18 REPORT OF 



be paid in the commencement of the year, when they become 

 due ; for whatever money is paid into the Bank on the 

 Society's account, before it is required to be drawn out, is 

 balanced against the debt. 



Thus far the Council have exercised a discretion, which 

 they hope will meet with the approval of the Meeting, for 

 the important purpose of enabling the Curators of the various 

 collections to arrange the valuable and multiplied ' donations 

 which they annually receive ; but they do not propose to go 

 further in increasing the debt even for this object. To com- 

 plete the establishment in a satisfactory manner, an additional 

 expenditure, estimated at <£'400, is still wanted to fit up in a 

 permanent manner the principal room, which contains the 

 specimens in Zoology and Ornithology, and in which a gallery 

 will be required. But the Council is compelled to recommend 

 that the deficiency in that part of the arrangements of the 

 Museum should be submitted to, till the public liberality 

 shall furnish the means of supplying it. In the mean time 

 contributions which members or others may be induced to 

 subscribe towards this specific object, will be allowed to accu- 

 mulate till they shall be sufficient to effect it. 



Were it practicable to raise a subscription of .£'2000, that 

 sum would at once finish the Museum and pay off the debt ; 

 and the Society would thus be left in possession of a clear 

 income sufficient to remunerate fully the services of the men 

 of science professionally attached to it, and to carry on the 

 extensive and important objects which are unfolding themselves 

 before it, with an efficacy which would do honour to all who 

 should be concerned in conducting or promoting them. For 

 such purposes it might not be difficult perhaps in this county 

 to raise such a subscription. For the present, however, it 

 appears advisable that the plan proposed in the last Report 

 should be adhered to, and that a gradual reduction of the debt 



