33*2 
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE 
Mr. Cherry expressed his surprise at hearing such an observa- 
tion. Could communications to a public body on matters con- 
nected with the best interests of that body be cal led 'private letters I 
He would maintain that they were public documents, and ought to 
have been adverted to in the Report. 
Professor Dick further contended that the Charter gave no 
power to prevent other persons assuming the title of “ Veterinary 
Surgeons,” and therefore was good for nothing. With regard to 
the question as to the members serving parish offices and on 
ffiries, he, for one, had no objection to devoting a portion of his 
time to the furtherance of the public interests. The burthens com- 
plained of by the Council were, after all, but a mere flash in the pan. 
He would, without fear of contradiction, assert that the election of 
members of the Council on the past year had been made by a 
clique. He had wanted to get one or two gentlemen of the 
Edinburgh School on the Council, but they were all kept out. 
He (Professor Dick), however, stood in a very awkward position, 
as he had himself established a school. He had stood alone, 
without the slightest support from the Government, and had sub- 
mitted quietly to being taxed, and had said nothing but what was 
necessary for the purpose of the education of his pupils; but in 
England the schools were semi-public schools. His object in 
stating thus much was to shew the meeting that he had done some 
benefit to the profession by turning out several young men who 
were no discredit to him. He thought, therefore, that they should 
listen to what he had to say, as he could have prevented the 
Charter having been granted by only withholding his signature. 
He had, in all his proceedings, striven to benefit the profession ; 
and he thought that, if a rival institution was established, they 
would, on the principles of free trade, obtain greater benefits than 
they now possessed. He most cordially seconded the motion. 
Mr. Tombs, in rising to propose an amendment to the motion 
before the meeting, wished to make a few observations in answer 
to Mr. Cherry. He differed in opinion with that gentleman on 
the subject of members of the profession serving parochial offices 
and being on juries. In the country, they were obliged to go ten 
or twelve miles to attend juries. The duties of overseers in the 
country were also most onerous, having to collect rates, which was 
very laborious. Medical men were protected from doing so, and 
so, he would contend, ought veterinary surgeons. They wanted 
protection, and ought to have it, the same as other professional 
bodies. Professor Dick had said that the Charter was a nonentity. 
Now that he (Mr. Tombs) would contend was not the fact, for they 
had now got a Charter under which, when summoned to give evi- 
dence, they were entitled to receive a guinea fee, the same as all 
