534 
SITTINGS OF THE COUNCIL. 
Mr. Coulson should furnish the President with a proposal in 
writing, for the consideration of the Council, and he now laid be- 
fore them that document. 
The Secretary then read the proposal sent in, which purported 
to be an extract from an additional or supplemental Charter granted 
to the Royal College of Surgeons a few years ago, and was to the 
effect, that no Bye-laws hereafter to be made by the Council 
should be valid without the sanction of the Secretary of State, and 
that the present Bye-laws should receive his approbation, after 
which no alteration could be made in them without his approval. 
Mr. Godwin wished to know whether it was to be considered 
as an official document, as it had not the appearance of being so. 
The President replied, that he considered it an official document, 
and one that could be inquired into and discussed. 
Mr. Mayhew quite agreed in Mr. Godwin’s question. It was 
a very important one, and it certainly did not come before the 
Council in the usual form of an official document. 
Mr. Arthur Cherry took a similar view. 
Mr. Jas. Turner thought that it ought to be considered as an 
official document, as, if it was not so at that moment, it could soon 
be rendered such. 
Mr. Godwin said that he still was not satisfied that it was an 
official document. 
The President explained, after which 
Mr. Mayer put the question, that, as a point of law was in his 
opinion raised, as to how far the admission of such a clause or 
addition, with the addition of certain privileges to be embodied in 
a supplemental Charter, would interfere with the Charter already 
existing, whether the opinion of the Solicitor, who was waiting in 
another room, should be taken on this point. 
A discussion ensued, during which the question was put, 
How was it that a new channel, supposing it to be one, was 
now opened ? That our communications heretofore had been 
direct with the Home Office, and why was it now through the 
Solicitor to the Treasury! No reason, however, was given for this 
new course, and the discussion ended in the general feeling that, 
though the document could not be received as strictly official, it 
might nevertheless be taken into consideration as a proposal from 
the Governors of the Veterinary College, and its merits discussed. 
Mr. Mayer renewed his proposition, and moved that the Soli- 
citor’s opinion be taken. It being seconded — 
Mr. Ernes opposed. 
Mr. Mayhew took a similar view, and moved an amendment, 
“ That no solicitor be called in.” Mr. Ernes seconded ‘the amend- 
ment. 
Mr. Percivall said, that the reply to the proposal now laid 
before him had already been given, and that it was only a renewal 
