i7 



" The disadvantages are stated to be, the dampness of the 

 soil J the exhalations from the canal, which it is feared may 

 be prejudicial to the specimens ; the distance as inconvenient 

 for meetings, especially those appropriated to scientific pur- 

 poses, which are generally held in the evening, and which 

 might, if the Museum were at any inconvenient distance, 

 be entirely discontinued ; the necessity of incurring the 

 additional expense of an office in London for the meetings 

 of the Council and the dispatch of the ordinary business of 

 the Society ; the inconveniences that would arise from the 

 length of time which must elapse before an adequate portion 

 of the proposed galleries could be built and made available 

 for the reception of the collections ; and the comparatively 

 small value of such portion as a convertible asset. 



*' The advantages of the second proposition are stated to 

 be, the convenience of Members who attend meetings, 

 especially scientific meetings, held in the evening; the 

 greater probability of a good attendance at Lectures ; faci- 

 lity of referring to collections or libraries belonging to pub- 

 lic bodies or individuals ; the expectation that the Museum, 

 situated in a central part of London, would be more nu- 

 merously visited, especially in the winter or during bad 

 leather; the consolidation of such a Museum with the 

 office of business ; the more early arrangement and display 

 of the present admirable collections j the better chance of 

 defining the outlay of money j the greater facility of borrow- 

 ing in the first instance the required sum upon a building 

 so situated ; and the possession of a valuable and convertible 

 asset for future contingencies. 



" The disadvantages are stated to be, thenecessity of raising 

 at once a considerable sum of money more than would be 

 required for building an adequate portion of the proposed 

 galleries as an appendage to the Garden, and the probable 

 want of perfect adaptation to scientific purposes in any 

 building already constructed. 



** After duly comparingthese advantages and disadvantages, 

 the great majority of the Committee beg leave to express an 



