21 



From the foregoing Statement, it appears that the Receipts 

 for admission to the Gardens have exceeded those of the pre- 

 ceding year by upwards of £2000, notwithstanding the very 

 unfavourable state of the weather during the greater part of 

 the summer and autumn, which increase, in the opinion of 

 your Committee, is chiefly to be attributed to the attraction 

 of the Giraffes. 



On an average of the last three years, the permanent and 

 unavoidable annual Expenditure has been upwards of £10,000, 

 including Rent, Taxes, Parochial Rates, Salaries, Labourers' 

 Wages, Materials, Provisions for the Animals, and other si- 

 milar expenses. 



The average annual Subscriptions dui'ing the same period 

 have been about £5200 exclusive of Compositions paid for 

 life. Provision for the remainder of the annual expenditure 

 is chiefly dependent on the Garden Admissions, the amount 

 of which has varied largely during the last seven years, the 

 highest (1831) having been £l 1,425 16s. and the lowest (1835) 

 only £7,343 6s. The Garden Admissions in 1836 amounted 

 to £9,463 2s. 



The state of the "Investment Fund" has occupied the at- 

 tention of your Committee. It appears that the Funded 

 Stock on the 31st of December, 1836, consisted of 

 £. s. d. 

 5904 1 Consolidated 3 per Cents. 

 4756 14 2 Reduced 3 per Cents. 



£10,660 15 2 



In the month of March 1836, the Council borrowed from 

 this Fund the sum of £2000, with the distinct understanding 

 that the amount should be reinvested at the earliest period at 

 which it might be found practicable; but your Committee 

 regret to find that the sum of £500 only has been so re- 

 invested ; nor has any part of the general receipts of the last 

 year been invested in conformity with the Report of the Coun- 

 cil in 1832. This is not, however, matter of surprise, when 

 the extraordinary expenditure of the year 1836 is considered. 



It appears to be generally understood by the Fellows of the 



