380 
DISTRIBUTION Ol 7 PR1ZKS. 
had seen, and chuckled at, and gloried in this^); and that, in 
fact, they had acquired very important information on points of 
comparative anatomy, physiology, and the treatment of disease; 
and that they, therefore, wished to leave the decision of merit 
to myself and Mr. Turner, Mr. Henderson having been compelled 
to retire. 
This confession, so honourable to them, and elicited from men 
so high in reputation, suggests many a reflection that shall not, 
on some fitting occasion, be forgotten. The plea, however, was 
not allowed ; and all set to work, diligently and impartially, to do 
justice among the competitors. The result was, that the prizes 
were awarded in the following order: 
The first to Mr. William Simpson, of Lancaster. 
The second to Mr. James Hammond, medical student. 
The third to Mr. Samuel Wheatley, of Newmarket. 
The fourth to Mr. James Cowie, oi Hockerton, near Lawrence 
Kirk, North Britain. 
And the fifth to Mr. Charles May, of Malden. 
Certificates of merit were also awarded to Messrs. M. E. 
Naylor, of Wakefield; Edwin Drake, of Crediton ; and Thomas 
Dunealf, of Newport, Shropshire. 
The prizes were distributed by Dr. Davis, who, in an eloquent 
speech, reminded the class of the importance of the profession in 
which they had embarked; no longer vainly struggling to be 
admitted among' the liberal arts, but duly estimated by every 
unprejudiced and thinking mind. He urged those who had 
b;'en successful in obtaining either prizes or certificates of merit 
not to disappoint the hopes and expectations which their friends 
and fellow pupils, and the profession at large, w ould now cherish 
with regard to them. He imagined that he saw before him 
some of the future stars of the veterinary profession; and it 
would not be the least proud of his recollections, that he had 
witnessed their first glimmering of light. He urged on them the 
importance of diligence, devotion to their profession, and un¬ 
deviating principles of honourable conduct. He sincerely thanked 
them for the pleasure they had that evening afforded himself 
and his friends, and assured them that every good wish would 
accompany them in their future career. 
The lecturer then briefly addressed the examiners and the 
students; and a most important and happy day to him, and he 
trusts not to him alone, concluded. 
I beg leave to add, in justice to the young aspirants, extracts 
from some of the essays. The reader will then be, as it were, 
transferred to our council room, and be enabled to judge for 
himself of the merit of the best of the competitors. He will not 
