The Council feel full confidence that if that 

 attachment to Science and Literature, in which 

 this Society had its origin, remain in due force, 

 every difficulty of this nature may gradually be 

 surmounted; they are however convinced that for 

 this end unceasing attention to the curtailment of 

 every avoidable expence will be absolutely neces- 

 sary. They therefore trust that those who may 

 next be appointed to administer the affairs and 

 watch over the interests of the Society, will suffer 

 no specious advantages from alterations in the 

 building, or opportunities, however tempting, of 

 making additions, by purchase, to the collections 

 in their possession, to induce them to increase 

 the load of debt ; persuaded that, with Societies, 

 as with individuals, embarrassments of this sort, 

 if suffered to go on unchecked, become fatal 

 alike to energy of exertion and to respectability 

 of character. 



Of the Report as to the state of the Museum, 

 the shells form a principal feature ; they have 

 been re-arranged and classed according to the 

 system of Lamarck. The Quadrupeds and Birds 

 are undergoing a revision ; the scientific and 

 popular names will be attached to each for the 

 greater convenience of visitors ; after which, a 

 Systematic Catalogue will be prepared. In the 

 execution, as far as it has proceeded, of this labo- 



