VETERINARY DINNER. 233 
enthusiasm than Professor Coleman’s daughters and their 
husbands.” 
It was delio'htful to see the sons-in-law contending; who first 
should return thanks for this toast; and each did speak, and each 
spoke well, for each spoke from the heart. It was one of those 
few occasions in which the virtues and the bliss of domestic life 
might, without intrusion and without profaneness, be depicted in 
a public assembly. Let those who are happiest at home imagine 
how they would have felt, and what they would have said, and 
they will have a not incorrect version of the replies to this toast. 
The health of the Committee was now proposed ; and Mr. 
Sibbald returned thanks. 
The chairman having retired, Mr. Spooner was called to the 
chair. In proposing his first toast, “ The Veterinary Profession,” 
he gave an interesting sketch of the rise and progress of our art; 
and proved that it was now founded on those principles, and had 
made that rapid advance which assured us, that it would, at no 
great distance of time, assume its due and proper place amidst 
the sciences most intimately connected with the cause of hu¬ 
manity and the prosperity of the country. Pleasure and har¬ 
mony afterwards continued to prevail, and were prolonged, we 
are not ashamed to say, on such an occasion, until almost the 
morning’s dawn. 
One or two omissions^ perhaps, should be glanced at, which 
were excusable enough in the agitation and pleasure of the mo¬ 
ment. The health of the Treasurer was not drunk, who could 
have told us of the distribution of the money collected, and the 
cost of the bust, and many little particulars that would have 
been interesting. The Secretary was also forgotten, who, dis¬ 
charging the labours of his office so assiduously as he had done, 
had not, doubtless, forgotten to come prepared with a history of 
the rise and progress and consummation of the whole affair; and 
the recital of which would have done every heart good. These 
omissions, perhaps, may be repaired. “The Veterinary Profes¬ 
sion” should not have been left to the chairman of a late hour: 
but the spell of the day is not yet broken, and we arc silent. 
And was there an individual who cherished a malignity of 
