188 liEPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 



the office of collector he was residing in the island of Lesina, 

 where he held an employment under the Austrian Government ; 

 time was required to arrange his official engagements, and to 

 pi'epare for an absence of uncertain duration in a distant country. 

 The consequence was that Mr. Botteri only reached England a 

 few weeks ago. The Council are now able to report that he took 

 his departure for Liverpool some days since, and has probably 

 sailed for Vera Cruz. His first consignments may therefore be 

 expected in the autumn. In connection with, this part of their 

 Report, the Council desire to e.xpress their obligations to the 

 house of Messrs. Antony Gibbs and Co., for providing Mr. Botteri 

 with letters of credit on Mexico. 



The Council have to record their disappointment at the 

 supplies of Coniferous and other seeds expected from Real del 

 Monte not having reached England. The cause of this delay is 

 unknown, but it is hoped they may arrive in the course of the 

 present summer. Nor has any such advantage as was anticipated 

 been derived from the Society's subscription to the Scotch 

 expedition to Oregon formerly reported. The collections made 

 by Mr. Jeffreys have given so little satisfaction that the Com- 

 mittee under whom he acted have announced his recal. The 

 Council must at the same time declare that the Horticultural 

 Society has been treated by the Oregon Committee with the 

 utmost possible liberality. 



The plan of effecting Life Subscriptions upon the scale 

 authorised Feb. 17, 1852, has been taken advantage of by 

 3 Fellows only, viz. : — 



£ s. d. 



By Arthur Currie, Esq., after paying 20 years' .sub- 1 91 n 



scriptiou, by further payment of . . ■ j " 



By James Malcolmson, Esq., after paying 21 years' 1 o^ q 



subscription, by further payment of . • } " 



By Richard Davis, Esq., after paying 7 years' sub- 1 ^i iQ q 



scription, by further payment of . . .J ^^__^_ 



£73 10 



The Exhibitions in the Garden shew a marked improvement, 

 the value of the tickets sold having increased to the extent of 

 408L 5s, beyond that of 1852-3, while the expenses have been 

 diminished by 337Z. 13s. lid. 



The following return shows under what heads the expenses 

 have been distributed, and in what way those of 1853 differ from 

 those of 1852 : — 



