1833-36 APPOINTED HUNTERIAN PROFESSOR 95 
each side of the organist in the organ loft, and it 
was quite a treat to hear him.’ 
< 2Zth . — 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- 
