THE HIGHLAND AXD AGRICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 185 



sideratiou ; but he reserved his decision till he heard the case of 

 the Eoyal College of Veterinary Surgeons, a deputation from 

 wliich was to wait on hmi on tlie 28th Noveml^er. 



Tliat body took steps to oppose the granting of a Charter to 

 Scotland, and with that view lodged a statement with the Board 

 of Trade in opposition to it. 



On that statement the Society and the Corporation of Edin- 

 burgh, for the information of the Board of Trade, submitted some 

 remarks. On Articles 1 and 2 of the statement by the Eoyal 

 College, it was observed that the inference intended to be made 

 that that body is possessed of a monopoly cannot be correct. A 

 monopoly cannot be legally inferred, and the Crown cannot be 

 supposed to have bound up its hands for all time and under all 

 circumstances in this matter. It was respectfully submitted that 

 the Crown could not bind itself. The true meaning of the words 

 (which it was inferred were words of style) was that as against 

 all existing bodies, the Eoyal College of Veterinary Surgeons 

 shall alone have power to confer degrees on persons to be 

 distinguished as veterinary surgeons, so long as it shall please 

 the Crown to continue the privilege. Under iSTo. 3, it was 

 stated that neither the Highland Society nor any other public 

 body in Scotland was a party to obtaining the Charter granted 

 in 1844. Under Nos. 4 and 5, it was mentioned that it was 

 quite true that the Eoyal College did send down examiners, 

 but so far from no complaint having been made, great dis- 

 satisfaction had been expressed with the body of examiners, 

 and so strongly did Professor Dick feel in the matter, that he 

 reverted to the previous system of obtaining certificates from the 

 Society after trial for some years of the examiners from the 

 Eoyal College. Under No. 6, it was pointed out that the Charter 

 sought was for no school, but for a college to regulate the course 

 of study in all the teaching schools of Scotland, and to grant 

 diplomas to all who should have followed the curriculum to be 

 prescribed from time to time by the governing body. No such in- 

 convenience as was here contemplated has been experienced under 

 the present system, whereby the Highland Society grant certifi- 

 cates, nor under the system whereby the medical schools of 

 London, Edinburgh, and Dublin prescribe their respective cur- 

 ricula and grant degrees. The anticipated impossibility of keeping 

 up the standard of qualification receives no support from the 

 experience of the different medical schools. All experience of 

 educational establishments goes to prove the beneficial effects of 

 wholesome rivalry. Under No. 7. the petitioners were quite 

 prepared to modify any of the details of the proposed Charter, 

 and, should it have been considered desirable by the Board of 

 Trade, to make provisions for a large representation of the veteri- 

 nary profession and intrust the election of a certain number to 

 the members of the College as incorporated. Under No. 9, the 



