THE VETERINARY COLLEGE. 7 



amateur, as being that from which the principal improve- 

 ments in his art are to be dated. Charles Vial de St. Bel 

 first published proposals for founding a veterinary school in 

 the year 1788 ; but the plan meeting with no support, he 

 returned to France. This gentleman was professionally 

 educated at the Royal Veterinary College of Lyons, and, as 

 w^e are told, afterwards became junior assistant at Alfort. In 

 1790, he made a second visit to England, which proved 

 more successful ; for, on again renewing his proposals, they 

 were noticed by the Agricultural Society of Odiham, in 

 Hampshire, the members of which, convinced of the utility 

 of such a measure, proposed to form an institution, called 

 The Vetermary College of London, and to appoint St. Bel 

 to the professorship ; Mr. Blaine being engaged as his assist- 

 ant. It was in February 1791, that the first organized 

 meeting of the supporters of the society took place at the 

 Blenheim Coffee House, Bond Street, at which time many 

 new subscribers enrolled themselves. His Grace the Duke 

 of Northumberland condescended to become the president ; 

 and such Vvas the general opinion of the importance of the 

 subject to the country at large, that vice-presidents and 

 directors offered themselves from among the most dis- 

 tinguished characters for rank and talent. A house was 

 next taken for the purposes in view at St. Pancras. Pupils 

 were received to board with the professor ; and Mr. Blaine 

 was also located there as translator and anatomical demon- 

 strator. To him it was, however, a matter of surprise 

 that the concern succeeded to the extent it did ; so totally 

 inadequate to such an undertaking was St. Bel. That he 

 was enterprising and ingenious no one will deny ; he was 

 also indefatigable in promoting the interest of the establish- 

 ment, which indeed involved all his future prospects ; but 

 that by his knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and 

 pathology of the horse he was fitted to become the veterinary 

 professor, no one of those who most strongly supported 

 him can iDelieve. His writings and his practice bear out 

 this opinion ; his election to the chair could have alone 

 arisen from a wish that such a school might be established ; 

 and it could only have occurred because no other person 

 then in the kingdom was better able to undertake its 

 management. 



