6 
The number of students is 164, and it is hoped that all 
who enter for the examinations in May will do well, not only 
earning for themselves certificates and prizes, but also a sub- 
stantial grant for their Teachers. It is principally by Members 
of our Society that these classes have been carried on, and we 
owe them a deep debt of gratitude for the work they are doing. 
On their instruction the progress and permanence of the Society 
will in a great measure depend. We have, however, to bear in 
mind that the organization of these Science Classes, and the 
growing usefulness of our Society, has thrown much additional 
labour on our General Secretary, Mr. G. R. GrirFirH, and we 
feel, if we are to retain his invaluable services (which we are 
sure every Member must earnestly desire) some arrangement 
must be made to give him assistance, and this matter is now 
under consideration. 
The second point we wish to bring before you is the very 
obvious need now existing for a suitable building to meet the 
requirements of the Society. We feel that it is little use making 
valuable collections of local natural history objects if they are 
in a few years to be scattered to the winds, or hid away in 
cellars. A Joint-Committee has been formed, consisting of 
members of the Committees of the School of Art, the Archzo- 
logical Society, and the Natural Science Society ; and a plot of 
land in Grosvenor Street has been obtained, partly by purchase 
and partly by the liberality of His Grace the DuKe or WEst- 
MINSTER, sufficient for the purposes, we think, of the three 
Societies. We have now to see how funds can be obtained 
for carrying out our project for a Museum and Lecture Rooms. 
We know that the friends of the Chester Society of Natural 
Science will do their best, but a good Local Museum will be an 
acquisition both to the City,and County of Cheshire, and we think 
we may reasonably look to both these sources for help. Chester 
is rich in local Archeology, and anyone who now goes into 
our temporary rooms will see that we already have very valuable 
material at our command, only wanting proper arrangement 
and space to do it justice. Liverpool and Manchester, with 
eee eee 
