PRESENTATION OF A TESTIMONIAL TO PROF. VARNELL. 201 
most tastefully framed, on which the names of the committee and 
subscribers appear, will occupy the best place I can give it in my 
humble abode, where, in my declining years, I can often look at it, 
and be refreshed with the thought that there at least is testimony 
that my humble efforts to do my duty were not altogether un¬ 
appreciated. 
I am reminded, however, that the attainment of our most ambitious 
desires, or the choicest gifts which can be bestowed upon us, is often 
marred by events which, while they do not lessen the value of the 
gift, or detract from the recipient’s pleasure, yet, as in this instance, 
cloud the brightness that otherwise would be produced. One 
of such events 1 must allude to, which will be remembered with 
sorrow by every member of the profession ; I refer to the death of 
our esteemed friend Professor Morton, who, I have reason to know, 
took an early and active part in arranging that a testimonial should be 
presented to me on my retiring from the Royal Veterinary College. 
But, alas! he was not permitted to live to witness this, to me, flatter¬ 
ing expression of your kindness carried out. Through the sad event 
of his death your committee lost his valuable co-operation, the pro¬ 
fession one of its brightest ornaments, and his immediate acquaint¬ 
ances a warm-hearted and kind friend. But sad as this event was, a 
far, far sadder one has since befallen me, viz. the death of my wife, 
which will cast a gloom over the rest part of my life, be it long or 
short. I feel constrained to allude to the loss of my wife because 
she was so pleased and interested in the honour you were about to 
confer upon me ; I, therefore, may be pardoned for so doing. 
Your committee very kindly requested me to name the piece of 
plate which I should prefer. In this matter I wished to con¬ 
sult my wife, knowing that whatever might be her choice I 
should be pleased. She wished it to be a silver tea-urn of such 
a pattern as would match a silver tea and colfee service I had the 
honour of receiving from the students of the college a few years 
since. In this choice your committee acquiesced, but, to my sorrow, 
jT[jy g^ood wife was removed from me by death before your valuable 
testimonial was presented. I have thus mentioned two events cal¬ 
culated to throw a dark cloud over my path of life ; but I must not 
continue further to express myself in this way. You will reasonably 
ask if the cloud has no brightness above or behind it ? Yes, thanks 
to you, my friends. Your kindness gives it a silver margin which 
makes me look forward for brighter days ; but whether I shall ever 
realise this or not who can tell; in my present state of mind I 
