170 KEPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 



office, which includes not only giving information to Fellows and 

 the Public, but receiving subscriptions ; and it appears to the 

 Council that in accepting the resignation of tliis officer they 

 adopted the only course which could with propriety have been 

 taken. 



The Accountant-Clerk at first objected to register the time of 

 his arrival and departure ; but after a month's refusal, and having 

 been brought before the Council, he submitted. He had brought 

 vague charges of mal-adrainistration against the Vice-Secretary 

 and Council, and though repeatedly called on, in writing by the 

 Secretary, and verbally by the Council, to specify the acts to 

 which he alluded, he had always refused to do so, excepting in 

 one case, which the Council had investigated in December 

 1845, and which was then explained to their entire satisfaction. 

 Having been irregular in his attendance, and negligent in the 

 performance of his duties, he received notice of discontinuance ; 

 and at last, having acted with gross impropriety towards the Au- 

 ditors and Vice-Secretary while in official attendance upon them, 

 he was summarily dismissed. The Council ought, in fact, to have 

 removed him long before, and had only retained him from a 

 feeling of indulgence towards one who had been for many years 

 in the service of the Society. 



Upon the recommendation of the Auditors the Council then 

 placed the accounts of the Society in the hands of a public 

 accountant, and appointed to this duty Mr. Andrew Duncan, of 

 Tokenhouse Yard, a gentleman well known in the City, and in 

 public offices, for his skill and probity. 



They have also appointed to the office of Librarian Mr. W. 

 Brailsford, who has been strongly recommended to them as a 

 gentleman of intelligence and of high character, and who, they 

 trust, will prove an active and valuable officer. 



By these arrangements, together with some minor changes in 

 Regent Street, the Council have effected a present reduction of 

 120/. per annum; at the same time they hope materially to in- 

 crease the efficiency of this department. 



Arrears. 



In their two last Reports the Council have been obliged to 

 draw attention to the want of punctuality of some Fellows of the 

 Society in discharging their annual subscriptions, and to com- 

 plain of a practice which loaded the account books of the Society 

 with arrears. AVith a view to check this evil, the Council dele- 

 gated to a Committee of themselves, with full powers to act, the 

 duty of examining these arrears, and dealing with them. 



The proceedings of the Committee have been approved and 



