458 
VETERINARY AFFAIRS. 
contend for the University honours, but he liad been unavoidably 
absent when Mr. Y. had lectured on most of the subjects con¬ 
tained in the second list (so also had the winner of the second 
certificate). He, too, had given in a very good set of papers on 
the questions in the first list. To him Mr. Y. was desirous of 
presenting a slight token of respect, and of gratitude too ; for 
Mr. Braby had prepared some beautiful dissections for his lec¬ 
tures, and he had great pleasure in publicly acknowledging him 
to be, as a pupil, the first veterinary anatomist of his day. 
These volumes were respectively presented, with very appro¬ 
priate complimentary addresses from the chairman. 
In concluding the business of the meeting, the Dean addressed 
himself to the pupils, and congratulated those who had received 
prizes, which he recommended them to regard not as marking 
any degree of merit upon which their future character could 
rest, without further and energetic exertions ; but as merely in¬ 
dicating that they had successfully laid such a foundation for 
future application, as, if followed up, was certain to insure 
to them the confidence of their employers, and enable them to 
command success. 
In paying a somewhat too high eulogy to the character of their 
teacher, the Dean took the opportunity of descanting upon the 
great advantage of preliminary general education; and recom¬ 
mended those young men who did not fortunately already possess 
it, to seize every opportunity of supplying the deficiency; and, 
as an illustration of its advantages, he had only to direct their 
attention to the literary labours of their teacher, as the result of 
those invaluable acquisitions which general education alone can 
bestow. He assured them that, whatever branch of art or of 
science may form the business of life, the desire to be first in 
that line was worthy of the best exertions of every man; and to 
stand thus preeminent in any branch was far more honourable 
than to fill a low station, even in those occupations which are 
generally regarded as the most worthy of ambition. No re¬ 
trospect in this world affords,'’ said he, ‘‘such unalloyed gra¬ 
tification as that which displays every duty fulfilled ; which 
admits the conviction to be cherished, that life has not been 
thrown away; that something has been added by us to the 
general stock of knowledge; and that, besides benefitting our¬ 
selves, we have contributed to advance the interests and the 
welfare of our fellow men. With such feelings as these, at 
the termination of a well-spent life, every man may look back with 
satisfaction on the path which he has trodden; and, if the world 
has not done justice to his merits, he will at least have the grati¬ 
fication of knowing that he has not failed for want of exertion.” 
