14 REPORT OF THE 



persons, and it has probably been the means of making the 

 contents of our Museum and the objects of our Society more 

 extensively known among the inhabitants of the County. The 

 admission of the public on Whitmonday and Tuesday was 

 regulated by the Resolution passed at the last Annual Meetmg, 

 a penny being charged for entering the Museum, while admis- 

 sion to the Gardens and the Hospitium was free. The object 

 of the Council in proposing this distinction was completely 

 answered. Nearly three thousand persons visited the Museum 

 during the two days, without the inconvenient crowding which 

 had been experienced in former years. The Council propose 

 to continue this regulation. 



The acquisition of the Whitby Icthyosaurus has led to an 

 extension of the buildings of the Museum, which has already 

 advanced so far as to enable the members to judge of its 

 adaptation to the purposes for which it is designed. The size 

 and weight of this specimen precluded its being deposited on the 

 floors of the present building, and if it had been consigned to 

 the basement story both light and space would have been want- 

 ing for its advantageous display. It was determined therefore 

 to make an appeal to the members of the Society, and to the 

 County of York generally, for the means of providing room not 

 only for this but for other additions which may be reasonably 

 expected. The Council have much pleasure in announcing 

 that this appeal has been very successful. Of £1000, the 

 calculated expence of the building and fitting up, £876 has 

 been already subscribed. The founders of this Society an- 

 nounced their intention of establishing a Central Museum for 

 the county, and gave their new institution the name of the 

 Yorkshire Philosophical Society. It is gratifying to find by the 

 liberal contributions of the gentlemen of the county, that it is 

 still recognized by them in this comprehensive character. In 

 announcing the success of their appeal, the Council have great 

 pleasure in acknowledging the zealous exertions of one of their 

 Vice-Presidents, W. Rudston Read, Esq., which have materially 

 contributed to this result. They hope that the sum still 

 required to meet the estimated expence will speedily be raised, 

 and that they shall be thus enabled to carry out their entire 



