618 
ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, Aug. 20, 1856. 
Present: — The President; Messrs. Cherry, Constant, 
Dickens, Ernes, Jones, Silvester, Turner, Wilkinson, 
Professor Spooner, and the Secretary. 
W. Stockley, Esq., the President, in the Chair. 
The Secretary said, it would be remembered that at the 
last meeting, a deputation was appointed to wait on the 
Governors of the Royal Veterinary College on the 26th of 
July, in reference to the proposed reduction of the examina- 
tion fee. The day of meeting of the governors was altered to 
the 25th, and the deputation waited upon them on that day ; 
but, as a quorum of governors could not be formed, no official 
communication took place. In the course of conversation, the 
governors present said they thought the examination fee should 
be reduced, as the Council was collecting considerable funds, 
which, as had been intimated to them, would probably be 
applied to the foundation of a rival school ; and, moreover, 
the pupils of the Scotch school were satisfied with the cheap 
certificate of Professor Dick. The deputation replied, that 
after fourteen years the funds of the College only amounted 
to between £200 and £300; that there was not the slightest 
intention to establish a rival school; and that every year 
several of the pupils of the Scotch school were at the expense 
and labour of obtaining the diploma of the College, after 
having received Professor Dick’s certificate. Mr. Newdegate 
expressed a hope that, should the question be again raised, 
and the funds of the College would admit of it, it would be 
entertained by the Council. 
The President confirmed the accuracy of the Secretary’s 
statement. 
Mr. Cherry thought the governors must have been misin- 
formed, as the question of a rival school had never, so far as 
he was aware, been entertained by the Council. As no formal 
proceedings had taken place, no steps could be taken at that 
meeting. 
Mr. Turner and Mr. Wilkinson expressed a desire that, if pos- 
sible, the subject should be at once discussed, and not be 
indefinitely postponed. 
Professor Spooner said, that the governors had not been mis- 
informed (he himself having been their informant), and that 
the Secretary’s statement was founded in a misconception of 
what the governors wished to convey. 
The President said the subject could not be discussed afresh 
