Considering the severe drain upon the pecuniary 

 resources of the Society during^ the current year, by 

 the improvements already noticed, }^our Council have 

 been careful not to incur any but trifling expenses in 

 adding* to the contents of the Museum ; for, with the 

 exception of a quantity of Tertiary fossils from the 

 Mediterranean, of the value of ^3, and some speci- 

 mens in zoology, little else has been purchased during 

 the year. Your CounciTs successors will see the pro- 

 priety of adopting the same course of economy and 

 reserve, until the finances shall have time to recover 

 from their present depression, by the gradual accumu- 

 lation of the Society's income, or the voluntary offer- 

 ings of the friends of the Institution. In the mean 

 time, it is thought advisable to borrow a small sum, to 

 liquidate the debt. It is only justice to state, that the 

 Members of the Society have already contributed 

 very spiritedly to meet all contingent expenses; but 

 the amount received is far from being adequate to 

 clear the accounts. 



Amongst the subscribers towards defraying the ex- 

 pense of the late improvements, your Council would 

 gratefully record the name of our illustrious Patron, 

 the Most Noble the Marquis of Normanby, who has 

 given ^5, accompanied with the gracious assurance 

 of the interest his Lordship feels in the progress and 

 prosperity of }'our Institution. His Lordship's com- 

 munication has reached us, through the Kev. Dr. 

 Young, one of our efficient Secretaries. 



Since the last annual meeting, the Museum has 

 received an accession to its valuable contents, throuofh 

 the generosity of several ladies and gentlemen, not 



