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cussed clause by clause by the Council, it was referred, for the 

 purpose of final revision, to the Rev. Wm. Gaskell and Dr. 

 R. A. Smith, and then presented to the Society for adoption. 

 It will be seen, therefore, that the subject received a consider- 

 able amount of attention and consideration from the Council. 

 It was only after carefully weighing the reasons for and 

 against each proposed alteration, that the alteration was 

 finally adopted. The most important change which has been 

 effected, is that of altering the rate of subscription from 

 twenty-five shillings to two guineas per annum. The finan- 

 cial condition of the Society seemed to the Council to render 

 this change absolutely necessary. In order to prevent the 

 increased rate of subscription proving a bar to the less wealthy 

 members of the community, who might wish to join the 

 Society, a provision was introduced into the new rules, 

 allowing residents of the district, as well as non-residents, to 

 become honorary or corresponding members on being recom- 

 mended by the Council for election. 



Although some dissatisfaction was expressed by several 

 members at the mode in which the proposed rules were 

 adopted, the Council consider that the course taken by them 

 was the only legitimate one open to them, and they trust that 

 as a large majority of the Society decided in favour of the new 

 rules, all feelings of animosity which may have arisen out of 

 the discussion of the subject may be laid aside, and that all the 

 members will cordially unite, for the purpose of increasing 

 the prosperity of the Society and promoting the objects for 

 which it was instituted. 



