688 
THE ANNUAL ORATION, 
Some months previous to the retirement of the" Whig administra- 
tion from office, a communication was received through the medium 
of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in reply to 
an application of the veterinary body at large to become Incorpo- 
rated Veterinary Surgeons, requesting them to attend at the 
Home Office, prepared with the draft of the proposed charter, 
for the inspection of the Attorney and Solicitor General. With 
all convenient speed this was attended to, and we were much 
flattered at the seeming prospect of success. But, alas! in the 
midst of our liveliest emotions, ,we were doomed to be disappointed 
by receiving another communication from the Home Office, 
stating that the charter of the veterinary surgeons was for the 
present in abeyance; but, mark you, Gentlemen! there was not 
one word in the official letter stating that our application was 
rejected. A few weeks afterwards the old administration gave place 
to the present one, and without loss of time all the documents 
relating to our proposed charter were handed over to Sir James 
Graham, who, after due deliberation, expressed to Mr. Kemble, 
M.P. for Surrey, his ready acquiescence to receive a deputation 
from the veterinary body on the subject. Friday the 22d of 
April last being appointed, a deputation of veterinary surgeons, 
consisting of Mr. Wm. Percivall, of the First Life Guards; Mr. 
W. J. Goodwin, V.S. to the Queen ; Mr. Wm. Field, Mr. Gabriel, 
and also the Chairman and Secretary, accompanied by Mr. 
Kemble and Mr. Antrobus, the two members for Surrey, waited 
upon the Right Honourable Baronet at the Secretary of State’s 
Office. The result of that interview, to say the least of it, will 
form an epoch in our veterinary history ; and deservedly so, 
when it is recollected that an application for a charter was made 
by our parent institution, about forty years ago, to the late Earl 
of Eldon, then Lord Chancellor, who summarily dismissed the 
application, by pithily saying “ You shall not have a charter : the 
time has not yet come for that.” 
It must be a source of becoming pride to every veterinarian 
engaged in this undertaking, whether it be eventually successful 
or not, that the individuals who had the honour of being entrusted 
to represent the interests of the body at large to Sir James 
Graham were most kindly and patiently listened to, for a whole 
hour, by that distinguished statesman, and every material point 
discussed with him seriatim. I should much belie my own feel- 
ings, were I not to say that, judging from the interview, we shall, 
at no very distant day realize the principal object of our wishes. 
What is the material point in this great movement so eagerly 
sought ? — The laudable ambition of a numerous body of men to be 
placed upon an equal footing with other professional persons, 
