THE VETERINARY PROFESSION — THE CHARTER. 607 
sion of veterinary surgeons as the fullest protection to the public 
can require. 
That about forty years ago Parliament, being convinced of 
the public advantages of this College, granted a sum in its aid ; 
but for the last thirty years the College has supported itself with- 
out further aid, and has gradually risen in the estimation of her 
Majesty’s military authorities and the public, for the sound and 
efficient mode of education there adopted; in proof of which may 
be adduced the appointment upon the recommendation of this 
College. 
That your petitioners have now a large property embarked in 
this Institution. 
That the College has hitherto subjected their pupils to a rigid 
examination of their qualifications in the veterinary science, and 
has granted to all such as had duly qualified themselves, a di- 
ploma or certificate of qualification, which, while it afforded great 
protection to the public, enabled the pupils, from their competency 
and efficiency, to take a position in after-life much to the credit 
and advancement of the profession which this College has esta- 
blished. 
That to the surprise of your petitioners, her Majesty has been 
induced, in accordance to the petition of certain veterinary sur- 
geons, founded entirely on the public advantages which have 
arisen from this College — to grant a Charter to veterinary sur- 
geons holding certificates from this and the Edinburgh College, 
erecting them into a corporation by the title of “ The Royal Col- 
lege of Veterinary Surgeons.” 
That the petitioners for such Charter in no way represented 
the President, Vice-President, Governors, Trustees, or Subscribers 
to this College ; and their petition was presented, and the Charter 
thereupon obtained, without the knowledge or consent of your 
petitioners, whose Institution, after a struggle for a period of 
upwards of fifty years, is thus rendered subservient to a corpora- 
tion which has no ground for existence than that based upon the 
success and advantages of this very Institution. 
That the Charter so granted renders nugatory any examination 
by the efficient board of your petitioners’ College, and converts the 
