DINNER OF THE VETERINARY STUDENTS. 93 
he ought to be seen, than by his giving up the pleasure of their 
society to remain by her bedside. Mr. Coleman thanked Sir 
Astley for the kind feeling which now and always he had ex¬ 
pressed towards him. It was the support of such men, and the 
advantages which their friendship had procured for his pupils, 
which alone had enabled him to stand his ground. He was 
thankful to them ; he was thankful to his students for the kind 
feelings which they now expressed towards him—for the uniform 
attention with which they invariably listened to his instructions, 
and for the improvement in science and practice wdiich many of 
them had so evidently evinced; so that, when he might retire, he 
was confident that far better men would be found to occupy his 
situation : —yet that situation he never would quit while he felt 
himself able to discharge its duties, and was gratified by the 
esteem and support of his friends. 
Mr. Coleman then rose again to propose the health of his 
friend. Sir Astley. His merits were too well known to need 
any eulogy of his, and he (Mr. C.) would content himself with 
alluding to the means by which his valued friend had obtained 
his pre-eminent reputation. To talent not often excelled, he 
had added industry, rarely indeed equalled. He would 
not deny that his friend was young while he was young— 
that he would enjoy a meeting like the present as much as any 
one—and that the hours of the night would now and then slip 
by uncounted, where conviviality and pleasure presided ; but, 
the duties of the morning were never forgotten. Of every im¬ 
portant case, Astley Cooper was the earliest and the most 
careful observer. Sir Astley was a splendid illustration of what 
industry might accomplish. 
The chairman begged leave to remark, that when his friend, 
Mr. Coleman, told tales of days long gone by, he forgot to add 
that he was the invariable sharer in all these boyish pranks. 
And then ensued a harmless banter between the two old friends, 
in which certain stories w^ere told of a strange place called Tar¬ 
tarus, and its attendant imps—and some unwelcome intruders— 
and the art of osconomy in pleasure—and playing billiards at 
I’ree cost; irresistibly amusing, and leaving no sting behind; 
and in which, if the truth must be told, the Professor was beaten 
out and out. Our report, however, must be confined to graver 
matters. 
Dr. Babington then—gallant to the last—claimed his wonted 
privilege of proposing the health of Lady Cooper ; which Sir 
Astley said he should be almost afraid to acknowledge at home, 
for he did not know what might be the consequence to him. 
“ Better health to Mrs. Coleman” was then sincerely drunk. 
