THE COUNCIL. 



3 



year ; and in addition to the greenhouse, which is already well 

 filled, a valuable present of tropical orchideous plants has led 

 to the construction of a small stove, expressly adapted to the 

 cultivation of that interesting tribe of plants, of which the 

 society possesses about 40 species. 



The Antiquarian collections have been increased by some 

 additional Egyptian relics received from Colonel Harcourt, 

 and by several interesting English and Irish coins the gift of 

 S. Kenrick, Esq. To the Directors of the York and North 

 Midland Railway Company, the society is indebted for a 

 curious Roman altar, lately found in the line of the railway, 

 near the Mount. It is sculptured on every side, but the 

 figures are so much effaced by time, that in the absence of 

 every thing like an inscription, it is difficult if not impossible 

 to ascertain what the figures were designed to represent. 

 From Joseph Bonomi, Esq., the Society has received a cast of 

 a large and highly interesting Assyrian monument, sculptured, 

 with several others, three of which are Egyptian, on the rocks 

 in the vicinity of Beyrout ; representing an Assyrian king, 

 holding in his left hand a staff, " the antique symbol of regal 

 authority ;" and having on his right hand the Assyrian dove, 

 above which are certain astronomical signs and symbols. 

 Nearly the whole of the figure, as well as the arched inclosure 

 in which it stands, is covered with an inscription in the arrow 

 headed character, in many places well preserved. * 



The Library has been ornamented by the gift of Piranesi's 

 etchings of the columns of Trajan and Antoninus,-f- and among 

 the collections of books and transactions of learned societies, it 

 is the pleasing duty of the Council to notice with gratitude 

 the liberal bequest of the late George Hodgson, Esq., of 

 Bridhngton. The magnificent work of Audubon is near its 

 termination ; and it remains to be considered what portion of 



* See Landseer's Sabsean Researches, Sect. IX. 



t Presented by Michael Taylor, Esq. 



b2 



