404 
EDINBURGH VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
In the next year he had nine pupils. 
In the year after that, the School of Arts was established, and he then 
thought that if any of the arts needed cultivation and improvement, it was that 
which he had been accustomed to teach, and he therefore offered his services 
to give a course of lectures on that subject. This offer was accepted, and he 
had a numerous class in that and the following year. At length, as he could 
not afford to be always lecturing for nothing, he thought he would try once more 
what he could do on his own account. The Highland Society then took 
him up ; and of the success which their patronage and encouragement had 
procured for him the present meeting was quite aware. 
It was a cheering fact, that the number of his pupils continued steadily to 
increase every year, even to the close of the last session, and which had termi- 
nated with a class of 101 ! 
He must acknowledge that he had been far better rewarded than he could 
have expected to have been, even after twenty years’ experience. He little anti- 
cipated that, at the conclusion of this session, besides the other rewards arising 
from the success of the school, he should have received this tribute of respect 
from them. He assured them that he highly appreciated this token of their 
esteem ; and he trusted that he should never forget the circumstances of that 
day. Although his school already consisted of double the number he had 
ever expected, still it seemed as if its prosperity would continue to increase ; 
and, if he was aided by the energy, the attention, and the perseverance of his 
pupils — by their steady straightforward conduct, and their sobriety and atten- 
tion to the interests of their profession, he could assure them that success 
was certain ; and that the prospects of the Veterinary School of Edinburgh 
would continue to increase. 
He begged again to thank them, and to assure them of his warmest wishes 
for their prosperity ; and to repeat what he had often said, and ever tried to 
perform, — that if he could forward their views, if his counsel could be of service 
in any dubious case, if he could assist them in any way in his power ; they had 
only to ask and to have (cheers'). Nothing would give him greater pleasure 
than to think that he was able to be of service to those whom he had often 
seen in his lecture room — whose presence and attention had always afforded 
him delight, and on whose improvement and good conduct his success had 
been founded. He once more thanked them for the high compliment which had 
been paid to him ; but he was unable to express one half of what he felt. 
The testimonial, which was then presented to him, consisted of a splendid 
silver salad stand, the base consisting of three sides — one of them represent- 
ing, in chased silver, the horse, another the ox, and on the third was the follow- 
ing inscription : — 
“ PRESENTED TO PROFESSOR DICK, FOUNDER OF THE EDINBURGH VETERINARY 
COLLEGE, BY A NUMBER OF HIS PUPILS, TO TESTIFY THEIR HIGH SENSE OF 
HIS SCIENTIFIC MERITS, HIS PUBLIC SPIRIT, AND HIS PRIVATE WORTH ; AS, 
ALSO, IN TOKEN OF THEIR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR THE DEEP INTEREST 
HE HAS EVER TAKEN IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL WELFARE, NOT ONLY AS REGARDS 
THEIR PROFESSIONAL ACQUIREMENTS, BUT LIKEWISE IN RESPECT OF THEIR 
ESTABLISHMENT IN AFTER-LIFE. — 1839 .” 
The Chairman then proposed “The University of Edinburgh, and the health 
of Sir George Ballingall.” 
Sir George Ballingall said he felt himself again in the situation in which 
he had too often stood, of representing the College to which he belonged. He 
regretted that he was not gifted with the eloquence of several of his colleagues, 
in order better to return thanks for the honour which had been paid to them ; 
