326 
VETERINARY AFFAIRS. 
awarded to three of their number, viz.—George Cross, William 
Leith, and John Sinclair, who, in the opinion of the medical 
gentlemen, had most distinguished themselves in their examina¬ 
tions; and he took the opportunity of urging upon all who had 
then obtained diplomas, the obligation incumbent on them, by 
strict attention to their general and professional conduct, to 
uphold their own character, and the reputation of the school with 
which they were now so closely connected. The Convener then 
requested the medical gentlemen to accept of the best thanks of 
all interested in the establishment, for the highly important 
assistance received from them; and which can only be fully appre¬ 
ciated by considering that the qualifications of those on whom 
certificates are conferred, are thus guaranteed under the authority 
of their names. 
Lord Greenock, on behalf of the directors of the Highland 
Society, in conclusion, expressed to Mr. Dick the great pRasure 
they had received in attending the examinations, and the 
satisfaction which the lecturer’s conduct continued to give to the 
Society in every respect. 
TRADES’ UNIONS. 
It is with much reluctance that we enter on any subject that 
can be, in the slightest degree, considered to have a political 
bearing; but we have received so many letters, complaining of 
annoyance in various ways by the trades’ unions that so unhap¬ 
pily pervade every part of the country, and inquiring how we go 
on in the metropolis, and what we would advise to be done, that 
we feel ourselves compelled to give some reply. 
There can be no doubt that our journeymen have an abstract 
right to combine together for the obtainment of a fair rate of 
wages, and to establish whatever regulations they please among 
themselves ; but it is another question how far such combinations 
are called for, or expedient, or to what injurious consequences 
they almost necessarily lead. That there may be some hard 
task-masters is probable enough ; but the dependence of the 
master and the journeyman upon each other (the master 
having work that must be done, and the journeyman being com¬ 
pelled to get work, in order that he may live), will almost in¬ 
variably produce a fair rate of wages; and he who will not act 
rightly by his men will soon be punished by having no men about 
him. A system of injustice on the one side or the other must 
soon die away, without the necessity of any unions to destroy it. 
