X9 REPORT OF THE 



perhaps no other provincial scientific institution can be said to 

 compete, whether we look to its invaluable Collections in 

 Natural History and Antiquities, or to the singular attractions 

 of the site within which these collections have been deposited ; 

 that its expenditure necessarily bears some proportion to the 

 extent of the riches of which it is the guardian ; and that if it 

 is to go on in that career of usefulness which for more than a 

 quarter of a century has associated it with the progress of 

 science in Yorkshire, it must continue to receive that full 

 measure of support which has hitherto maintained it in effi- 

 ciency and vigour. 



The Council, in considering what means seem most likely to 

 be successful for the improvement of the Society's finances, are 

 of opinion that improvement is to be sought, not so much by 

 retrenchment and inactivity, as by the constant progress of its 

 Collections, and by rendering its resources more attractive and 

 accessible to its members and the public at large. With this 

 object they have made certain alterations, and have others to 

 propose for the consideration of the present meeting, which it 

 is necessary here to mention. 



Orders of Admission. — At a special meeting held Dec. 4th, 

 1848, a resolution was passed to the efi'ect that after that month 

 no member should give more than 25 orders in the course of 

 one year, each order not admitting more than 4 persons. The 

 above regulation has continued in force up to the end of last 

 year; and to prevent the admission of parties with fictitious 

 orders, the Council during the above period supplied the mem- 

 bers with printed and stamped forms, to the use of which they 

 were restricted. Some inconvenience, however, having arisen 

 from the use of these printed forms, the Council have this year 

 discontinued them, and they have likewise made the number to 

 be admitted by each order optional, it being understood that 

 the limit of one hundred visitors in the course of each year is 

 not to be exceeded. 



Privilege of introducing Strangers hy the Wives of Members. 

 — Complaints have been made by several members that, owing 

 to their engagements, it is not in their power to attend their 

 friends to the Museum, and that consequently the privilege of 



