1824-33 OWEN'S FIRST JOURNEY TO LONDON 29 



lomew's Hospital, and study under Abernethy. 

 After some consideration, Owen decided to do 

 so, and obtained his college certificates forthwith, 

 all of which are in existence. His yearly ticket 

 (October 1824-October 1825) for the Library also 

 exists, and a certificate from W. C. McDonald, the 

 Apothecary to the Royal Infirmary, stating that 

 1 Mr. Richard Owen had a Ticket for this 

 Hospital, dated November the first, 1824, and 

 signed the Porter's Book regularly during its 

 currency.' A certificate from Dr, Mackintosh, 

 dated April 30, 1825, states that ■ Mr. Owen's 

 conduct has been marked by the greatest zeal and 

 attention.' 



Dr. Barclay speaks of Owen in the following 

 terms in his certificate : * I had much reason to 

 be satisfied with the mode of his attendance, and 

 the manner in which he prosecuted these branches 

 of his medical studies ' (Anatomy and Surgery). 

 April 25, 1825. 



But Barclay's chief recommendation was a 

 private letter to his friend Abernethy, which he 

 gave to Owen to take to London with him. 



This first journey to London Owen describes 

 in the following terms : — 



' I shall never forget the day when I arrived 

 for the first time in London, where I had literally 

 not one single friend : the only link I had with 

 my Northern friends being John Barclay's letter 

 of introduction to Dr. Abernethy, which I carried 



