TESTIMONIAL TO WILLIAM ROBINSON, ESQ. 
587 
plication of science to their important pursuits, but men who 
had done themselves honour by taking means to make up for 
that deficiency in the appointment of an agricultural chemist 
to aid them in their farming operations. To that town and 
neighbourhood, he believed, belonged the honour of origi- 
nating in England a society for providing for agriculturists 
the assistance of a chemist. They had already had the bene- 
fit of Mr. Haywood’s advice, and he was happy to learn that 
the place of that unfortunate gentleman was about to be 
filled by another scientific man. in connexion with the 
society to which he referred, he could not forget that they 
were indebted to the liberality of the worthy baronet, Sir 
Robert Peel, who had presented them with £50 a year to 
promote its important objects. (Cheers). He was glad to 
find that the testimonial originated with men who were de- 
termined to go with the times, and avail themselves of the 
advantages which scientific knowledge was so well calculated 
to afford them. It might appear to some that this reference 
to agriculture had little to do with the immediate subject 
before them, but he would remind them that his profession was 
deeply indebted to agricultural societies. They were indebted 
for the foundation of the Veterinary College to an agricultural 
society. Mr. Robinson then stated that the Veterinary College 
in London, owed its origin to the agricultural society at Qdi- 
ham, in Hampshire, and that the Veterinary College at Edin- 
burgh, in like manner, had its origin in the Highland Agricultu- 
ral Society, and added that the profession, therefore, felt under 
great obligation to agriculturists. The Chairman had compli- 
mented him upon the interest he had taken in the Royal College 
of Veterinary Surgeons, but for the establishment of that 
College they were indebted to his friend, Mr. Mayer, whose 
father was the founder, he might say, of the Veterinary College, 
and those associated with him, including his friends, Mr. Hunt 
and Mr. Burley, and though last, not least, Mr. Pritchard, 
of Wolverhampton. It now only remained for him to thank 
them once more for the very handsome present they had given 
him. It was indeed gratifying to him, after living amongst 
them for nearly 50 years, to find that he had made so many 
friends ; and he was happy to believe, as the chairman had 
remarked, that he had not made an enemy — (cheers,) — and 
he assured them that it would, during the remainder of his 
life, be his anxious care to retain the respect and esteem of 
those by whom it was his happiness to be surrounded. (Mr. 
Robinson resumed his seat amidst applause.) 
