REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 
401 
guide them. At the same time, he was perfectly willing to share 
any responsibility that might be requisite, provided that it was 
right, proper, and lawful so to do. He therefore proposed that a 
legal opinion on this point be first obtained, and that a Committee 
be appointed to go into the accounts and draw up a statement for 
the purpose of obtaining such legal opinion ; the report to be laid 
before and receive the sanction of the Council. 
To this course there could be no objection, and it was adopted 
with but one dissentient voice. A Committee to prepare the re- 
port was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Braby, Ernes, Gabriel, 
Henderson, F. King, and Mayhew. 
There was but one opinion as to the necessity of relieving the 
Veterinary Committee of its responsibilities, the only question 
. was, as to the most proper mode of so doing, as the time which 
had elapsed, and the complexity of the accounts, very much in- 
volved the simplicity of the affair. 
The sum of £50 was placed at the disposal of Mr. Gabriel, the 
able and assiduous Secretary, as a slight acknowledgment by the 
Council of their respect for his laborious services ; at the same 
time their best thanks were warmly tendered to him. 
Mr. Mayhew s motion, that “ the proceedings of the Council be 
considered open and free for publication,” was carried unanimously. 
On the motion of Mr. Ernes it was decided that the President 
should be empowered to sign diplomas in Council before the names 
of the parties to whom the instrument might be granted was in- 
serted. This order was in consequence of the delay which arose 
from being obliged to call a Special Council, that the diplomas 
might be signed, as heretofore, after the names of the recipients 
had been filled in. And it was felt that, though the present pro- 
ceeding was a departure from former practices, it was depriving 
the new member of half the pleasure, by keeping back for a time 
the document which made him a member of the body corporate. 
In the absence of Mr. T. W. Mayer, Mr. Mayhew was entrusted 
to bring forward the motions of which notice had been given. The 
object of Mr. Mayer being to endeavour to do away with the evi- 
dent misapprehension which exists amongst the Governors of the 
Royal Veterinary College, as to the intentions of the Royal Col- 
lege of Veterinary Surgeons; and that it would be desirable that 
a deputation should wait on the Governors of that institution to 
explain the objects and views of the Royal College of Veterinary 
Surgeons. It was carried unanimously ; and the President was 
directed to address his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, 
the President of the Board of Governors of the Royal Veterinary 
College, soliciting the interview ; and in case it should be granted 
VOL. Xix. 3 I 
