COMMITTEE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
349 
our well-being and existence, but one which the resolution* of the 
governors, of the 3d of July, 1840, compelled the profession to 
take. At the meeting beforementioned, a petition to Her Most 
Gracious Majesty the Queen, and an address to the Marquis of 
Normanby, were prepared, copies of which have been transmitted 
to you. 
In carrying on so noble an undertaking, your Committee felt 
it incumbent upon them to obtain to the petition the signatures 
of those who were connected with the veterinary schools of Lon- 
don and Edinburgh. A deputation, consisting of the Chairman, 
Mr. Baker of Reigate, and Mr. King, jun. of Stanmore, accord- 
ingly waited, by appointment, on Professor Sewell and Assistant- 
Professor Spooner — the solicitor'to the College being also present 
— by whom they were courteously received. After hearing the 
intentions of the petitioners, Mr. Sewell declined having any 
thing to do with the petition until he had ascertained the wishes 
of the governors : but Mr. Spooner most favourably entertained 
the subject; and the Committee feel it nothing but right to state, 
that from that individual, and from Mr. Morton, Professor of 
Materia Medica and Pharmacy, they have received every encou- 
ragement. 
The solicitor also gave it as his opinion that we ought to have 
a Charter, and, if certain alterations were made in the petition, he 
had no doubt of its success. These alterations he subsequently 
handed to the Chairman, who laid it before the Committee on 
the 4th of March, which document, after some observations which 
it is unnecessary here to mention, concluded by praying ‘‘that 
the subscribers and graduates of the present Veterinary College 
should be incorporated under the name of the President, Vice- 
President, Directors, and Governors of the Royal Veterinary 
College of London.” After fully discussing this suggestion of 
* “It was resolved that this Committee do not see the immediate neces- 
sity for applying to the Crown for a Royal Charter to be granted to this 
institution ; but, that every facility would be given to the veterinary surgeons 
for procuring an act of parliament, to prevent certain grievances complained 
of by the memorial, which could not be relieved by a Charter.” 
VOL. XV. * 3 a 
