REPORT FROM THE COUXCIL 



ANNIVERSARY MEETING, MAY 1, 1846. 



The Council desire to take the opportunity afforded by the 

 present Anniversary of giving some account of the progress 

 which, since the last printed Report, has been made in carrying 

 out the objects of the Society. 



To the improvement of the Finances the Council have never 

 ceased to give their first and most serious attention ; and they trust 

 that the Society will be of opinion that the means which have 

 been taken for this purpose have been as effectual as would have 

 been compatible with the other interests of the institution. The 

 great object of the Council has been, to diminish the Society's 

 debt without impairing its efficiency, or even for a moment sus- 

 pending operations which have appeared necessary to carry out 

 the objects for which a charter was granted. They have felt, 

 indeed, that the most certain means of enabling the Society to 

 reduce its liabilities, would be to enlarge the sphere of its 

 utility. 



On the 31st of March, 1840, the debt of the Society was 

 12.904/. ; but on the 31st of March, 1841, in consequence of an 

 outlay of 3197/. in buildings, the debt was increased by the sum 

 of 1417/. 28. \M. ; so that it then amounted to 14,321/. 12^. 10c/. 

 Subsequently it had been reduced, at the last anniversary, in the 

 following sums : — 



1841-2 . . . £1,047 12 8 



1842-3 ... 708 10 4 



1843-4 . . . 1,428 5 1 



1844-5 . . . 1,579 5 9 



£4,763 13 10 

 So that the total amount of the liabilities of the Corporation 

 then amounted to only 9557/. 19s. 



This financial improvement in the Society's affairs was effected 

 notwithstanding tlie continual expenditure of large sums in car- 

 rj'ing out its objects, as will be apparent from the following 

 detailed account of the new buildings constructed, or alterations 

 and improvements effected in the Society's property : — 



1. The great conservatory has been completed at an expense 

 of something more than 2500/., in addition to the sums- 

 mentioned in the Report of 1840. 



VOL. I. K 



