THE CHARTER. 
227 
enemy ] It was asked of one of the oldest and most respected 
members of the veterinary profession, by a first Minister of the 
State, into whose ear he had ventured to let drop an apprehension 
or two as to the probability of our losing our charter — “ But, how 
does your charter workV' — “ Well!” was the reply. “ Oh ! then,” 
came the rejoinder, “ You have little to fear.” Now, what to "any 
Minister of State, or to any other man of sound practical sense, could 
possibly demonstrate the working of the charter better than a full 
attendance of members at the General Meeting ] And, exists there 
a doubt that, when the state of affairs comes to be known, such will 
not be the case at the forth-coming meeting 1 None, we should 
hope, whatever. Let every member who in his heart wishes well 
to the cause of the charter — and he is no friend to the veterinary 
profession who does not — in such perilous time as these, make a 
point of then and there attending in his place , and let him hold up 
both his hands in the defence of his own — his struggling corporate 
body. Let him remember that the present representative charter 
lost, nullified, or anywise antagonized by other charters — this 
sacred bond of the profession once broken — away goes all self-rule, 
all freedom, and we from that moment become mere agents in the 
hands of the schools, to eventually dwindle down once more to a 
level with a class of men from whom, through the powerful aid of 
our charter, we have but now, bylaw , for once and ever emancipated 
ourselves. Throw away this chance — we say to you, fellow-mem- 
bers! — and you may never expect, in your time, to see another. 
Seven hundred pounds sterling, and more labour, bodily and 
mental, than we dare make an estimate of, have been paid for a 
charter which has defied its greatest enemies to pick a hole in it, and 
which admits by acts of Parliament hereafter to be appended to it, 
of being made all that the professional body can ever hope or desire ; 
and yet, is all this money and labour and excellence to be made 
shipwreck off — and for why 1 — because, forsooth, a charter which 
has been found to suit the best views and interests of the profes- 
sion by whom and for whom it has been obtained, does not happen 
to meet the interests of the schools of the Royal Veterinary Col- 
lege of London, and of the Highland and Agricultural Society 
of Scotland. 
