158 PROCEEDINGS OP PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES. 



The Museum, which has been founded at Shrewsbury, as the 

 most central place, is principally designed to illustrate the Natural 

 History of the District, in its various branches of geology, miner- 

 alogy, zoology, and botany, by the gradual formation of complete 

 and systematic arrangements of its productions, in each of these 

 departments. It will also be open to other objects of scientific 

 interest, and, in particular, it will be a suitable repository for such 

 remains of antiquity as are found within the district, or illustrate its 

 general history. 



The Library will consist of books illustrative of Natural History, 

 Antiquities, and especially such works of reference as the funds of 

 the Society will admit of being purchased, for the illustration of 

 the objects in the Museum, or which may be presented by the mem- 

 bers and friends of the Institution. 



In order to place the Institution on the most liberal basis, and to 

 render it of the greatest possible public advantage, the property of 

 the Society has been vested in the Lords Lieutenant of the county of 

 Salop, and of the several counties of North Wales, as Trustees for 

 the permanent use and benefit of the district at large, by which 

 arrangement the perpetuity of the Institution is secured, and the 

 possible dispersion of the Museum at any future period effectually 

 guarded against. 



The affairs of the Society are under the management of a council, 

 consisting of a president and other officers, elected annually, and 

 twelve subscribers, of whom six retire by rotation and six are elected 

 in their stead at the annual meeting. 



All persons proposed to the council by two subscribers, and con- 

 tributing one guinea annually, are members of the Society, and 

 have the privilege of admission for themselves and families to the 

 Museum and Library, and of introducing visitors. 



To diffuse a taste for science, periodical meetings of the Society 

 will be held, at which scientific communications will be received and 

 read, and popular Lectures delivered on the various branches of 

 Natural History. 



In addition to the more local objects of the Society, the IMuseum 

 will be open to the reception of any specimens from distant localities, 

 with which the friends of science in various quarters may be induced 

 to enrich it, and which may serve to complete the series and enhance 

 the scientific value of those indigenous to the district. For this 

 purpose the council have authority to effect exchanges of the natural 

 products of Shropshire and North Wales for specimens furnished by 

 the cabinets of Societies, or individual collectors in other parts of the 

 world. 



Of the progress which the Society has made since its first esta- 

 blishment (26th June, 1835), we are enabled to recount the most 

 flattering report. The number of members is now 149, amongst 

 whom are enrolled several of the nobility of the county, and many 

 of the most scientific and eminent men in the district. The museum 

 has already been enriched with numerous donations in every de- 



