THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. 
361 
examination impugned as a tribunal of mockery and humbug, and 
those who supported it as worthless for their pains. Every thing, 
in short, pertaining to the Charter was good for nothing. We have 
forbidden our reporter publishing any notes of the obnoxious epithets 
which were so liberally bandied about; neither will we trust our 
own pen to repeat them : fitting as they might be for the general 
meeting, they are not fit for our pages. Another time, if any kind 
of order and gentlemanly conduct is to be preserved, and the 
members who put themselves to the inconvenience and expense, 
and, we may add, pain, of going to such a meeting, are to be 
allowed to take their part, unmolested and uninsulted, in the dis¬ 
cussion, the President must exercise the authority the law and 
custom of debate arms him with, and peremptorily insist that no 
member shall attack another with personalities, or be permitted to 
speak a second time on the same question, unless by way of expla¬ 
nation, and then only by express permission. To the repeated 
infringement of these universally observed rules in fair and gen¬ 
tlemanly discussion it was that so many unbecoming epithets were 
exchanged, and the same parties ever upon their legs clamouring 
the meeting but nowise informing it: indeed, to the obstreperous 
and malignant course the proceedings took may we reasonably 
ascribe the silence of those who came miles out of the country to 
listen to a calm and honest exposition of the differences now un¬ 
happily severing the veterinary profession into parties whose real 
and manifest interests it is to unite in one unanimous body under 
the auspices of the Royal Charter. 
But it was the Charter that was said to be to blame for all—the 
Charter ivhich was so vehemently and universally desired, so in¬ 
dustriously and perseveringly sought after, so extremely dearly 
paid for : it was the Charter, we repeat, that was blamed for every 
thing. Never, hardly, since the unfortunate day on which the 
Charter was obtained has the “ infant” profession rested quietly in 
its corporate cradle ; never seems it, from present prospects, likely 
to do so again. This genius of Charter has brought in its train 
every spirit of discord; raised up every demon ready to damn the 
profession; and, withal, has robbed us of some seven hundred 
pounds. What has the Charter to answer for!—what, indeed ! 
With what eyes the ministers of government look upon this 
distracted state of veterinary affairs; with what the directors and 
VOL. XXII. ' 3 B 
