ARMY VETERINARY DEPARTMENT* 569 
and respectable men were found, who were willing to accept of 
the appointments at such hands. 
Mr. Coleman, however, no sooner perceived his patronage to 
be on the wing, and that he was in danger of losing it altogether, 
than he made strong interest to redeem the monopoly; and it 
would seem that, at last, he has been successful in his struggles; 
for now, Mr. Coleman keeps a “ List” of the names of candi¬ 
dates for army appointments, which names (however regularly 
they may stand upon his said list) are not quite so regularly trans¬ 
mitted to the commander-in-chief’s office, to b$ there inserted 
in another list (kept by the secretary of the commander-in-chief), 
preparatory to their being gazetted into regiments. I say this 
latter list is not regularly or fairly fed; of which, on a fitting 
occasion, I shall bring forward some instances. The individual, 
therefore, who is desirous to enter the arrhy at the present day, 
it would appear, must , of necessity, first obtain the sanction of 
Professor Coleman, who is authorized to consult his own private 
feelings whether he chooses or not to transmit his name to the 
Hoi se Guards. But, surely, there is, in all this “ form and cere¬ 
mony,” not only unnecessary officiality, but a source for inj ustice; 
inasmuch as it evidently gives Mr. Coleman an opportunity of 
serving those who may please him as pupils, and casting off 
others (more deserving, perhaps) that may displease him. I 
know that the ostensible reason produced for all this introduction 
is, that the pupil recommended for the army shall be duly com¬ 
petent and prepared; and that a sort of mock secondary ex¬ 
amination has been practised to make it appear so. But what 
occasion can there be for any second examination of a man who 
has already obtained a diploma, certifying that he is “ qualified to 
practise the veterinary art in all its branches ?” Or how can Mr. 
Coleman declare that man to be professionally unfit for the 
army whom he has already proclaimed to the whole w orld to 
be competent to practise anywhere else % The very idea is ab¬ 
surd. The Horse Guards, if they attach any importance to such 
“ preparation,” are bamboozled ; and will, sooner or later, dis¬ 
pense with the ceremony. 
No one has a right to complain that Mr. Coleman should enlist 
several of his friends and relations into his Majesty's veterinary ser¬ 
vice ; but when we see a man who is neither one nor the other, and 
that man a low, ignorant, undeserving character, promoted into 
such a station, it gives us just reason to marvel. If possible, the 
army ought to be spared such disgrace; for that is the only situa¬ 
tion in which a veterinarian can aspire to keep company with the 
“ nobles of the land.” Were it not for the army department, 
the profession would to-morrow sink in general estimation al- 
