THE HATE SIR ASTLEY COOPER. 
167 
at, or is any rash sentence of condemnation to be passed 1 Let 
his foibles be what they will, his talent and his sterling excellence 
will be acknowledged by every well-feeling mind. We shall not 
readily meet with his like again. 
But why, in a Veterinary Journal, is this lengthened detail given] 
When Cooper resided with Mr. Cline, there was a young man 
who was appointed to attend upon the pupils, and to discharge 
many little services with regard to them. He was diligent and at- 
tentive ; he imbibed their love of anatomical study ; he was always 
at his post ; and a kindly feeling grew between him and his master 
and the pupils. In process of time Mr. Cline presented him with 
indentures of apprenticeship, and otherwise assisted him in his me- 
dical pursuits ; and between him and young Cooper a friendship 
commenced, which was not cooled or forgotten when each of them 
had reached the age of three-score years and ten. The name of 
this young man was Edward Coleman. 
The Veterinary College was established about the time that 
Mr. Cooper started on his continental tour. Two years afterwards, 
St. Bel, the Professor, died ; and, through the strong influence of 
Messrs. Cline and Cooper, and others, Mr. Coleman, who had now 
graduated as a surgeon, and was in practice in the metropolis, was 
appointed, at first, joint Professor with Mr. Moorcroft, and after- 
wards sole Professor, at the College. Messrs. Cline and Cooper 
were placed on the Medical Committee for the examination of 
the veterinary student, and connected with them were Drs. For- 
dyce, Relph, Babington, and Baillie, and Messrs. Home, Aberne- 
thy, and Wilson. This was a constellation of talent ! and much 
was the veterinary profession, then in its infancy, indebted to these 
gentlemen for the honour which their patronage conferred on the 
establishment. There is no veterinary practitioner who does not 
deeply feel the obligation. 
Here Sir Astley first acquired his love and his intimate know- 
ledge of the horse, so far as the strange errors of his friend would 
permit. He was a constant attendant on the examinations; he 
was always found at the annual dinner, even when increasing years 
had induced him to absent himself from many parties purely me- 
dical. One of his biographers states, that he proposed to himself 
at one period to retire from his profession, and, for this purpose, 
bought a large farm in the neighbourhood of Hemel-Hempstead. 
