118 
TESTIMONIAL TO MR. LUCAS. 
most heartily concurred in it. Such people were not to be 
found growing upon hedges, and when they passed away it 
was not so easy to fill their places (applause). He thought 
it was quite time, after the long experience they had had of 
tffeir friend’s worth, that they should do what they had 
done so handsomely ; and that they really felt his value, was 
shown by the roll of subscribers, containing all the names 
in the neighbourhood, small and great. It was a great 
satisfaction to him to have the honour of proposing Mr. 
Lucas’s health in so respectable an assembly, but he felt 
great difficulty in not being able to do justice to so meri- 
torious an individual. They would excuse any deficiency 
of his, and would prove to Mr. Lucas by the hearty ringing 
of their voices, how ready they were to concur in the efforts 
he had made to express their sentiments, and their wishes that 
he might enjoy long life and happiness, and that his memory 
might be cherished (much applause and vehement cheering). 
Mr. Lucas , who on rising was received with tremendous 
applause, said : 
cc My Lord and Gentlemen, — I beg you will permit me to 
thank you most cordially for the honour 3'ou have done me, 
not only in considering me worthy of, but in presenting to 
me this day your kind and handsome present, which I assure 
you I accept with the greatest pleasure, as a testimony of the 
approbation of my numerous friends, for my conduct and prac- 
tice as a veterinary surgeon for forty years, and which I have 
worked at early and late, as few men know better than I do 
how absolutely necessary to all of us is the health and sound- 
ness of our horses, upon which we are more or less depen- 
dent for our pleasure, our comfort, and indeed I may say, in a 
great measure for our daily bread. With this knowledge, 
I should have been unworthy of your notice if I had not 
exerted myself to the utmost to alleviate the complaints of 
the animals which have been committed to my charge, and if 
I had not done so, should I in any way have deserved the 
flattering terms which the noble lord has used in presenting 
me with your kind present ? w hich, rest assured, I will keep 
as long as I live, and let it be handed down to some member 
of my family as an evidence of your generosity and kindness 
towards an humble individual like myself — as an inducement 
for such a person to labour diligently, faithfully, and honestly, 
in whatever situation in life he may be placed, as the only 
sure means of obtaining the good wfishes of his friends and 
the respect of his neighbours. In conclusion, allow' me to 
thank you, my friends, for the many kindnesses which I 
have now 7 , and at all times, received from you, as w 7 ell as for 
