the past year; at its commencement, the debt on the 

 Proprietary Account was £65. 10s. 2d.; this has been 

 increased by the interest to £306. 



The balance due to the Treasurer on the Ordinary 

 Account was £153. 12s. 9d. ; it is now £224. 14s. 5^d. ; 

 showing an increase of £71. Is. 8|d. 



It was observed in a former Report, that the cur- 

 rent expenses of this Society had been increased by 

 the imposition of additional local assessments ; attempts 

 are now making, by a confederation of Provincial Phi- 

 losophical Societies, under the auspices of the British 

 Association for the Advancement of Science, to lighten, 

 or remove, the burthen of such assessments, whether 

 national or local. A bill has been prepared, to be 

 brought before Parliament, for this object; and it is 

 stated that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has ex- 

 pressed himself favourable to the relief of Philosophical 

 Societies, bona fide such, if they can be clearly sepa- 

 rated from speculations for private advantage. Much 

 difficulty attends this separation, and the result is there- 

 fore still very doubtful. The details of labour atten- 

 dant on this attempt, have been almost entirely under- 

 taken by the Secretaries and other Officers and Council 

 of the Birmingham Philosophical Society. Your 

 Council have thought it right, however, to contribute 

 towards the needful expenses, the object being of 



