Ixxxiv Proceedings. 
as you are all doubtless aware, in the grounds of this beautiful 
estate stands a fine mansion, and I was in hopes that before 
this a Public Museum would have been formed there under the 
superintendence of our Society; but I regret to say that those 
hopes, now I hear that the Corporation of Croydon is unable to 
find the small sum of two hundred pounds for cases, have been 
blighted, and I fear this scheme is therefore at an end. 
There is no doubt that the time has arrived when this Society 
must rouse itself. It has slept too long. Without its own 
Lecture Hall and Museum it is severely handicapped. 
My opinion is our Society is unable to offer sufficient attrac- 
tions and comforts to encourage would-be members. 
The Club at the present time numbers only two hundred and 
twenty members, and I regret to say that we seldom see more 
than sixty or seventy of these at our monthly meetings, and I 
am sure—I am very sorry to have to say it—that there are not 
more than thirty members who work hard for the Society, and 
they do it because they love Natural Science, and would do their 
utmost, I know, to make such a Society as this successful. 
I have a scheme in my mind which, on a future occasion, if I 
receive any supporters, I shall be pleased to put before you. 
I think our members have too long been satisfied with our out- 
of-date surroundings, and should severely reproach themselves 
for having allowed the most valuable and beautiful collection of 
our late friend Mr. Philip Crowley to have been lost to them. 
I have in my mind not the slightest doubt that had we had a 
suitable museum our late friend would have passed part, if not 
all, of his collection to us. 
We have been justly punished, and I ask, are we going to 
be wise and take a lesson by this reprimand, and take some 
immediate steps to be prepared in the future for any collections 
that may be within our reach ? 
Again, what an incentive it would be to members to have 
something to work for. I can quite understand a man not 
offering his valuable collection to a Society that had no suitable 
museum, and he is perfectly justified in not doing so. If we 
love our Natural Science, we should be prepared to make a 
sacrifice of either time or money for it. ; 
I trust you will seriously consider this matter, which is urgent, 
and decide whether it is to be, or not to be. 
Excursions during the summer months were made, as in 
previous years, and were on the whole well attended. 
I am pleased to say that the Council was this year in a position 
to hold a Soirée, and I personally hope that it may in future 
be held regularly, as not only has it a great tendency to bring 
about a friendly and sociable feeling amongst its members, 
but it allows the Borough of Croydon to know that this long 
