50 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING, JULY SO, 1859. 



read the following official letter from Mr. Bowriog, containing 

 further proposals: 



Whitehall, July Uth, 1859. 

 Sir,— I am directed by ter Majesty's Commisaionera for the Exhibition of 



inquire with reference to the proposed lease to the Horticultural Sooiety of a 

 portion of the Kensington Gore estate for a period of 31 years, what is the 



that term, and whether they will then be wilUng to renew the lease to the 

 Society, if the management shall haTe been satisfactory to the Commissioners 

 and the public. In reply, I am to acquaint you for the information of the 

 Council of the Horticultural Society, that being anxious to meet their wishes 



rith the Society proposed in their letter of the 4th inst., stipula- 

 lowing effect -.—Upon the Society giving to the Commissioners two 



3nt, &c., as those already proposed by the Commissioners with reference to 

 e original lease. Her Majesty's Commissioners, however, reserve to them- 



e responsibility of any of the Debentures now proposed to be issued 

 the Society that may be outstanding at the expiration of the 31 years, to 



3W to reducing as far as possible the Debenture debt above alluded to. the 



it less than 50 per cent, of their moiety of the net surplus balance of receipts 



• Majesty's Commissioners have lastly to stipulate that the Society shaU 

 ierlet or dispose of their lease, either during the original or the exten 

 n, without the consent of the Commissioners being previously obtained 



After considerable discussion, in which the particular privi- 

 leges to be attached to the different descriptions of life-Member- 

 ship, and especially the questions of re-entry by the Royal Com- 

 missioners, as raised by the new proposals, and the fate of the 

 Gardens at Chiswick, were canvassed, the following resolution, 

 proposed by Sir Philip Grey Egerton, and seconded by the 

 t)vKE OF Leinstkr, was carried unanimously : 



authorise the negotiations with the Royal Commissioners to be continued, and 



