all the property of the Bristol Museum and Library- 

 Association became vested in the Corporation discharged 

 from all debts and liabilities of the Association. To clear 

 off these debts and liabilities the residuary legatees of Sir 

 Charles Wathen contributed the sum of ^2,871 2s. yd. and 

 it is their generous adoption of the responsibility which 

 Sir Charles proposed to take upon himself which has 

 enabled the Corporation to acquire free of all cost to the 

 ratepayers not only the extensive premises but a very 

 important scientific collection and the valuable library 

 connected therewith worth many thousands of pounds, such 

 as is possessed by very few^ if any, other provincial cities, 

 and which could only be got together at very great expense 

 in a long series of years. 



In carrying on the negotiations for this transfer your 

 Committee found it expedient in order to meet the views 

 of the Shareholders to make some arrangement with the 

 members of a Subscription Library which had for many 

 years been carried on in connection with the Institution to 

 enable them to continue for a time at least to enjoy to 

 some extent privileges they had been accustomed to and this 

 resulted in an arrangement under which in consideration of 

 the Subscribers being allowed the necessary facilities for 

 carrying on their work the whole of their subscriptions are 

 to be expended in the purchase of new books selected by 

 members of your Committee and the Subscribers Committee 

 jointly and which after circulating among the Subscribers for 

 a specified time become the absolute property of the 

 Corporation. This arrangement will your Committee 

 believe be advantageous to the Corporation by providing a 

 continuous supply of books suitable for their Reference and 

 Lending Libraries. It can however be determined at the 

 option of your Committee should the necessity arise. 



