601 < ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
closely similar character to bring forward. Mr. Ernes highly 
approved of the first part of the letter, but condemned that 
portion referring to the examination fee, and thought that no 
further notice could be taken of it. Mr. Rallen and Mr. Robinson 
concurred in these observations, but Mr. Gabriel recommended 
the appointment of a committee to confer with Mr. Newde- 
gate. Mr. Silvester and Mr. Burley were in favour of a com- 
mittee being appointed. Mr. Varnell conceived such a course 
would form an improper precedent. Mr. Jex inquired if 
appointing a committee of conference would do away with 
Mr. Wilkinson’s motion ; and he was answered in the affir- 
mative by the President , as far as the present meeting was 
concerned. Professor Spooner thought that the discussion 
upon Mr. Wilkinson’s motion would elicit the opinions of the 
Council respecting the examination fee, and that then the 
Secretary should reply to Mr. New'degate. At length Mr. 
Silvester moved that the communication be entered upon the 
minutes, and its receipt acknowledged by the Secretary, in a 
like manner to other public documents. This was seconded 
by Mr. Burley , and adopted. 
Mr . Wilkinson proposed that in Bye-law No. 27, the 
fee for examination be reduced from ten to seven guineas ; 
and in introducing the motion, stated that the main ob- 
ject he had in view was to bring about the union so de- 
sirable for ulterior purposes. He w-as an advocate for 
the reduction of the fee solely from the wish to effect that 
union between the Edinburgh school and the Council, with- 
out which he did not believe any permanent good could be 
effected. [He (Mr. Wilkinson) was not authorised by Pro- 
fessor Dick or the Highland Society to make any promise 
whatever ; the proposition arose entirely from himself, but 
still he felt the strongest hope and assurance that if the 
motion were carried, it would be favorably received. 
Mr. Ernes observed, in seconding the motion, that he did 
not consider the present fee too high, but seconded its re- 
duction entirely from the same feelings, and with the same 
desire for unanimity, that induced Mr. Wilkinson to bring 
forward the motion. 
Mr. Stockley could not conceive that the reduction of three 
guineas could secure any great advantage to the profession. 
Mr. Hallen quite coincided with the views of the mover and 
seconder of the motion; the facts were notorious, that persons 
holding the diplomas of the Edinburgh school were eligible 
for appointments both in the cavalry and East India service, 
and also, he believed, in the artillery ; if not so, Mr. Stockley 
would correct him. Mr. Stockley : I have no applications of 
