X INTRODUCTION. 



pupil for about two years, after which, I passed my 

 examination and received my diploma. 



From the expence I had incurred in passing through 

 the College, I found, on looking into my finances, that 

 they were not in the most flourishing state ; so that 

 there was no chance of my being able to enter upon 

 my profession, nor did it appear that there was any 

 thing left for me but to return to my former situation 

 as groom. I therefore began to look out for a place of 

 this description ; thinking that as I had received my 

 diploma from the Veterinary College, I should be con- 

 sidered a valuable acquisition to a nobleman or gentle- 

 man who might have a large establishment of horses. 

 But here, to my great astonishment, I was disappoint- 

 ed ; for, after seeing several noblemen and gentlemen 

 on the subject, I found that what I thought would 

 have been an advantage to me, proved quite the re- 

 verse. I was considered by those noblemen and gen- 

 tlemen as being of too great importance to be taken 

 into the stables again. This produced great embarrass- 

 ment in my mind ; and as I have already noticed, not 

 having it in my power to set up in my profession, I 

 began almost to despair of obtaining the means of sup" 

 porting myself even with that degree of respectability 

 which I had formerly enjoyed when a groom, prior 

 to my entering the College. 



As I was one day walking in London, brooding over 

 my ill-fortune, I accidentally met Major-General Sir 

 Hussey Vivian, then Lieutenant-Colonel of the 7th Hus- 

 sars, who knew me when I was acting in the capacity ol" 



