110 VETERINARY ANNIVERSARY DINNER. 
the art, and in the character of its practitioners, was the work of 
Mr. Coleman alone; and if the students and the profession felt 
not the liveliest gratitude, they were not the persons whom he 
supposed them to be. When Mr. Coleman first accepted the 
chair, the average number of students did not exceed fifteen: 
they were now sixty or seventy. Why was this increase ? because 
the pupils were competent, and the public satisfied. The 
horse was now rescued from the ignorant and the brutal, 
and entrusted to those whose education and opportunities of im¬ 
provement qualified them to mingle with the highest ranks of 
society. Justice demanded, that the teacher by whom all this was 
effected should live in the hearts of those who owed him so much. 
Mr. Coleman was flattered by the too partial encomiums of his 
old and valued friend, and the kind and warm feeling with which 
his health had been drunk. These testimonies of approbation and 
attachment were, indeed, dear to him ; for he had his enemies, few 
in number, but powerful from their talent and industry. They had 
not used him well. They had misrepresented and traduced him; 
but they should not drive him from his post. While he had 
friends like the chairman, and those by whom he was now sur¬ 
rounded, respectable and honourable,—while he continued to 
receive such unequivocal testimonies of approbation and at¬ 
tachment from his pupils, and the governors were satisfied with 
his conduct, he would not shrink from the discharge of his duty. 
The time could not be far distant when he must retire from pub¬ 
lic life; but while he had health he would pursue, in spite of all 
opposition and calumny, that course which the interest of the pro¬ 
fession and his own honour demanded. He concluded by pro¬ 
posing the healths of Sir Astley and Lady Cooper. 
Sir Astley rose with feelings of anger. He was angry with 
his friend, Mr. Coleman, for condescending to notice the impo¬ 
tent and despicable efforts of the malignant and disappointed. 
Every public man who discharged his duty faithfully had his 
enemies.' It was the surest proof of superior talent and inflexible 
principle. There were those who would malign the mother who 
bore them, and stab the breast which gave them suck. He would 
regard such fellows with the scorn and contempt they deserved. 
He W as satisfied that the Professor was an honest and honourable 
man. He had long known and proved him to be such, and he 
