1848-49 THE COLLEGE ORATION 333 



1 Osteological Contributions to the Natural History 

 of the Chimpanzees ' (' Zoological Transactions '). 



Some of the incidents which occurred in 1849 

 are thus noticed in the diary : — 



* 'January 10. — The author of " Orion," Mr. 

 Home, came to dinner, and brought a copy of his 

 poem, now in its sixth edition. The object of his 

 coming was to get information from R. regarding 

 the structure and powers of the eye. He is 

 evidently thinking of making Orion regain his 

 sight' 



'February 4. — R. sent a ticket for his lec- 

 ture, the College Oration, to T. Carlyle. On 

 the 6th Carlyle wrote a characteristic letter in 

 return for the ticket. He is evidently pleased 

 at having been remembered.' 



' Zth. — After dinner went up to the study, 

 where R. had all his diagrams laid out on the floor 

 ready for to-morrow's lecture, and I had the whole 

 lecture to myself, seated in a comfortable chair. 

 R. was anxious to ascertain what I, as an aver- 

 agely informed member of a "general" audience, 

 found clear, and also what I thought wanted a 

 commentary or explanation. He agreed to modify 

 and alter a few points, and there were also some 

 slight retouchings wanted in the diagrams.' 



' \\th. — Prince Albert came to hear the oration 

 at the College to-day at three o'clock. The Body 

 Corporate had made preparations to receive the 

 royal guest, but they went to the beadle's little 



