TO THE EDITORS. 
675 
tention, and I become the more curious to learn the process by 
which they gained the height. All they have done now grows 
subject matter for most interesting speculation; but I have no 
desire to pry, however inquisitive may be my feeling. Their public 
acts I will alone deal with, and with those in a spirit of fairness. 
In “The Record" I cannot fully judge of their genius. Mr. Morton 
is associated with them, and he may cramp their energies. I wish 
to see them alone, exercising in unshackled freedom their literary 
spirits. Few and far between are the opportunities of delight 
which, in this particular, they afford the world. They do, however, 
sometimes display their strength, and, though the indulgence is 
always brief, yet it is sufficient to indicate the giant dimensions of 
their souls. I will appeal to a recent instance for the edification 
of your readers and the wonder of mankind. 
On January the first, eighteen hundred and forty- five, Messrs. 
Spooner and Simonds first appeared as Editors. On the sixteenth 
of July in the same year, or more than six months after they had 
been distinguished from the herd of ordinary scribes, the two 
gentlemen exhibited as joint authors. The occasion, it is true, 
was a poor one, quite unworthy of their talent ; but your true 
genius exults in creating as well as delights in overcoming diffi- 
culties : it is not to be fettered by vulgar rules. 
In the eighteenth volume of The VETERINARIAN, page four 
hundred and fifteen, will be found an extract from the Racing 
Sheet Calendar , in which I read that the Jockey Club resolved, 
“ That Mr. Field, with such members of the Veterinary College as 
shall be recommended, be requested to examine the mouth of the 
Queen of Cyprus, and to report their opinions to the Stewards of 
the Jockey Club.” 
This gave opportunity for contrast and display, and the opportu- 
nity seems not to have been neglected. The certificates appear at 
the page I have referred to, and, when looking at them, the first 
thing that attracts attention is the difference of length which they 
exhibit. Mr. Field’s barely occupies four lines : it is a common 
business-like document, and deserves no further remark than that 
it is equal to its purpose. The composition of the Professors fills 
nearly three times the space, for great minds, like huge bodies, re- 
quire and must have room. Besides, the Professors are not busi- 
ness-like ; they have station to uphold, reputation to maintain, and 
fame to enlarge. They are two Editors conjoined upon a single 
page ; their pens have power, and their heads ache with thoughts 
that will have utterance. No ordinary authors writing by the 
column are set to work, but elevated minds have now to speak ; so, 
broken sentences and mighty words become but casual things. 
The officers of the Royal Veterinary College begin their joint 
effusion thus : — 
