THE FABMER'S MAGAZINE. 



545 



interest taken by agriculturists generally in these an- 

 nual exhibitions appears steadily to increase, and that 

 year by year greater anxiety is manifested by the autho- 

 rities and inhabitants of the principal towns within the 

 district proposed to be visited to secure the Society's 

 meeting being held in their respective localities, and to 

 offer every facility in their power to aid the Council in 

 carrying it to a successful issue. 



In conclusion, the Council congratulate the members 

 on the steady progress of the Society in accomplishing 

 the various important objects for which it was esta- 

 blished. 



(By order of Special Council, May 20th, 1859.) 



On the motion of Mr. S. Sydney, seconded by^Mr. B. 

 Browne, the report was adopted. 



Mr. R. Barker, chairman of the Finance Committee, 



presented the following balance-sheet : — 



ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 



Half- Yearly Accouut, extending from the lat of July to the 



31st of December, 1858. 



Receipts. 



£. 8. d. 

 Balance in the hands of the Bankers, July 1,1858 2225 15 9 

 Petty Cash Balance in the hands of the Secretary 



July 1,1858 3 14 4 



Dividends on Stock 146 17 6 



Governor's Life-Composition 50 



Governors' liife-Subscriptions 30 



Members' Life-Composition 167 



Members' Annual Subscriptions 664 2 



Journal Receipts 187 8 6 



Sale of Horse-shoeing Tracts 17 18 10 



Country-Meeting Receipts : — 



SalUbury 14 1 



Chester 4566 15 7 



£8073 13 

 Payments. 



£ 8. 



Permanent Charges 179 17 



Taxes and Rates 15 17 



Establishment 631 8 



Postage and Carriage 18 14 



Advertisements 7 7 



Journal Payments 648 2 



Essay Prizes 120 



Veterinary Grant 100 



Chemical Grant 150 



Country Meeting Payments : — 



Chester 4792 8 



Subscription (paid in error by Banker) returned . 5 

 Purchase of £735 lis. Id. Stock in the New 



Three per Cents. 717 3 



Sundry items of Petty Cash 4 7 



Balanceinthe hands of the Bankers, Dec. 31, 1858 649 11 

 Petty Cash balance in the hands of Secretary, 



Dec.31,1858. 15 



£8,073 13 6 

 (Signed) Thomas Raymond Barker, I „. 



Chairman, > >-, ... 

 C. B. Challoner, J (Committee. 



Examined, audited, and found correct, this 20th day of 

 May, 1858. 



(Signed) Joseph Druce, J /'"^'''f *,"?'* 



George T. Raymond Barker,! '''^^'"'■^ f/''"^ 

 ' L Society. 



Mr. H. Corbet, in moving a vote of thanks to the 

 auditors, observed that at the last meeting it was men- 

 tioned that those gentlemen had made several valuable 

 suggestions to the finance committee with regard to the 

 mode of keeping the accounts, and he was sure the at- 

 tention which they had paid to the subject well entitled 

 them to this acknowledgment. 



Mr. S. Sidney, in seconding the motion, suggested 

 that in future the balance sheet should be prepared some 

 days before the meeting, and placed on the table for 

 members to inspect. It would be too expensive to send 

 a copy to every member, but he thought they should all 

 have an opportunity of examining the accounts before- 

 hand. 



Mr, R. Barker was understood to say that under 

 the charter of the society, it was necessary that the audit 

 should take place immediatly before the general meeting. 



The election of the Council then took place, and, 

 with one vote only in exception, the house-list was 

 adopted. 



Three new members of Council were elected, viz., 

 Mr. J. W. BuUer, M.P., the Hon. Augustus Vernon, and 

 Professor John Wilson. 



The Chairman then inquired whether any gentleman 

 present had any remarks to make, or any suggestions to 

 offer, for the consideration of the Council, and there 

 being no response, 



Colonel Challoner said he rose to propose what he 

 was sure would be very acceptable to every person 

 present, and -especially to the members of the Council 

 who had seen the ability, the kindness, and the 

 attention which their noble Chairman had displayed in 

 the office of President (Cheers). The noble Duke was 

 one of the largest landowners in England ; and as long 

 as they could get gentlemen of that stamp to preside 

 over the Society, there could be no doubt that its pro- 

 ceedings would be satisfactory to the agricultural world. 

 He had great pleasure, then, in proposing that the 

 cordial thanks of the meeting be given to his Grace for 

 the services which he had rendered to the Society 

 (cheers). 



Mr. H. Corbet, in seconding the motion, observed 

 that the members generally had previously heard the 

 highest character accorded to the Duke of Marlborough 

 as President of the Royal Agricultural Society, and he 

 only regretted that in consequence of the Council having 

 determined to get rid of the annual dinner, they would 

 not have an opportunity of seeing him preside over a full 

 gathering of the members. 



The motion was put by Colonel Challoner, and carried 

 by acclamation. 



His Grace said he had to return his sincere thanks 

 for the honour they had done him in acknowledging the 

 services which he had rendered to the Society. He did 

 not think there was anything for him to remark upon in 

 the transactions of the year during which he had been 

 president, the Society having gone on in much the same 

 way that it did in previous years. He must, however, 

 observe that the Society appeared year by year to be 

 increasing in importance, increasing in popularity, and 

 increasing in the benefit which it was conferring on the 

 agrimilture of the country; and as regarded the tribute 

 whv .. h . 1 j'lot been paid to himself, he could only say 

 that, if he had been at all instrumental, in the position 

 to which the members of the Society had done him the 

 honour to raise him, in promoting the agricultural 

 interests of this country, it would always be a matter of 

 O 2 



