The Council have not been successful in reducing 

 the proprietary debt since the last Report ; and, not- 

 withstanding the strictest economy, the amount paid for 

 the alteration of the building has somewhat increased 

 the balance due to the Treasurer on the ordinary 

 account. 



It has been suggested to the Council that a public 

 Soiree might be held in the Society's Rooms with 

 advantage; and they would, therefore, recommend to 

 their successors in office, the careful consideration of 

 this project, from a conviction that, if well carried 

 out, with sufficient variety and attraction, it would 

 form a fresh feature in the Society's proceedings. 



During the past year the Society has had to regret 

 the decease of two old and valued Members. In John 

 Marshall, Esq., the Society at large will recognize one of 

 the earliest and most firm supporters of this Institution 

 from its commencement, in which he took so active and 

 prominent a part. Indeed, it is mainly to him and to 

 the late Benj. Gott, Esq., that we owe the building in 

 which we assemble ; and it is a matter of regret that the 

 Hall of this Society does not possess some lasting memo- 

 rial, in the form of a bust, of the most prominent of its 

 founders. At the first meeting in 1821, Mr. Marshall 

 was elected President, and held that office for five 

 successive years; and when his entry into Parliament, 

 and other public calls on his time, induced him to 

 withdraw from the more active duties of office, he 



