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ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
esteemed by us as students, and also by those who now stand as members, 
it will last, not only while your honoured life may be spared in this world, 
but even when the silver cord shall be loosened, and the golden bowl 
broken, your memory will ever be respected, and your name will rank with 
the worthy of our land, who now are not, but whose great aim through life 
was to do good and benefit society at large, thereby leaving this world 
better thau they found it. 
And now, Professor Morton, as the representative of the body of the 
veterinary students, a position which is to me highly flattering, in their 
name allow me to present you with this slight but honest testimonial of our 
esteem and gratitude; and I feel confident that I speak the sentiments of 
all present when I say it is our earnest wish, that the Timepiece may serve 
you to mark the passing of many hours and years of pleasure, and may the 
Chair in which you are now seated add to the many comforts which we trust 
Providence will ever continue to bless you with. And may the pleasing 
thoughts which must cross your mind when hereafter reclining in it, that you 
have honorably filled your position, and acted your part well, tend to make 
the last days of your life even more happy and mingled with more plea¬ 
sures than any of those which are past. And to conclude with the words 
of Shakespeare— 
“ May you live 
Longer than I have time to count the years ; 
Ever beloved and loving may your rule be; 
And when old Time shall lead you to the end, 
Goodness and you fill up one monument.” 
Mr. Morton, in reply, spoke nearly as follows : 
Friends and Gentlemen,—I claim your indulgence, since it is with very 
mingled feelings that I now address you, for probably the last time ; cer¬ 
tainly it is so upon such an occasion as this. 
We are told that “from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh;” 
yet I fear I shall be altogether unable to give expression by words to the 
sentiments that pervade my breast, among the uppermost of which, struggling 
to get free, is gratitude. You will, then, accept my most grateful thanks for 
this, your last, best gift. Ollier gifts I have had from those who have pre¬ 
ceded you, but yours must be esteemed by me the best, from its peculiar 
associations; and it is the last I shall ever receive from the students of the 
Royal Veterinary College. I know not how it was, but very soon after 
coming to this institution, it was my good fortune to gain the confidence of 
the students; and I believe I may, without any fear of contradiction, say I 
have, with equal good fortune, retained it ever since. If any proof of this 
be required, it is in the fact that this makes the twentieth presentation I 
have received from them, this number including five or six made by my 
resident pupils. 
A period of five and thirty years is a long time to look back upon; yet 
this 1 can do, and that with some degree of satisfaction, not unmixed, how¬ 
ever, with a consciousness of the existence of many failures. Nevertheless, 
I trust I can say I have endeavoured to do my duty. How far I have suc¬ 
ceeded, I am contented to leave to others to decide. Would I could 
appropriate to myself the language of the poet, who says— 
“ There’s a joy 
To the fond votaries of fame unknown: 
To hear the still, small voice of conscience speak 
Its whispering plaudit to the silent soul.” 
Although this may not be, yet my desire has always been to be useful to 
the students of veterinary medicine ; and that I have not altogether failed 
