1833-36 APPOINTED HUNTERIAN PROFESSOR 95 



each side of the organist in the organ loft, and it 

 was quite a treat to hear him.' 



1 28t/i. — Poor little chimpanzee dead. R. went 

 to see the " opening scene " in Bruton Street ; 

 30 gentlemen at least present.' 



In April, Owen was appointed Hunterian 

 Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons. To 

 the last days of his life he constantly referred to 

 the gratification which this appointment gave him. 

 A draft of the letter which he sent to the Council 

 accepting the chair has been preserved amongst 

 his papers, and the hope which he entertained in 

 his letter of May 3, 1832, now became a reality. 



Coll. Surg. : April 30, 1836. 



' Sir, — I had the honour to receive your letter 

 informing me of my election as Hunterian Professor 

 by the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons, 

 and I beg you will express to the Council my deep 

 sense of this additional mark of their favourable 

 sentiment towards me, and the entire willingness 

 with which I accept that highly responsible 

 charge. 



' I cannot, nor shall I ever be willing to forget 

 how much I owe my present presumed eligibility 

 to illustrate by public lectures the labours of 

 Hunter, to the favourable position in which I am 

 placed in being entrusted by the Council of the 

 College with the partial charge of a collection, 

 originally most extensive, in preparations of Com- 



