£4 12s. It would be well, if something more 

 could be done towards the same object ; for the 

 debts alluded to must long be felt as a heavy 

 incumbrance, unless means be adopted for their 

 liquidation. 



During the year, Mr. Simpson has been dili- 

 gently employed in arranging and labelling the 

 Fossils, Minerals, Insects, recent Shells, and other 

 specimens in Natural History; with a number of 

 the miscellaneous Curiosities. Much progress has 

 been made in the work ; yet much remains to be 

 done, and it might have been greatly for the 

 benefit of the Institution, could Mr, Simpson's 

 services have been secured for another year. 

 The Council, however, on a careful examination 

 of the state of the funds, felt convinced that, 

 unless extraordinary measures could be taken to 

 augment the income of the Society, the salary of 

 a Lecturer and Keeper of the Museum cannot be 

 paid. They have, therefore, been compelled to 

 accept Mr. Simpson's resignation. It is a conso- 

 lation to reflect, that before the term of his 

 engagement expires, the arranging and labelling 

 may be so far advanced, as to leave comparatively 

 little to accomplish. When every thing has been 

 put in order within the cases, and correctly marked, 

 the task of shewing the Museum to strangers will 

 require neither skill nor pains. To bring it into 

 this orderly state, vvas the chief thing contemplated 

 in engaging Mr. Simpson; for the Council did not. 



