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REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE 
compeers, a due appreciation of his efforts is evinced by a vote of 
thanks ; and, fortunately, this happens sufficiently often to render 
it unnecessary to bring every such instance before your notice. But 
when the gentleman so complimented is not only not a member of 
Council, but is not even a member of the profession, the fact can- 
not be too extensively promulgated : the instance referred to is that 
of Dr. M'Gregor, of Glasgow, Secretary to the portion of the Board 
of Examiners acting for Scotland. This gentleman has not only 
taken his full share in the labours of the Board, but has also most 
handsomely and efficiently performed the official duties of the 
Secretaryship without fee or reward, and a warm and unanimous 
vote of thanks from the Council proved their sense of his valuable 
services. 
The year 1848 still finds us in the mere possession for the hour 
of the hall of a public establishment, the entrance to which is not 
governed by the requirements of general science and professional 
knowledge, but is indiscriminately open to all who can produce a 
golden key. We may, indeed, dream of “ marble halls,” but, in 
sad reality, we have not even a lath-and- plaster tenement; a 
habitation, however quiet and unpretending in character, however 
plain and humble in pretension as would suffice, as compared to 
the abodes of the elder branches of the healing art, Medicine and 
Surgery, is a boon too great to be accorded to the Royal College of 
Veterinary Surgeons. How far different the case might have been 
had friendly feeling and goodwill existed among us, there are 
some who could give a shrewd guess; for, where the spirit of con- 
ciliation exists individually, and the only rivalry permitted is that 
of professional excellence, the yearning for that communion of 
kindred studies, and the desire for professional intercourse, so con- 
ducive to the advancement of science, is sure to be evidenced; 
nor would the spot long be found wanting whereon the right hand of 
fellowship might be held out frankly and cordially on the one side, 
and received with sincerity and good faith on the other. Selfish, 
solitary, and misanthropic, must be the musings of those who, like 
the evil genii of old would scatter the seeds of distrust and dis- 
sension through the bond created and chartered by royal benefi- 
cence, to combine all in one cosmopolite community; but still, 
nil desperandum, the good time will come. 
If, however, there is no habitation devoted to the use of the 
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, do not for a moment let it 
be imagined that it is because there are no funds, for that would be 
a very annoying mistake, when we have at this moment, from a 
source of not very many more than a thousand members, an income, 
