REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 



In presenting their customai'y Annual Report of the pro- 

 gress of the Society and the proceedings of the several de- 

 partments, since the last Anniversary, the Council, in spite 

 of the occurrence of some heavy and unforeseen losses du- 

 ring the year which has just passed, submit the following 

 statement as a proof that the energies and utility of the 

 Society have not been impaired ; and that, if two consecu- 

 tive adverse seasons produced a diminution of income, the 

 ordinary expenditure has been i-educed in proportion, and 

 the financial condition of the Society, on the whole, consi- 

 derably improved. It is but fair to add, however, in jus- 

 tice to their predecessors, that the credit of this ameliora- 

 tion is chiefly due to the judicious retrenchments effected 

 during the preceding year, on the recommendation of the 

 " Committee of Receipt and Expenditure;" or to negotia- 

 tions and arrangements commenced previous to the last 

 Anniversary, though concluded and carried into actual 

 operation within the period embraced in the present Re- 

 port. 



1. GENERAL ESTABLISHMENT. 



Under this head are included the fluctuations and changes 

 which have occurred in the list of Members for the past 

 year, the actual state of our financial affairs, and a proba- 

 ble estimate of our future prospects. 



1. Members. — a. Fellows. 



The actual number of Fellows, or contributing Members, 

 at present on the Books of the Society, is 3059, in addition 

 to which there are 4^ candidates for the Fellowship, making 

 the total number of Fellows and Fellows-elect amount to 



a2 



