195 
THE STATE OF AFFAIRS AT THE ROYAL 
VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
By Edward Mayhew, M.R.C.V.S., Spring Street , 
Sussex Gardens. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian.” 
Sir, 
SOME months have passed since I addressed you. The motives 
which induced my silence will not, I am assured, be misinter- 
preted. It was due to the profession that my voice should not be 
heard until every imputation cast upon my character had been re- 
futed. While I was accused, my pride told me to ask no man’s 
confidence. Having, however, met and answered the charges ad- 
vanced against me, I once more presume to appear as a contributor 
to your pages. 
The time is fraught with danger. That danger is not the less 
because its threatening appears to awaken no alarm. The peril 
calls for action. All who have feelings to express or opinions to 
declare should now be heard, lest forbearance be mistaken for 
apathy, or silence be construed into consent. I too well know the 
sentiments of our body to believe there are none who feel the cir- 
cumstances which surround us. The charter once more is assailed. 
The same parties who have hitherto confused the deliberations 
of the Council are again in motion. They have been beaten ; yet 
they retain no sense of defeat. They refuse to be convinced ; but 
with a fatuity bordering upon madness, they persevere in a course 
injurious to their characters and to the interests which in honour 
they are bound to respect. 
A new charter is demanded. On what ground is it applied for ! 
Either the reasons have not been stated, or I want the sense to 
perceive them. All I can comprehend is the statement, that the 
teaching at the Veterinary College has been favourable to the ad- 
vance of veterinary science. The fact must be admitted. Our 
art has been benefitted by the efforts of the Professors. Neverthe- 
less, that circumstance constitutes no argument on which to ask the 
revocation of an existing grant, or the foundation of a novel sys- 
tem. The motives which induced that instruction should in can- 
dour have been stated. It should have been shewn that the 
teaching was undertaken solely upon public grounds. Such, how- 
ever, cannot be demonstrated to be the fact. The Saint Pancras 
Institution is a private association, in which the animals of indi- 
viduals are supposed to be “ doctored cheap.” It was founded 
for other ends ; but such it has become. The school which origi- 
