504 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 
men, it will be within your recollection that a meeting of the trade was recently called 
by the Executive Committee of the United Society, for the purpose of discussing the 
resolution suggested by your Society, as the basis for an extension of the Pharmacy Act. 
At that meeting a certain resolution was put, having almost an equal number of sup¬ 
porters and opponents, and, through the irregularity of the proceedings, no accurate 
decision was arrived at; but it is believed, that had there been a fair counting of voters, 
that resolution, supported by these gentlemen here present, would have been carried. 
It is on that account, then, we have requested a separate hearing from those who voted 
against it. Let it not be supposed that we are opposed to the majority of the United 
Society; on the contrary, we believe that we better represent the views of the United 
Society than the officials, who have of late propounded such notions as are irreconcilable 
to the wish of the outside trade. It is, therefore, to repudiate those sentiments which 
have tended to sow mistrust and create discord between the several sections of the trade, 
that we are here to-day. And in order that it may not be said we are figuring as the 
three tailors of Tooley Street, I hold in my hands correspondence from all parts of 
England expressive of confidence in the endeavours we have made to reconcile parties. 
I am prepared to read any and every if desired; but if you will accept my representation 
without, it will save you a great deal of time. I will, however, read one as a specimen 
of those I am daily receiving: I select this, as it is the last to hand from one totally 
unknown to me, and the sentiments therein expressed are those of the greater part of 
the trade. Apart from the United Society there is a body of real outsiders, and these 
are the men who ought to have some consideration shown them. They are men, pro¬ 
prietors of old established businesses, who have been from the earliest period, and still 
remain, totally indifferent to registration or title. These men, who, by their own talents 
and respectability, have established for themselves a name, an income, and a character,— 
these men would have things take their own course, and rather express themselves to 
this effect, “ A plague o’ both your houses,” when appealed to by one Society or the 
other in reference to incorporation. If, then, this outside body have been indifferent 
since 1853, to the exertions of your Society; if they have turned a deaf ear to the sup¬ 
plications of the United Society, they have certainly a right to repudiate either the one 
or the other, acting as representative for them. But if they are indifferent, on their 
own account, feeling that neither title nor certificate would increase their gains, they 
are not so absorbed in self-interest as to forget those that follow them, and they would 
willingly help to advance the education of the trade by example and precept. But 
if you require this of them, you should be prepared to offer an equivalent for that sup¬ 
port which they have the power to throw into either scale. If they move at all, they 
naturally prefer that action which aspires to elevating the trade, and in the Pharmaceu¬ 
tical Society they see the means for accomplishing as much. Then, Sir, I would suggest 
that this matter should be met, and practically treated, by the several sections and in¬ 
terests in the trade; that you should invite a certain number of the United Society, and a 
certain number of outsiders, to frame an Act, and proceed at once to Parliament. In 
reference to the equivalent referred to, I would suggest the reduction of the 10 guineas 
examination fee to 5 guineas, for it is not the test of ability so much as the value to the 
individual of the certificate obtained. This deputation is here, not as antagonistic, but 
rather with a desire to strengthen the Council to bring the question to a settlement. 
Having said so much, I now leave the matter for those gentlemen who have accom¬ 
panied me, to express their opinions. I may add, that this deputation does not repre¬ 
sent any organized section, but contains representatives from various parts as volunteers. 
If I have spoken with confidence, it is because from my knowledge of many in the trade 
I have learnt and studied their wishes. 
The President said he was much pleased at the events of that day. It was a source 
of much gratification to him to think that the deputation that had just departed had 
left, he believed, satisfied, as he himself was, with the result of their conference. He 
was glad to state that nothing had occurred in any way of a disagreeable character. 
They had had a conversation touching upon the chief points in dispute; but as 
there was only one real obstacle to get over, he might as well inform those present 
that the Council had suggested, with a view to meet the outsiders, that those 
chemists who became duly registered as members of the Society, should be eligible 
to the Council. It was perhaps difficult to divide 21 by 4, or even by 5, but there was 
no difficulty in stating that fourteen members of the Council must be elected from 
