OF VETERINARY PRACTITIONERS. 287 
The Chairman, in returning thanks, avowed that he had on 
more than one occasion felt hesitation in his office, but not in the 
whole course of the evening such as he felt at the present crisis. 
Mr. Field had quite overwhelmed him with eulogy ; and he was 
quite and altogether at a loss to reply. The acknowledgments 
offered him for what little he had done himself for veterinary 
science, he felt very proud of: they would prove stirring and last¬ 
ing stimuli for the performance of more ; and he hoped to prove, 
by his future conduct, that they had been so. He could say no 
more. He found he must conclude with ardent thanks for the 
very handsome and enthusiastic manner in which they had done 
him such recent honours. 
The Chairman trusted the gentlemen would have no objection 
to drink the health of his old and worthy friend, “ The Vice- 
chairman.” Although his worthy coadjutor had not shown that 
alacrity in passing the bottle which he had on some former oc¬ 
casions, yet he could assure them that no man enjoyed his 
glass or his friend more. In a professional point of view, his 
friend stood above his humble commendation : every one around 
knew with what success he had practised in his Majesty’s esta¬ 
blishment ; because he was of that liberal spirit that gave all he 
possessed professionally valuable to his associates in practice. 
He thought the least they could do in return was, to drink his 
heallh and long life to him, and especially as they saw in him 
the chairman of the next meeting. 
Mr. Goodwin .—In rising again to return thanks for the kind¬ 
ness you have evinced towards me in drinking my health, and 
the honour you have conferred upon me, by electing me for your 
Chairman next year, however incompetent I may be for that 
office, I must acknowledge that I have not words to express 
to you what I feel on this occasion; and I have to add, with 
such an example before me, although I feel the more my own 
incapacity, it shall be my endeavour to follow his steps; and my 
utmost wish will be attained, if I should be so fortunate as to 
perform the duties of the office as next year’s chairman witli 
the same good feeling, and the same conviviality existing around 
me, that have been displayed this evening. 
