14 PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



" Unto the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, in Privy Council assembled, 

 the Memorial of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, 

 incorporated by Royal Charter, Humbly Showeth — 

 " That the Society are the patrons of the Veterinary School in Edinburgh, 



which was established by them in the year 1823. 

 " That the science of veterinary medicine and surgery has been taught and 

 practised in Scotland for upwards of forty years with ardour and success. 

 " That hitherto, in the absence of a regularly chartered College of Veterin- 

 ary Surgeons in Scotland, having authority to appoint examiners and to 

 grant diplomas in veterinary science and art, the certificate of your me- 

 morialists, granted after due exa min ation, has served to confer a certain 

 status on veterinary students. 

 " That this certificate has been recognised since 1838 by your Majesty's 

 Government, and by the Honourable the East India Company, and is the 

 only licence granted in Scotland as qualifying for civil practice in Great 

 Britain and the colonies. 

 " That your memorialists are of opinion that the past history and present 

 condition of the veterinary schools in Scotland entitle them to the highest 

 consideration of your Majesty, and that the independence and usefulness 

 of these schools would be secured, and the advancement of veterinary 

 science promoted, by the creation and establishment of a Royal Veterin- 

 ary College in Scotland. 

 " That the object of the institution of such a college would be to confer 

 degrees in veterinary medicine and surgery on students who produce 

 evidence of having been duly educated in veterinary medicine and 

 surgery, and prove themselves by examination competent to practise as 

 veterinary surgeons. 

 " That your memorialists humbly but earnestly crave your Majesty's 

 gracious consideration of the above premises ; and in the event of this 

 memorial being favourably entertained, your memorialists will be pre- 

 pared, in concert with other public bodies in Scotland, to submit heads 

 of a proposed charter, and your memorialists will ever pray. 



" Signed, in the name and authority of the Highland and Agricultural 

 Society of Scotland. 



" Buccleuch and Queensberrt, President. 

 " Edinburgh, 27th June 1866." 

 Mr M'Lagan of Pumpherston, M.P., said there could be no difference of 

 opinion as to the propriety of the proceedings of the Directors, but he thought 

 the general meeting ought to do more than read reports, and have them laid 

 on the table. It was well that they should know how the question stood at 

 the present time. They knew that last session of Parliament the noble 

 chairman had also been in communication with Government, and had waited 

 on Mr Corry on the subject, and that a deputation, headed by Sir William 

 Stirling Maxwell, also waited upon him, and the case had been fairly stated 

 to the Privy Council. The deputation had been led to suppose that the 

 Privy Council entertained the proposal favourably, but shortly afterwards, to 

 the surprise of every one, the Scotch members found that the Veterinary Bill 

 was intended to be pushed through the House of Commons. At last the bill 

 was withdrawn, and a compromise was made that no veterinary charter 

 should be given to Scotland during the recess. The bill would be again in- 

 troduced after the meeting of Parliament, and it would strengthen the hands 

 of the Scotch members if the meeting would take a decided step in opposing 

 the bill, and also in applying for a veterinary charter for Scotland. If the 

 Directors had only known the annoyance to which the Scotch members had 

 been submitted last session in opposing the bill, he would not have required 

 to bring the matter up in that way. They had been informed several \imes 

 that the bill was withdrawn ; and when the Scotch members, on the faith of 



