COUNCIL FOR 1850. 15 



thorized the purchase of a Steam Engine and Machinery and the 

 erection and formation of buildings and works adapted to the 

 objects in view. 



Under these circumstances the necessary works were pro- 

 secuted with as little loss of time as possible, and had not a delay 

 occurred on the part of those employed to provide the Engine, the 

 Society might have been enabled to supply the water required 

 during a considerable portion of the Bathing Season, and for 

 other purposes. This, however, under the circumstances, was 

 found to be impracticable, and previous to the erection of the 

 machinery and the completion of the works, the Council were in- 

 duced to allow the negociations with the Water Company to be 

 re-opened, and it was found that they were then willing to supply 

 all the water required for the Baths, Fountains, Mr. Baines's 

 House, the Lodge, and the various requirements of the Gardens, 

 for an annual sum of £25. After much deliberation the Council 

 authorized the acceptance of this offer (without prejudice to the 

 existing rights of the Society under the Agreement of 1837,) 

 having already secured for the Society the means, at any future 

 time, of readily supplying the water required for the Baths, &c., 

 independently of the Water Company, should any circumstances 

 or considerations render such a step expedient. 



The Engine is still in the maker's hands, and it has been 

 ascertained that the Society would sustain little or no loss 

 should a sale of it be considered desirable. 



The total expenditure of every other kind in relation to the 

 Baths exceeds the income derived from the same source during 

 the year 1850 by £75 14s. 6d., and forms one of the only two 

 items of extraordinary expenditure of the current year. 



The other item of extraordinary expenditure, £71 9s. lOd., 

 has been incurred in connection with the new entrance to the 

 Gardens from Marygate, and the Society will, no doubt, justly 

 appreciate the very great improvement effected in that part of 

 their grounds. By thus restoring to the Museum Grounds the an- 

 cient boundary of the Abbey Close, we offer to convenient inspec- 

 tion structures, which rank among the earliest of our Monastic 

 remains, and guard from further injury and decay all that is left 

 of that gateway, which was the principal entrance to the 



