COU>JCIL FOR 1838. 9 



beauty of St. Mary's Abbey. Professor Phillips,— in pro- 

 posing to reconstruct the roof and interior of the ancient 

 Gateway House, and thus to exonerate the Society from the 

 trouble and expense of irregular tenancy, — has assured the 

 Council that, in the restoration of this building for his future 

 residence, its original architectural character shall be scrupu- 

 lously respected. It is for this Meeting to sanction the grant- 

 ing of a lease, on terms which may justify him in defraying 

 the very considerable expense of this restoration. 



A great part of the other possessions of the Society on 

 the Manor Shore is now usefully appropriated, but the 

 management of this property will always be a source of 

 some anxiety to the Council, so long as any part of it re- 

 mains in almost accidental occupation. Eventually, it may be 

 hoped, a part at least of this beautiful site, in connexion 

 with the Hospitium, may be reclaimed for the enlargement 

 of the gardens ; and in anticipation of such a measure the 

 opinion of this Meeting will be requested on the propriety 

 of at once changing the line of road into Marygate, so as 

 to allow the including the Hospitium and Ancient Gateway 

 within the precincts of the Museum Gardens, whenever the 

 funds of the Society may be adequate to bear the cost. If 

 the Meeting shall judge the time favourable for this prelimi- 

 nary measure, there is no obstacle in regard to the purchase of 

 property, for some zealous officers of the Institution have 

 already obtained possession of several houses on the line of the 

 proposed new road. 



It remains then only to state correctly the condition of the 

 Society'sFinances. During the past year, several J^a?#raordi- 

 nary disbursements have been made, mostly under the direction 



