350 ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
to propose the toast of the evening, expatiating in very eulogistic 
terms upon the many good qualities of Mr. Robinson, and upon 
the great benefits he had conferred upon the profession. The 
duty which now devolved upon him (the chairman) was an easy, 
and, at the same time, a difficult one. It was easy for him to 
say many things that would please them of their respected 
friend, and most difficult to satisfy himself that he was doing 
full justice to his character and professional abilities. He 
should not attempt to travel into those subtle subjects belonging 
to their profession, with which he was very imperfectly ac¬ 
quainted ; it would suffice for him to give them a history of the 
feelings he had entertained towards the respected object of this 
evening’s proceeding—a proceeding which was not less honour¬ 
able to them than to the distinguished gentleman himself. (Hear, 
hear.) It had been his (the chairman’s) fortune to be very fond 
of a good horse almost from the time he left his cradle, and one 
of those mischances which happen to those who cherish that 
valuable animal very early brought him acquainted with Mr. 
Robinson. Thirty-three years had elapsed since he had the 
honour of holding a commission in the same regiment with him, 
and they had been brother officers, during that period, under men 
not the least distinguished in the public life of this country, 
Lord Hatherton, the Earl of Harrowby, the Earl of Ellesmere, 
Earl Talbot, a great many Peels (loud cheers), and numerous 
other firm and devoted friends of their honourable guest. Those 
noblemen and gentlemen w r ould have been happy, had circum¬ 
stances permitted it, to bring their high testimony to his cha¬ 
racter and attainments. {Hear, hear). He was old enough to 
recollect something of what their profession was thirty-five 
years ago. There were not many Robinsons in those days. 
{Cheers). But he did not think it necessary for him to look 
back to those days in order to elevate the profession to the high 
standard it had now obtained throughout the world ; never¬ 
theless, he could not help contrasting the veterinary surgeons of 
the present day with those who performed the duties in times 
gone by—men who would have them believe that they had 
Nature’s diploma to justify their practice. (Hear). Thanks, 
however, to such gentlemen as Mr. Robinson, it had rapidly 
advanced to that point where its intrinsic qualities ought to 
place it, and hence his honourable friend had fulfilled all the 
responsibilities which his duty imposed upon him. He would 
not detain them from drinking with enthusiasm the health of 
their excellent friend, and shewing him how highly they appre¬ 
ciated the claims he had upon their regard and attention. He 
might truly say that such a man had indeed done his country 
much service; and he might add, that not only was he emi- 
