101 
LETTER TO SIR ASTLEY COOPER. 
bling certain examiners, and having them, assembled, in consulta- 
:ion on the propriety, expediency, or utility ol admitting veteri¬ 
nary surgeons into the examining committee. At the same time, 
[ took the liberty to whisper to you, before you entered the 
council-room, the notorious secret in regard to the majority of such 
meetings, that one or two influential members so ruled the senti¬ 
ments of the others, that the resolutions or determinations which 
all assented to w 7 ere rather to be considered as the results of the 
machinations of these active and highly-interested individuals, 
than as the products of the united, sober, and thoroughly-digested 
opinions of the wdiole assembly. I do not mention this lor the 
sake of casting any reflection on your committee, Sir Astley ; 
but rather to show you, that it is a fact with which I am well 
acquainted: at the same time, should some of the gentlemen 
who w r ere present when our excommunication was pronounced 
afford me reason to believe that they were indifferent—nay, by no 
means disinclined tow ards us, while others were vitally interested 
in our exclusion,—surely you will not feel angry when you find that 
I am driven to such an uncharitable conclusion ? 
Who were present at this meeting? Was it a select committee; 
or, was every examiner invited to attend? Ihe last inquiry I 
cannot answer. The gentlemen actually present, I understand, 
were, Drs. Babington and George Pearson; Surgeons Charles 
Bell, Brodie, and Green; Professor Coleman, and his Assistant, 
Mr. Sewell; and yourself, Sir Astley. 
Who is Dr. Babington? Dr. Babington is a very quiet, 
amiable, amicable, and good man—a man who would never even 
dream of being concerned in, much less openly sanctioning with 
his name, an act of professional injustice. He is not a man 
likely to take an active part in any committee, much less in one 
having to decide on a question on which he had rather to seek in¬ 
formation than to give an opinion. He is an old and a staunch 
friend both of Professor Coleman, and of yourself, Sir Astley. 
Who is — who jvas Dr. George Pearson? Peace be 
unto his venerable manes ! Blessed be his much and long-to-be- 
respected memory ! In him, medical science has been deprived 
of a diligent, zealous, and successful labourer; in him, the veteri¬ 
narian has lost a true—a long-tried friend. No one of the exa¬ 
miners cultivated a knowledge of the veterinary art with more 
success—no one was more anxious for its welfare and advance¬ 
ment, than Dr. George Pearson. A few months before his de¬ 
cease, in an interview and conversation I had with him on the 
subject of the examining committee, he fairly put the question to 
me — what my sentiments were. 1 answered him, that I had at 
that moment a sick horse in my stable, which, if he would step 
