1857-59 A DINNER AT ‘THE’ CLUB 73 
^as afterwards introduced to the actor. ‘ Kean 
appeared gratified at R.’s appreciation of his Louis 
Xl., and said he would like him to see his Hamlet.’ 
Accordingly, on March 8 Kean sent them a 
ticket for a box at the Princess's, where he was 
playing Hamlet that night. Owen remarks, in 
9 - letter to his sister Eliza, on the pleasure that 
this performance afforded him. In another letter 
to his sister, dated May i, 1858, he says : — 
‘ I have dined at the last two meetings of “ The 
Club.” One of these included Lord Lansdowne, 
C>uke of Argyll, Lord Macaulay, Dean Milman, 
^^Tewell, Colonel Leake, Gladstone, Dr. (Sir H.) 
Holland, Lord John Russell, Dr. Hawtrey, and it 
'vas ^ very brilliant intellectual evening. Glad- 
stone favoured me with an invitation to his 
Thursday morning breakfasts. At the last meeting 
poor Hallam was borne in by two men : his meat 
^ut for him. His last stroke leaves but the use of 
hand, and his speech is affected, but his in- 
*^cllect is bright, and he expressed himself much 
pleased at once more meeting his old friends. 
Lord Enniskillen and Mr. Liddell dined with us 
yesterday ; we had a merry chatty evening. I 
have just been lunching in the “ Medal Room ” on 
prawns, roll and butter, and soda-water, introduced 
hy my Lord in defiance of “ orders of the Trus- 
” . . . . I go to the “ Academy dinner ” to-day, 
afterwards pick up Will at Dr. Farre’s concert.’ 
On June 8 Owen writes in a short note to 
