14 REPORT OF THE 



the year will nevertheless be found nearly equal to £4 per cent, 

 upon the sum invested in their purchase. It is also satisfactory 

 to state, that although the receipts from this source have been 

 somewhat diminished, owing to the unfavourable weather 

 during the two past seasons, the total receipts, during the five 

 years the baths have been in the possession of the Society, have 

 been equal to an average interest exceeding £5 per cent, upon 

 this investment. 



The Council have great pleasure in noticing the success of a 

 Floricultural Exhibition in the Museum Gardens, in the month 

 of July last. For this the Society was indebted chiefly to the 

 friendly feeling and spirited exertions of two of its members, 

 Mr. Roper, and Mr. Backhouse. The Council are induced to 

 hope, that arrangements may, at a future time, be made for 

 similar beautiful and interesting displays. 



The ordinary income of the Society, during 1849, has 

 exceeded its ordinary expenditure by £141. 3s. 2d. The 

 extraordinary expenses of the year have, however, (after deduct- 

 ing Mr. Read's liberal donation, already noticed), amounted to 

 the sum of £211. 12s. Id., so that the total expenditure of the 

 Society has exceeded its total receipts this year by £70. 8s, lid., 

 which sum has been added to the balance due to the Society's 

 bankers at the close of 1848. 



Under these circumstances it has been a matter of necessity 

 to exercise the strictest and most watchful economy in every 

 department of the institution ; and on this account the Council 

 have, with regret, postponed to a future, but (they trust) not 

 distant day, some very desirable improvements connected 

 with the Observatory, and the addition of instruments to the 

 Meteorological Department, of which the Society has here- 

 tofore obtained the use chiefly through the zeal and kindness 

 of the Meteorological Curator. 



With a view to offer increased facilities to persons desirous 

 of enjoying the advantages afforded by the Society, the Council 

 have been induced to recommend to this Meeting the adoption 

 of a new Rule, under which parties may hereafter, under the 

 title of " Associates," at the cost of £1 annually, obtain for 

 themselves (only) admission to the Museum and Gardens. 



