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ACCOUNT OF THE DINNER. 
is true, as he has observed, that I was the originator of the move- 
ment for the Charter. At the time that we were at work in the 
memorial business I presumed to write to His Royal Highness the 
Duke of Cambridge, as Patron of The Royal Veterinary College, 
and to every member of the committee belonging to that institu- 
tion, stating the grounds upon which we proceeded, and that we 
could not gain possession of our legitimate position as a professional 
body unless we became a chartered body, and acknowledged as a 
profession by the legislature of the country. On this occasion the 
first ground was broken for securing a Royal Charter. Neverthe- 
less, 1 do not arrogate to myself the successful issue of this busi- 
ness. No ; it is owing to our united efforts — to the concentration of 
our energies in your committee, and the unbounded confidence and 
support which you have afforded it — to the weight, influence, and 
character of its members ; and, though last, not least, to our worthy 
President as the Chairman of that committee — and to his very able, 
efficient, and gentlemanly conduct in the performance of its duties. 
No difficulties (and we had our difficulties, Gentlemen) ever 
daunted him ; but, like a valiant captain, he nailed his colours to 
the mast-head, and, like the lads of Derry, had inscribed upon 
them “ No surrender !” determining either to win the victory or go 
down fighting into the gulf of oblivion. 
Her Majesty has conferred upon us a great boon, and I trust 
we shall shew ourselves worthy of it. We now possess a stand- 
ing and position in society. Before this we had none. Now we feel 
that we have a character to preserve; before we had none. By this 
gracious act of Her Majesty she has proved herself the salvation of 
our profession, for it would gradually have retrograded into the 
empirical hands from which it has been rescued by our late la- 
mented and present Professor if something had not been done, as 
there would have been no inducement for men of education, re- 
spectability, and property, to have connected themselves with it. 
It is a proud and glorious day for us, inasmuch as we have now 
become a Royal College of Examination, and obtained a parallel 
position with our sister profession. We have now the proper con- 
trolling power over the education of the student, and I trust we 
shall carry out his curriculum gradually and discreetly, and also 
