15 



Manchester was to proceed to Malta, where she is probably 

 at this time ; and as soon as the necessary fittings are com- 

 pleted, and the animals are embarked, she will return to 

 London. Her arrival may be expected before the end of 

 May. For the conveyance of the animals to England £1000 

 are to be paid, such being the estimated expenses of the 

 vessel during the time that she will be engaged specially on 

 the Society's service beyond the limits of her ordinary line, 

 which extends no further than Gibraltar : within that line 

 the conveyance is regarded by the owners as gratuitous. 

 The necessary fittings to be made in her for the accommo- 

 dation of the Giraffes, will be prepared at the cost of the 

 Society in His Majesty's Dock Yard at Malta, orders to that 

 effect having been sent thither by the Lords of the Admi- 

 ralty. 



On lives so precarious the Council have felt unwilling to 

 engage the Society's means to a greater amount than that 

 now reported ; and they readily acceded to a suggestion 

 made to them by the Committee, to whom they have en- 

 trusted the consideration of the several arrangements con- 

 nected with this undertaking, to defer until after the arrival 

 of the animals any extensive preparations for their reception. 

 It was proposed to secure for their use, in the first in- 

 stance, a riding-school or other capacious building ; but cir- 

 cumstances having prevented the carrying of the resolution 

 into eflPect, it is now intended to accommodate them in one 

 of the buildings already existing at the Gardens, to which 

 they will offer a considerable additional attraction. 



Donations to the Menagerie. 



In the course of the past year His Majesty has been again 

 pleased to manifest the interest taken by him, as its Patron, 

 in the Society, by several valuable presents. 



To his munificence it has been indebted for several animals 

 of interest, some of which were collected by the officers of 

 the expedition now engaged on the Survey of the Euphrates ; 



