SERVICE OF PLATE TO MR. SEWELL. 
173 
Mr. Youatt, as an humble teacher in one of these schools, 
would leave his conduct to speak for itself. Of his friend — and 
proud he was to call him so — Mr. Dick, he was assured he 
could say, that by no illiberal or unprofessional act or thought 
would the cause in which he was engaged be ever disgraced ; and 
he thought that he could say the same of Mr. Stewart, who had 
been his pupil also. 
But he wished not now to speak as teacher in any school : it 
was as a member of the London Veterinary Medical Society that 
he would address the chair : — an early member of it — one who had 
laboured with others more worthy but not more zealous than him- 
self, for the establishment of it, and who during the first eighteen 
months had been vice president of it. He recollected — he knew 
all the difficulties that had attended its establishment. It was 
right that its views and purposes, its capabilities and manner of 
working, should be well tested before it obtained acknowledged 
patronage. That patronage it did, at no great distance of time, 
obtain. 
Their first anniversary meeting was held in that room. He 
now saw in his mind’s eye their present chairman presiding : he 
had on his lips the smack of the champagne which Mr. Coleman 
generously added to the good things of the feast : the gentleman 
to whose honour this day was devoted seemed to him once more 
occupying the vice-chair ; and the humble individual now speak- 
ing was telling how the fight had been fought, and a society 
established, pure in its purpose, and identified with the interest 
of the pupil and the honour of the profession. He could not 
foresee that twenty-three years would pass, and its meetings 
never be suspended, nor its honourable purpose disgraced or 
forgotten. 
It was then a mere debating society. Experience had not 
taught them how all its advantages might be most surely gained, 
and some of its inconveniences avoided ; and, perhaps, were he to 
confess the truth, he might acknowledge that, occasionally, there 
was a little too acrimonious feeling and party spirit mingling with 
their debates. Wiser heads had remedied these evils, and better 
framed the Society for the full accomplishment of its noble pur- 
