202 THE ROYAL CHARTER OF INCORPORATION 
But one feeling, and that such an one as, professionally , has 
not at any former period been experienced by them, can pervade 
the breasts of veterinarians, when they come to reflect what, as a 
body of persons calling themselves professional , they hitherto have 
been, and what in the year 1844, by virtue of a Royal Charter, 
creating them henceforth a RECOGNIZED PROFESSION, they by 
law rightfully and truly are. It is true we had what went by the 
name of a “Veterinary College but that — with no disrespect be it 
spoken — was nothing more than a private institution*, under the 
management of a self-constituted body of “ Governors,” irrespon- 
sible save to themselves, and heedless of all veterinary interests 
save such as concerned the prosperity of their own institution ; 
from any vote or interest in which they — the governors — by a 
by-law of their own, carefully excluded every person bearing the 
denomination of a veterinary surgeon. To this miscalled “College” 
was attached a veterinary school ; and, in order that the pupils 
belonging to it might, in the best way the conductors of the 
school could at the time make them, become what they chose to 
call “veterinary surgeons,” or “members” of the said “ College,” 
the said “ Governors” appointed gentlemen of the highest emi- 
nence in the medical profession to act as examiners of the pupils. 
For being, at the suggestion of M. St. Bel, foremost in esta- 
blishing a veterinary school in this country, and in that respect in 
setting us on a footing with our neighbours the French, the 
Odiham Agricultural Society, the original governors, or rather 
the founders of this Veterinary Institution, deserve our grateful 
acknowledgments ; and most sincerely and cordially do we now 
tender them. Nor could they have acted more wisely at the time 
than in appointing to the posts of examiners of the pupils edu- 
cated at their institution men renowned for their learning and 
accomplishments in the profession of medicine. For these pa- 
triotic and commendatory acts we freely grant and give them their 
full meed of praise. But when the time had arrived that, from 
their thriving institution, graduated members were annually sent 
forth into the country, of whom there were enough, and more than 
enough, to constitute an efficient board of examiners — when, we 
* College : — A corporation or society of men having certain privileges by 
the king’s license. — Law Dictionary. 
