288 MONTHLY ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
be so many pleasing mementos to which I shall be able at all times 
to refer, although no longer in your service; and they will awaken 
those sentiments which ennoble man, and link him with his 
fellow. 
Accept my farewell, and unfeigned thanks, 
And, Sirs, believe me to be ever your faithful servant, 
W. J. T. Morton. 
Roval Veterinary College, 
April 23, 1836. 
The readers of The Veterinarian, a great portion of 
whom are fellows of the London Veterinary Medical Society, 
and who have spent in it many a pleasant and instructive hour, 
will regret to hear of the retirement of Mr. Morton from the 
office of secretary to that society. Allusion was made in the 
last number of this periodical to certain transactions then taking 
place at the Veterinary College. The tale must now be fully 
told ; and I do not know on whom this painful duty more clearly 
falls, than on him who struggled hard to found that society, and 
who had the honour (and the remembrance of which he will 
ever dearly cherish) to preside over it during the first eighteen 
months. It shall be truly told, and without comment, until the 
close. 
Previous to the session 1831-2, Mr. Vines had for a consider- 
able time held the office of librarian to the Society; but com- 
plaints having been made of occasional negligence in the dis- 
charge of his duty, and rudeness of manner, and particularly the 
loss of certain books, several of the members waited on Mr. 
Morton, and requested that he would permit them to propose 
him as librarian. It was an office of honour, and of trifling 
emolument. He endeavoured to persuade them from this ; and, 
unwilling to injure or annoy his colleague, he would not promise 
to accept the office even if he was elected to it. Some of the 
students, however, were determined to persist ; and on the 15th 
of November 1831, Mr. Morton was elected by a majority of 
one, twenty-seven members voting. Mr. Vines rushed forward 
and endeavoured to seize the balloting papers, with the avowed 
purpose of seeing who had voted against him. This was resisted 
by Mr. Morton, and they were tom to pieces. Mr. Vines then 
accused Mr. Morton of previous misconduct with regard to the 
Society. “Well,” said Mr. Morton, “ I did not mean to have 
accepted the office of librarian, but I will do it now r , because 
