ANNUAL KEl>ORT OF THE COUNCIL. 67 



Cranniei-Byng and Mrs. Cranmei-Byng ; in the Ilainault Forest district, on 

 which occasion the Club was entertained at tea at Little Gearies, Barking Side, 

 by Mrs. EJenborough ; a ramble from Chelmsford to Maldon ; a geological 

 ramble around Chelmsford, in conjunction with the Geologists' Association ; at 

 Ipswich and on the Orwell and Stour rivers, in conjunction with the Ipswich 

 Scientific Society, for the purpose of dredging in the estuaries, on which occasion 

 the Ipswich Society organised a very pleasant reception at the Museum, on the 

 evening preceding the meeting ; a journey by Barge from Maldon to Chelms- 

 ford, mainly organised by our President and Mr. Durrant ; and, lastly, a very 

 pleasant meeting at St. Osyth and Brightlingsea, organised by Mr. C. E. Benham 

 and Mr. J. C. Shenstone. The Council most gratefully recognises the many acts 

 of kindness shown by local residents and others at these meetings. They were 

 all successful and largely attended. 



Great assistance was received at the Field Meetings from the following ladies 

 and gentlemen, who acted as " Conductors," or otherwise aided the Secretary in 

 various ways : — Mr. Andrew Johnston, Mr. L. Cranmer-Byng, Rev. G. Tamplin, 

 Mr. G. E. Pritchett, Mr. Walter Crouch, Mr. E. A. Fitch, Mr. E. Durrant, Rev. 

 W. S. Lach-Szyrma, Mrs. Whitbourne, Mr. Douglas, Mrs. Ingleby, Miss Ingleby, 

 and Mr. Holcombe Ingleby, Mr. F. Chancellor, J. P., Mr. C. Smoothy, Dr. 

 Taylor, Mr. H. B. Monckton, Mr. Henry Miller, M.Inst.C.E., Mr. E. M. 

 Holmes, Mr. T. V. Holmes, Mr. G. H. Hewetson, Mr. F. Woolnough, Mr. W. 

 Jolly, Dr. Pearl, Mr. S. Garratt, Mr. Byford, Mr. J. C. Shenstone, Mr. C. E. 

 Benham, Rev. J. E. Potts, Prof. Boulger, Sir J. H. Johnson, and many others. 



It was with great regret that the Secretary found it necessary, in consequence 

 of the sudden death of Mr. J. Archer Houblon, to cancel the Twelfth Annual 

 Cryptogamic Meeting, which was to have been held on October loth in Hatfield 

 Forest. All arrangements had been made, and Dr. Cooke and Mr. G. Massee 

 had kindly consented to act as Botanical Referees. 



Library and Museum. — The library is slowly but steadily increasing by 

 donations and purchases, but, as in former years, the Librarian has still to lament 

 his inability to bind the numerous volumes received in parts. The Museum 

 scheme (which was unanimously approved by the members at the last Annual 

 Meeting) has received a very large amount of attention, and an influential public 

 meeting was held at Chelmsford on March l8th last in its support. The Com- 

 mittee appointed to deal with the subject has held several meetings, and in June 

 last an Appeal for Funds was widely circulated. In response to that appeal over 

 ;^300 has already been promised or received, and other substantial aid promised. 

 The Committee is desirous of obtaining promises to the value of ;^5oo before 

 issuing the list to the general public, and it is hoped that the total may be soon 

 attained. Both the Committee and the Council are fully convinced of the im- 

 portance of the project ; all arrangements are completed, and the only re- 

 quirements are funds to commence the work. The following noblemen and gentle- 

 men have consented to serve as Trustees : — The Right Hon. Lord Rayleigh, D.L., 

 D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S. ; Lord Brooke, M P. ; Sir T. Fowell Bu.\ton, Bart., D.L., 

 F.R.G.S. ; The Ven. the Archdeacon of Essex ; W. M. Tufnell, Esq., J. P., D.L. ; 

 Professor Meldola, F.R.S., F.R.A.S., F.C.S. ; and G. P. Hope, Esq., M.A. 



It cannot be too emphatically stated or too well known that the institution is 

 for the benefit of the whole county, and not exclusively for that of Chelmsford or 

 any particular district. It must, of course, have a home, and the proposed 

 buildings are to be erected at Chelmsford simply because Chelmsford is a 



