COUNCIL FOB 1838. 11 



assured by ample proof that the public favour will fully sup- 

 port this Institution, so long as it pursues steadily the path 

 of public usefulness, and embraces every proper occasion of 

 improving taste, augmenting science, and diffusing popular 

 information, deem the increase of the general debt of small 

 importance, compared to the objects sought for and gained. 



The Council lay down the trust which has been committed 

 to them, in full hope and confidence that the members at large 

 will approve their exertions, and give such commands to their 

 successors as, without encouraging lavish expenditure in any 

 department, shall empower them to remedy defects in some, 

 advance them all nearer to perfection, and prosecute with 

 vigour and success every well-considered measure for extend, 

 ing the field of human knowledge, or enlarging the sum of 

 rational and scientific enjoyment. 



