29 
'824-33 OWEN’S FIRST JOURNEY TO LONDON 
lomew’s Hospital, and study under Abernethy. 
•^fter some consideration, Owen decided to do 
sOj 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 
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 w'hich he prosecuted these branches 
of his medical studies’ (Anatomy and Surgery). 
^Pril 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 
m the following terms : — 
I shall never forget the day when I arrived 
or the first time in London, where I had literally 
Hot one single friend : the only link I had with 
luy Northern friends being John Barclay’s letter 
H introduction to Dr. Abernethy, which I carried 
