350 EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
At the dinner about the same number attended as at the 
meeting in the morning; Mr. W. Field, M.R.C.V.S., was 
Chairman, Mr. C. Dickens, M.R.C.Y.S., Vice-chairman. 
A social and an agreeable evening was passed ; much 
friendly intercourse taking place during it. Still a dinner, 
although thoroughly English, is hardly calculated to provoke 
professional converse. There is a restraint and a formality 
connected with it that is opposed to this. Other matters 
have to be discussed ! while there is no breaking up into 
little parties, for chit-chat on subjects that may arise in the 
mind, scientific or otherwise ; and nothing is presented to 
awaken thought or call for investigation. The conversaziones 
so spiritedly conducted not long since, and which we are 
sorry have been discontinued — we hope only for a time — 
were far better calculated for all this. We think these 
reunions might more often take place, as the rooms of the 
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons are well adapted for 
them ; nor need they be made expensive. 
During the evening a suggestion was made that met w r ith 
the most cordial reception, and which we take this early 
opportunity of making known, from a conviction that it will 
be no less favorably received by the profession. It was, that 
some expression of the esteem in which he is held should be 
presented to the secretary of the Royal College of Veterinary 
Surgeons, E. N. Gabriel, Esq. Doubtless the profession will 
be further informed on this subject, a committee being in the 
course of formation to carry it out. It is with communities 
as with individuals— a debt is incurred in infancy that never 
can be repaid. Let us, then, manifest our grateful acknow- 
ledgments. The College now enters on the fourteenth year 
of its existence as a corporation, and, during that long time, 
Mr. Gabriel has acted as its secretary. Need we add, that 
he has had no little labour to perform ? Besides which, in 
the early period of its existence, from the funds of the insti- 
tution not admitting of it, he received nothing for his services. 
For our parts, we are free to confess that we have somewhat 
scrutinised his doings, and, not being altogether ignorant of 
these things, know he has had something to contend with ; 
