REPORT 



TN reviewing the affairs of the Institution for the last 

 year, the Council have to record a continuance of 

 that prosperity, which, from time to time, has marked 

 its course ; or, as a member lately observed, " the 

 Society has well maintained its position, and its progress 

 though not rapid, has been steady and encouraging." 

 On the present occasion we are glad to announce, that 

 the Council are now able to direct their attention to 

 the enlargement of the Museum building, a step long 

 desired and urgently needed. For want of room, 

 specimens and objects of interest , that ought to be 

 conspicuous, are partly hid; while other articles, espe- 

 cially books, scores of which are locally curious, can- 

 not obtain a place and are packed out of sight. It is 

 confidently hoped, however, that the matter having 

 been taken into consideration at the last meeting, a 

 plan will be adopted in a short time for giving more 

 space to the collection ; while we may notice, that the 

 proposals of our Curator, Mr. Simpson on the subject, 

 accord upon the whole, with the suggestions of those 

 who may be appointed to carry out the work. 



The Museum continues to be eminently attractive, 

 many of its visitors, as in preceding years, being those 

 of position in science and literature. The value of the 

 Society is well seen in its connexion with similar in- 

 stitutions, and to make this observation more apparent. 



