TRANSACTIONS AT THE GENERAL MEETING. 287 
been but for the want of a charter at the time professional scholastic 
institutions took their rise. 
If there be one act in regard to which the Council, during 
their last (sessional) year’s proceedings have reason for congra- 
tulating themselves on the course of policy they have adopted, 
that single act is the wise determination they came t6, to express 
their contentedness with their Charter, and by it to stand or to 
fall : had they evinced any wavering — any hesitation — made but 
one slip, one opening — there was a party read)' to rush in, and the 
result would have been the demolition, in shape of “ alteration,” of 
the present “ act and deed.” We say therefore, and we say again, 
if there be one proceeding in preference to another for which the 
Council may take to themselves especial credit, it is that of stand- 
ing firm by their Royal Charter of Incorporation. We now, with 
complacency, look upon the battle as fought and as won ; and there- 
fore we feel that the time has arrived for us to think about carry- 
ing out certain highly important and necessary provisions of the 
Charter, which, from the disturbed state in which professional af- 
fairs have been, and other reasons, have not as yet been able to 
be brought about. 
Two questions of interest and importance will demand the 
attention of the assembled members at their forth-coming meet- 
ing : one is, the making of due and necessary household provision 
for the chartered body ; the other, the making of what provisional 
support they can for such members belonging thereunto as may 
unmeritedly experience the frowns of fortune; or for those, nearest 
and dearest to them, whom they through misfortune may leave 
unprovided for behind them. 
Our Charter has constituted us The Royal College of 
Veterinary Surgeons: thus, we have a name, and an appro- 
priate one too ; but where is the “ local habitation” which that 
very name would seem to imply we had likewise been endowed 
with 1 Where, indeed ! Where can it come from 1 Whence can 
it be provided, save out of the pockets of the members of the cor- 
porate body ? The only fund — if fund it can be called — the Col- 
lege at present possesses, is what arises out of the fees payable on 
diplomas : after, however, the Examiners have been paid their 
fees, and other incidental expenses have come to be reckoned, we 
