370 COMMUNICATION FROM R. VINES. 
therefore no blame can be laid to my charge. I am of no 
party , except for liberal improvements and the public good. But 
I am sorry to state that the majority of our profession take 
little trouble as regards its interests. Had they felt more 
anxious they would have attended the annual general 
meetings, and then there would have been less chance of our 
becoming a close corporate body. 
Is there not room for complaint that out of more than 
2000 members only about thirty-one think fit to attend the 
general meeting, inclusive of the Council of twenty-four ? 
Had our profession felt more interest in their affairs they 
would not only have attended and voted me into office some 
years since, but also have given me a vote of thanks for the 
professional works I have written, and the expense I have 
been put to — of more than £300 — for the advancement of our 
science; more particularly previous to 1838, and during the 
fourteen years I was an officer of the Royal Veterinary 
College, under the late Professor Coleman ; during which 
time I superintended the instruction of more than 700 
pupils. Further, I should not only have been a member of 
Council, but also one of the Board of Examiners for the 
granting of diplomas. My name is well known to the public, 
and I am proud to say 1 am well respected. I consider 
myself fully competent and respectable enough to fill that 
situation, and as it regards my general character, no one I am 
confident can state I was ever guilty of an unjust action. 
Therefore I consider party, and a small party too, has been 
the cause of my exclusion from having any voice in the 
management of our affairs, and if that party will reform and 
take the advice of Professor Spooner, it will no doubt become 
a large one, and we shall ultimately obtain the support we 
are so anxious to secure. Recollect, if a professional body, at 
the present day, wishes to obtain support, it must adopt 
liberal measures, and not depend too much on Government 
having granted a Royal Charter ; which was intended not 
only to add to our respectability as a body, but likewise to 
give us encouragement in our endeavours to advance veterinary 
science for the public good. And without these objects are 
kept in view, and we act liberally towards each other, there 
is no advantage in our having a Charter. 
It is stated 44 I attended year after year and only obtained a 
few votes.” This statement is not correct. I have not 
attended for several years, because I well know how things 
have been managed \ and the last time I did attend it was for 
the purpose of giving some advice, and informing the meeting 
that I had an idea of becoming a teacher on my own account ; 
