312 THE SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 
this point in the most satisfactory manner, that your Solicitor 
should be instructed to obtain the opinions of three eminent 
barristers at law on the legality of the Code of By-Laws prepared 
by the Council. Sir John Jervis, Sir Frederick Thessiger, and 
Mr. Jago, were the authorities selected for this purpose; and your 
Council had hoped to have been enabled to lay the result of their 
consultations before the present Meeting ; but the “ law’s delay” 
has prevented their doing so, and they can only engage, that no 
time will be lost, on their part, in acting on the opinions obtained. 
“ The second subject for your consideration is, the state of your 
finances; and your Council have the most sincere satisfaction in 
being able to congratulate you on being out of debt, and not out of 
debt only, but with a very respectable balance in your bankers’ 
hands. A loan of £800 has this year been finally liquidated, and 
the general expenses incurred in obtaining and carrying out the 
Charter up to the present time have amounted to £2858.. 1.- ?.. ~\d. 
— a serious responsibility to have been incurred without any 
apparently available funds to meet it, and no inconsiderable 
amount to have been paid in so short a period by the body 
Corporate ; and it is a source of no small gratification to your 
Council to be enabled to add, that this has been done without the 
aid of any extraneous assistance whatever, but solely from the 
legitimate source of income of the College and the contributions of 
its individual Members. 
“ During the past year Forty-seven Candidates have received 
the Diploma of the College, and their names have been duly 
announced in the public papers, in the same manner as those of 
the gentlemen who have been admitted members of the Ro) al 
College of Surgeons. The number of Members admitted into the 
body Corporate since the obtainment of the Charter is 320. 
“ Four deaths only have been communicated to 3 'our Registrar 
this year: among them will be found one of your Vice-Presidents, 
Mr. Read, of Crediton; and also a very old and highly respectable 
member of the profession, Mr. Burley, of Leicester. 
“ Among other Members to whom the College is indebted for 
much and valuable assistance is Mr. Thomas Walton Mayer, who 
has most liberally this year presented the sum of £37..14s..7^. to 
the College, as a contribution to a fund for procuring a residence or 
place of meeting ; and the funds of the College being in a com- 
paratively flourishing state, a balance of £2 12.. 5 . 9 .. Id. remaining in 
hand after the repayment of the loan and the current expenses of 
year to the 1st of April last, the Council have directed the 
necessary inquiries to be made on the subject. 
“ E. N. Gabriel, Secretary 
“ May 1, 1850.” 
