articles of general consumption have been for some years 

 supplied, and in the examination of the tradesmen sac 

 counts, the Council have been assisted, since June last, by a 



Committee of Finance, 

 consisting of seven Fellows, not being Membei-s of the 

 Council, and of the President, and Vice-Presidents the 

 Treasurer, Secretary and Vice-Secretary. The Members 

 of this Committee have been most sedulous m the discharge 

 of the duties imposed upon them, and are entitled to the 

 best thanks of the Council for the attention which they 

 have devoted in their numerous Meetings to the interests ot 

 the Society. They have not only examined with the great- 

 est care the tenders and accounts which have been laid be- 

 fore them, but have also directed their inquiries to the 

 Arrears : to the consumption of provisions at the esta- 

 blishments at which animals are kept; and to the necessarily 

 heavy amount of the salaries and wages paid to the servants 

 of the Societv. Under the latter head some reductions 

 have been already made by the Council, and arrangements 

 have also been introduced which will, it is hoped, prove 

 advantageous; other reductions and arrangements are still 



under consideration. . , i • c 



The subiect of Arrears received, as it required, the serious 

 attention of the Council, and measures have been adopted 

 from which they anticipate a diminution of the present 

 amount, and the prevention of future accumulation. Ihe 

 amount, though considerable, is, however, smaller, as com- 

 pared with the large numbers of the Society, than in most 

 similar institutions. It has hitherto been augmented in the 

 statements which have been made of the accounts, by in- 

 cluding as Arrears the sums charged for their admission 

 fees and annual contributions against all persons elected as 

 Fellows. These sums, though probable receipts, are evi- 

 dently not debts due to the Society under By-laws in 

 which the persons against whom they are charged have not 

 yet acquiesced. Some of these persons, as happens m all 



