MR. MAYHEW. 
317 
observations with the best feeling, but he could not forget 
that even friendly considerations should be overlooked when 
a public duty had to be performed. ( Hear, hear.) 
Mr. Vines was then about to make some observations in 
criticism of the acts of the Council, when 
The President said that an opportunity had been afforded 
him of discussing the subject after the reading of the annual 
abstract, and that he was not at present in order in address- 
ing the meeting. 
The proceedings then terminated. 
MR. MAYHEW. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian .” 
Sir, — In the May number of this journal appeared two 
articles, both of which pretend to be “ replies” to a paper which 
I had ventured to lay before your readers in the publication of 
the previous month. To the authors of these communica- 
tions 1 have no answer to give. My views and opinions are 
already printed. The voluntary comments pretended to be 
upon that which I had written are likewise before you. Upon 
comparison of the two, you will without much difficulty dis- 
cover that almost every assertion in the last is a mis-state- 
ment of the facts contained in the first. This circumstance 
prevents me answering the observations in the “replies” of 
Messrs. Robert Dun and Smith, because neither particularly 
concern me, nor refer to anything for which I am responsible. 
There is, however, one circumstance, which I feel assured 
you will pardon me if I direct your attention to. Both the 
self-appointed critics are personally unknown to me ; yet each 
speaks of me in a style and with a directness perfectly un- 
known among gentlemen who are desirous merely of obtain- 
ing information, or of correcting unintentional error in a 
stranger. I have, nevertheless, far too much respect for your 
readers to attempt to fill these pages with an angry dispute, 
under pretence of engaging in a scientific discussion. 
Before I bid you adieu, however, allow me to direct your 
recognition to the very strong likeness that prevails between 
the two commentaries. Mr. Smith, to be sure, at the com- 
mencement, writes in an altered manner; but he has not 
proceeded far before he adopts the same artifices — similar 
violence towards an unknown individual — and a style exactly 
xxvii. 42 
