YORKSHIRE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



REPORT OF THE COUNCIL 



ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY, ON THE 3rd OF FEBRUARY, 1846. 



The Members of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society will expect 

 to hear, on the present occasion, a Report of the completion of 

 considerable works undertaken for the benefit of the Institution ; 

 they will ask at what cost the improvements so long desired in the 

 Museum Grounds have been at last accomplished ; they will enquire 

 what has been gained by providing additional scientific assistance in 

 the Museum, and whether any further plans are in progress which 

 may raise yet higher the Character of the Institution, and place it in 

 its right and permanent position. 



It is the duty of the Council to meet these expectations. They 

 do so with great satisfaction ; believing that the large expenditure, 

 for which they have to account, has been well laid out and will be well 

 repaid ; that the Society's finances, far from being crippled by this 

 great outlay, are adequate to bear the charge of a further effort for 

 enlarging the Grounds and augmenting the Antiquarian Treasures ; 

 and that while the Museum, which is the centre and mainspring of 

 our eff'orts, has received its due share of attention, the officers of the 

 estabUshment have been placed in a state of greater comfort and 

 efficiency. 



The Museum Gardens now occupy the most considerable 

 portion of the space included between the City Rampart, and the 

 defensive walls of St. Mary's Abbey ; a space full of incentives to 

 piety and learning, — rich in the monuments of art and time, — no 

 longer exposed to ravage and neglect, but permanently secured for 

 useful studies and rational gratifications. To adorn this ground, to 

 arrange in it walks and plantations suitable to the noble and thought- 

 inspiring edifices which it supports, was the task which the Council 

 entrusted to Sir John Nasmyth, and they have the satisfaction to 

 report that it has been well and carefully executed. The grounds as 



