LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. XXV 



A circumstance has recently occurred in reference to the most 

 important and interesting portion of our property, the Linnean 

 Collections, of which I think it may be agreeable to you to be 

 informed. It was proposed in the Council that a Committee 

 should be appointed to examine into the present condition of 

 those collections, — as to what they respectively consist of, — where 

 they are now respectively deposited, — in what state they now are, 

 and whether any suggestions may occur to the Committee with 

 reference to their preservation and exhibition to the Fellows of 

 the Society and the visitors. The Committee consisted of the 

 President, the Secretary, Mr. Bentham, and Mr. "Wilson Saunders, 

 and they afterwards obtained the assistance of Mr. Hanley with 

 reference to the Shells, and of Mr. Tarrell to the Pishes. 



It has appeared to me that this subject was a perfectly legiti- 

 mate one to form an element in my address, as it cannot but be 

 very interesting to all who have the character of the Society at 

 heart, and are anxious for the preservation and proper use of the 

 invaluable collections in question. Instead, therefore, of merely 

 embodying in my address a brief abstract of the acts of the Com- 

 mittee, as I at first intended, I will, with your permission, read 

 the Eeport which they delivered to the Council, in extenso. 



" Report presented to the Council, May 6, 1856. 



" The Committee of Council, consisting of the President, Mr. 

 Bentham, Mr. Wilson Saunders, and the Secretary, appointed on 

 the 1st of April, 1856, ' to examine the Books, Manuscripts and 

 Collections, forming the Library and Museum of Linnaeus, and 

 to report to the Council 



" ' What they respectively consist of, 



" \ Where they are now respectively deposited, 



" ' In what state they are respectively, and 



" ' Whether any suggestions may occur to the Committee with 

 reference to their preservation and exhibition to the Fellows of 

 the Society and Visitors,' report as follows : — 



" The Committee have held several meetings, viz. on the 7th, 

 10th and 15th of April, and on the 1st of May, and carefully 

 examined into the several matters referred to them. The result 

 of their investigations may best be stated under the general heads 

 of Books, Manuscripts, Plants, Insects, Shells, Fishes, and Mis- 

 cellaneous Zoological Specimens. * 



"1. Boohs. 



" The Books are for the most part placed on the shelves of the 



