ROYAL COLLEGE OP VETERINARY SURGEONS. 
51 
of the Royal Veterinary College to revise their system of subscription, 
and to make the practice of the institution less competitive to private 
practitio'ners, which in the opinion of your requisitionists is a source 
of injury to the profession. Dated November first, Eighteen hundred 
and seventy-nine. 
Some conversation having taken place as to the informality of the 
notice, and as to whether the Council could, in conformity with the 
bye-laws and the charter, accede to the terms of the requisition. 
General Sir F. Fitzwygram said it seemed to him desirable to waive any 
informality in the notice, and to discuss the main question, which, he 
thought, was whether the Council at a general meeting had power to 
discuss any matter unconnected with what might be called the affairs of 
the College. The only question before the Council was whether it was 
legal to do so, or whether they had the power to do so. It seemed to 
him, as Mr. Loch had stated, that the Council had no power to do any¬ 
thing of the sort, and he thought it desirable that the meeting should be 
adjourned for the purpose of taking the advice of an eminent counsel, 
as to whether the Council had any power in the matter at all. Of 
course, all things that concerned the four walls of the College, such as 
examinations, &c., the charter said the Council had the regulation of; 
but he thought it refused to them any control over the operation of 
fees, &c., in schools; and he very much doubted whether the meeting 
could be called for the purpose indicated. He, therefore, moved that 
the Council should obtain the advice of some eminent counsel as to 
whether they could act in the matter or not. His own opinion was that 
they had no power to act at all. 
Mr. Fatt seconded the motion. 
Mr. Fleming pointed out that, according to the bye-law, when a 
petition had been received by the Council, signed by a certain number 
of members of the profession, to call a general meeting, the meeting 
must be called. 
Sir F. Fitzwygram said that there were certain things ultra vires, and 
the meeting might be called for a purpose totally unconnected with the 
matters pertaining to the Council. 
Mr. Fleming said that was no doubt the case; but he did not 
think that twenty members of the profession would appeal to the 
Council to hold a meeting if it were not for the purpose of considering 
a subject connected with the profession. The present meeting was not 
the occasion, he presumed, to discuss the object of the proposed meeting, 
but only to grant or refuse the prayer of the petitioners. 
Prof. Axe expressed his opinion that anything which did not pertain to 
the importance of the veterinary art or the science of veterinary medicine, 
did not come within the cognisance of the Council, and the question to be 
discussed at the meeting seemed to be a question entirely beside that. 
He therefore suggested that the question should not be taken into con¬ 
sideration. 
Mr. Collins suggested as a compromise that the meeting should be 
allowed to assemble, because at present the Council did not know what 
the proposals were, and they ought to hear what was said. The opinion 
of counsel could then be taken afterwards. 
Prof. Axe remarked that the precise object of the proposed meeting 
was specifically set forth in the circular convening the present meeting 
of Council. 
The Chairman hoped that General Fitzwygram’s motion would be 
carried. 
Mr. Greaves thought the Council had no power in the matter, and 
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