XXX11 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



muiiication from Lord Wrottesley, to the effect that the Treasury 

 minute has been passed, recognizing and confirming Mr. Wilson's 

 expressed accordance with our desire. 



I had last evening completed writing this address, when 

 Dr. Sharpey, the Secretary of the Eoyal Society, called upon me 

 from Lord Wrottesley, bringing with him the official Treasury 

 minute, which I shall have the extreme satisfaction of reading to 

 you, confirming the appropriation of Burlington House to the 

 Royal Society, on condition of their providing suitable accommo- 

 dation for the Linnean and Chemical Societies. You will find one 

 or two points mentioned which will require some explanation, and 

 this I shall be enabled to give you. 



" Treasury Chambers, May 22, 1856. 



" My Loed, — I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her 

 Majesty's Treasury to acquaint your Lordship, with reference to 

 the views set forth in your letter to the Duke of Argyle on the 

 30th ult., which has been laid before the Board, that Her 

 Majesty's Government are not at present in a position to enable 

 them to state any definite views with respect to the project for 

 the juxtaposition of the principal scientific Societies in a" building 

 to be erected in a convenient and central locality. I have to state 

 that their Lordships are, however, prepared so far to concede to 

 the views advanced by your Lordship on behalf of a large number 

 of persons connected with Science, as to allow the temporary 

 location of the Linnean and Chemical Societies in conjunction 

 with the Eoyal Society in the present building of Burlington 

 House, on the following conditions, viz. : — 



" 1st. That the removal of the Eoyal Society from Somerset 

 House shall not prejudice the position of the other Societies 

 located in that building, in regard to the terms on which they are 

 permitted to occupy their present apartments. 



" 2ndly. That the Eoyal Society shall be put in possession of the 

 main building of Burlington House, on the understanding that 

 they will, in communication with the Linnean and Chemical 

 Societies, assign suitable accommodation therein for those bodies. 



" 3rdly. A common library to be formed for the use of the three 

 Societies, on the understanding that suitable arrangements shall 

 be made for the admission thereto, for the purposes of reference 

 and study, of men of letters and science, on orders given by Fellows 

 of the three Societies. 



" 4thly. The Societies to be allowed the use of the Hall, which it 

 is proposed to construct in the west wing of Burlington House, 

 at such times as it may not be required by the Senate of the Uni- 



