care, it may be expected the whole debt will be speed- 

 ily extinguished and the Society be in a position to 

 undertake important improvements. Your Council 

 have voted £100 in reduction of the mortgage debt. 



It is hoped that the prospect of permanence and 

 stability will inspire such confidence as to make the 

 Institution more an object of public patronage and 

 support than it has hitherto been. As a token of this, 

 the Council have great pleasure in referring to their 

 list of donations, which is both numerous and valua- 

 ble. They would particularise a large, beautiful, and 

 entirely new collection of Marine Plants, from Mrs. 

 G. Clark. From Thomas Chapman, Esq., F.R.S., the 

 President of the Society, they have received a hand- 

 somely bound copy of the first edition of " Spencer's 

 Fairy Queen," published in 1590; together with 17 

 volumes of the Archeologia. It will be recollected 

 that the office of President having become vacant by 

 the death of Mr. Robert Stephenson, Mr. Chapman, 

 at the last annual meeting, was unanimously chosen 

 his successor ; and though residing in London, and 

 consequently not able to attend many of the meetings, 

 the Council have no reason to regret his appointment. 

 His literary taste, business habits, and the great 

 interest he takes in his native town, and in the welfare 

 of this Society, eminently fit him for the office. 



From Dr. Scoresby-Jackson, one of your honorary 



