ESTABLISHMENT OF A GENERAL ANNUITY FUND. 11 
nestly and deeply considered the subject : nor can any object be 
more desirable than that of providing against its contingencies. 
Tf I have written thus much and thus long for the present gene- 
ration of veterinary practitioners, endeavouring to arouse the latent 
spirit of good fellowship as brothers in the same course of profes- 
sional labour, I feel I should have most imperfectly closed my 
letter did I not impress upon them a duty we owe to those sons 
who are looking forward to succeed to our position, — a duty equally 
demanded of us by the voice of public opinion, and without which 
we cannot aspire to make our calling a profession, but it would sink 
into the routine of mere trade. Let us, then, educate our sons so 
that they may go forth with every claim to public confidence and 
support, and they will assuredly meet with public reward: in fact, 
unless we resolve to educate more highly, our profession will be- 
come like a leaf committed to the waves, and be forced along the 
stream of time a mere atom, wholly unconnected with the great 
scheme of scientific advancement. 
Who has not personally considered — who has not personally 
experienced — that, of all the blessings which it has pleased Provi- 
dence to allow us to cultivate, there is not one which breathes 
a purer fragrance, or bears a more heavenly aspect, than education] 
It is a companion which no misfortune can depress — no clime 
destroy — no enemy alienate — no despotism enslave. At home a 
friend — abroad our introduction — in solitude a solace — in society 
an ornament. It chastens vice — it guides virtue — it gives at once 
a grace and government to genius. Without it, what is man ] A 
splendid slave — a reasoning savage, vacillating between the dig- 
nity of an intelligence derived from God and the degradation of 
passions participated with brutes. But cast your eye over the 
monumental mass of ancient splendour, once studded with the stars 
of empire and the splendour of philosophy. What erected the 
little state of Athens into a powerful commonwealth, placing in 
her hand the sceptre of legislation, and wreathing around her brow 
the imperishable chaplet of literary fame ] What extended Rome, 
the haunt of banditti, into universal empire ] What animated 
Sparta with the high, unbending, adamantine courage which con- 
quered Nature herself, and has fixed her, in the sight of future 
ages, a model of public virtue, and a proverb of national indepen- 
dence] What but those wise public institutions which strength- 
ened their minds with early application, informed their infancy 
with principles of action, and sent them into the world too vigilant 
to be deceived by its calms, and too vigorous to be shaken by its 
whirlwinds. 
I will now conclude my subject by commending the cause to the 
kind sympathies of my professional brethren, and trust the bene- 
volent object will meet with their co-operation and support. 
