244 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SUBSCRIBERS TO 
of the chairman of the general meeting of subscribers, the 
avowed opinion of that meeting generally, the deliberate 
opinion and the firm demand of every veterinary surgeon,— 
a demand which we will not cease to urge until common sense, 
and propriety, and justice shall concede it to us,—that in 
England, as in every other country, veteiinary surgeons shall 
form a portion, at least, of that committee which is to decide 
on the competency of the veteiinary pupil. 
We have not room to urge this matter now. The subject 
shall be shortly resumed. We will only say, at present, that, 
deeply lamenting some of the occuiTences of the preceding 
month, we can imagine what impression they may have made 
on the minds of gentlemen long devoted to the tranquil pursuit 
of truth, and who had lived, and wished to live, in amity with 
their brethren. W e can easily imagine how much they might 
fear to admit among them, by possibility, any fieiy spirits, 
before whose destructive influence friendship and the pure love 
of science might speedily wither and die. They must not, 
however, j udge of all of us by the indiscreet zeal or rude 
behaviour of a few; and if they will condescend to attend the 
meetings of the Veterinary Medical Society in the ensuing 
winter (and they will be invited so to do), they will, perhaps, 
perceive that they have not done us justice. Although inferior 
to them in many attainments, they will find us united by friendly 
and honourable feeling, and by the ardent love of our profession ; 
and not ill calculated to become useful, nay, indispensable 
coadjutors in the work which should be ours, but from which 
they have at present excluded us. 
To return.—Dr. Babington and Sir Astley Cooper delivered 
their opinions at considerable length against the addition of any 
veterinary surgeons to their committee; and it was decided 
(we were not told whether unanimously or by wdiat majority) 
that a law of the Royal Veterinaiy College limits the 
examining committee to those wdio deliver, or wiio have 
delivered, lectures on subjects connected with the veterinaiy 
art; and the committee do not consider that any alteration of 
this law is at present necessaiy.’’ 
.The rcpoit of the governors being read, it w^as moved and 
