OF THE VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
295 
delay to demand the cash and the books ; but proceeded to elect 
Mr Coleman as president, Mr. Percivall as vice-president, Mr. 
Miles as secretary and librarian, and Mr. Vines as honorary 
associate. Perhaps they were induced to do the latter by the 
again-repeated expression of Mr. Coleman’s private feelings, 
for he had told them that “ he did not think it at all likely / that 
Mr. Vines would offer an apology to his apprentice and deputy !” 
Mr. Coleman, however, refused the presidentship, on the 
ground, that he did not know how he could legally accept it, 
being an honorary associate, and, as such, forbidden by the laws 
of the society to interfere with its governance — and he likewise 
thought that his presence in the chair would materially interfere 
with the freedom of discussion which was necessary in order to 
the full accomplishment of the useful purposes of the society. 
Mr. Percivall, after expressing his thanks for the honour con- 
ferred upon him, declined to become their vice-president, on the 
ground, that it was only one year out of three, and that at pre- 
sent nearly expired, that he resided sufficiently near to them to 
enable him regularly to discharge the duties of such an office. 
Mr. Bracy Clark and Mr. Blaine were then proposed, and 
it was determined by a majority of the members to invite the 
former to accept the office of president. 
Mr. Bracy Clark accepted the office, on condition that his 
doing so would not be displeasing to Professor Coleman. 
Mr. Coleman, hearing that the office had been thus con- 
ditionally accepted, desired the secretary to wait on Mr. Bracy 
Clark, and to express his thanks for the delicacy and courtesy 
with which he had acted, and requested him to allow the question 
of the presidency to stand over for a week or two, in order that 
he might try, if possible, to effect a reconciliation between the 
late officers of the society; and that in the interim he would 
discharge the duties of the president, as honorary chairman of 
the society. 
Mr. Coleman after that saw the committee, and told them that 
he did not understand the exact purport of their former message 
to him. If he had thought that it was, as it now seemed to have 
been, a notice of his actual appointment to the office of pre- 
sident, he would have immediately accepted the honour they 
conferred on him ; but he imagined that it was a request that 
he would take upon himself the duties of chairman; and then, 
as he thought himself bound to do, he had stated the objections 
which pressed upon his mind. Now, however, understanding them 
better, he would certainly accept of the office pro tempore, hoping 
that he might be enabled to effect a reconciliation between them 
and their former officers. 
