LTKNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. XXV 



A circumstance has recently occurred in reference to the most 

 important and iateresting portion of our property, the Lionean 

 Collections, of which I think it may be agreeable to you to be 

 informed. It was proposed ia the CouncU that a Committee 

 should be appointed to examine iuto the present condition of 

 those collections, — as to what they respectively consist of, — where 

 they are now respectively deposited, — in what state they now are, 

 and whether any suggestions may occur to the Committee with 

 reference to their preservation and exhibition to the Fellows of 

 the Society and the visitors. The Committee consisted of the 

 President, the Secretary, Mr. Bentham, and Mr. "Wilson Saunders, 

 and they afterwards obtained the assistance of IMr. Hanley with 

 reference to the Shells, and of Mr. Tarrell to the Fishes. 



It has appeared to me that this subject was a perfectly legiti- 

 mate one to form an element in my address, as it cannot but be 

 very interesting to all who have the character of the Society at 

 heart, and are anxious for the preservation and proper use of the 

 invaluable collections in question. Instead, therefore, of merely 

 embodjdng in my address a brief abstract of the acts of the Com- 

 mittee, as I at first intended, I ^vill, with your permission, read 

 the Report which they delivered to the Council, in extenso. 



" Report presented to the Council, May 6, 1856. 



" The Committee of Council, consisting of the President, INIr. 

 Bentham, Mr. AVilson Saunders, and the Secretary, appointed on 

 the 1st of April, 1856, ' to examine the Books, Manuscripts and 

 Collections, forming the Library and Museum of Linnaeus, and 

 to report to the Council 



" ' Wliat they respectively consist of, 



" ' T\Tiere they are now respectively deposited, 



" ' In what state they are respectively, and 



" ' Whether any suggestions may occur to the Committee with 

 reference to their preservation and exhibition to the Fellows of 

 the Society and Visitors,' report as follows : — 



" The Committee have held several meetings, viz. on the 7th, 

 10th and 15th of April, and on the 1st of May, and carefully 

 examined into the several matters referred to them. The residt 

 of their investigations may best be stated under the general heads 

 of Books, Manuscripts, Plants, Insects, Shells, Fishes, and Mis- 

 cellaneous Zoological Specimens. 



"1. Boohs. 



" The Books are for the most part placed on the shelves of the 



