186 RBPOKT OP THE COUNCIL, 



although the terms of agreement are not finally settled, yet the 

 Council can now state that they have arrived very nearly at a 

 conclusion, which, in their opinion, will be found to secure a satis- 

 factory as well as " equitable adjustment of mutual interests." 



The support which the Council have received in their attempt 

 to raise the 50,000^ required has been of the most gratifying 

 nature, and shows with what interest the pubhc looks upon the 

 attempt to bring Horticulture to the very gates of the metropolis. 



The Donations announced amount to the sum of 197 U. 



Six hundred and one new Fellows have joined the Society 

 since the beginning of the year. 



The sum of 39,900i. has been offered the Council on the security 

 of the Society's debentures ; and in addition, application has been 

 made for 8000Z. more, since the Debenture list was closed. The 

 names of the new applicants are placed in a reserved list, in 

 order that they may have the opportunity of being provided for 

 should any of the first subscribers be willing to reduce the amount 

 of their subscriptions. 



From this it appears that the sum of about 62,000^. has been 

 placed at the command of the Council for the execution of the 

 works in the new Garden. But the Council trust that no outlay 

 beyond the stipulated 50,OOOZ. will be needed. 



As soon as it had been ascertained that the funds required 

 would be provided, measures were taken for settling the plan of 

 the Garden. Mr. Nesfield, whose knowledge of the principles 

 and practice of geometrical garden designs, ranks among the 

 highest in Europe, was intrusted with this operation. Many 

 meetings of a Sub-committee of the Council, and of the Council 

 itself with Mr. Nesfield, to determine on general principles, were 

 held by Command of the Prince Consort, at which H.R. Highness 

 presided, and the Council can now refer to the detailed design 

 itself, which is before the meeting. While this has been pro- 

 ceeding the Arcades have been very fully considered by the 

 Chief Officers of the Department of Science and Art, where we 

 are now assembled, by the special permission of the Lord 

 President of the Council, and specimens of what it is intended to 

 construct are at hand, where any Fellows of the Society can 

 inspect them. 



The Garden itself is at present in the earliest stage of con- 

 struction. The heavy preliminary earthworks and the arterial 

 dramage are nearly ■ ■ 



appointed the Gardei 



