I'O ^ REPORT OF THE 



The objects of Antiquity and Mediaeval Art, selected by the 

 Commissioners from the Art-Treasures Exhibition at Man- 

 chester, were sent in the Spring and have since been returned 

 without loss or injury. 



The Library has received from Lord Londesborough the 

 two concluding Nos. of his Miscellanea Graphica, and from 

 various Societies copies of their Proceedings and Transactions. 

 Among these is to be mentioned, for the first time, the 

 Smithsonian Institution, at Washington. This Institution, 

 founded by an Englishman for the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge, and endowed by him with half a million of dollars, 

 embraces every branch of Science, and its Reports not only 

 contain information respecting the Natural History and Anti- 

 quities of America, but take a survey of the progress of 

 scientific discovery in all parts of the world. 



The Council have also subscribed for the Crania Britannica, 

 published by Mr. J. B. Davies, and Dr. Thurnam, formerly 

 Medical Superintendent of the Retreat near this city. This 

 work is intended to elucidate the Ethnology of Britain by 

 drawings and measurements of skulls, found in ancient tumuli 

 and sepulchres, and to illustrate them by an antiquarian com- 

 mentary. The subjects engraved and illustrated have been 

 in part derived from Roman York, or from barrows in York- 

 shire which have been opened by members of this Society, and 

 the contents of which are deposited in our Museum. 



The numerous demands made in the past year upon the 

 Funds of the Society have prevented the printing of the 

 Catalogue, which has been prepared for some time, but it is 

 the intention of the Council immediately to proceed with it. 



The Mineralogical Collection has not been augmented 

 this year by any considerable donations or purchases, but its 

 utility has been much increased by the labelling of the 

 specimens, a work which previously had been imperfectly 

 performed. 



According to the Report of the Curator of Meteorological 

 Instruments, the temperature of the year 1857 was 1'3° above 

 the mean of twenty years, and higher than that of any year 

 since 1846, of which year the mean temperature was 50". In 



