the plans and requirements of our ' 
Museum of Natural History, chose an adaptation ! 
of the Round-arched Gothic, Romanesque, or | 
Romaic of the twelfth century. No style could ; 
better lend itself to the introduction, for legitimate 
ornamentation, of the endless beautiful varieties 
the excellent arrangements conveniences of the finished 
agreed upon with the in- structure. 
