21 



INCOME. 



The foregoing Abstract, on being compared with the Ac- 

 counts for the year 1841, discloses a decrease of Income, 

 amounting to £1523 17*. Id. Of this sum £706 16s. has 

 been caused by a decrease in the amount of " Admission Fees " 

 and "Annual Subscriptions," and £637 18«' by a decrease in 

 " Admissions to the Gardens." With reference to the former 

 item, it is to be observed, that the number of existing Fellows 

 of the Society is now 412 less than at the end of the year 1839 ; 

 and the question is naturally suggested, why, in the short space 

 of three years, there should be such a falling off? Your Com- 

 mittee have much pleasure in stating it to be their opinion, 

 that this result has not been occasioned by any circumstances 

 under the control of those who have had the management of 

 the Society, but in a great measure to the caprice of fashion. 

 Whilst it was the fashion to make the Gardens a Sunday 

 Lounge, a great number of persons were induced to become 

 Subscribers for the sake of the privilege of introducing friends, 

 particularly ladies, to this then fashionable promenade. The 

 attendance of company on Sundays is now much lessened, 

 and the inducement to such persons as are indifferent to the 

 more legitimate objects of the Society to become Subscribers 

 no longer exists ; but as the Menagerie was never more com- 

 plete than at the present time, and as the Gardens are every 

 year more attractive in appearance, your Committee feel 

 assured that the lovers of science, and all those who are de- 

 sirous of affording to the inhabitants of this great metropohs 

 a place for healthy exercise and rational amusement to be en- 

 joyed with little trouble and at trifling cost, will still contri- 

 bute to the funds of the Society in sufficient numbers to en- 

 sure its permanent prosperity. 



As to the " Admissions to the Gardens," this must always 

 be an item of very uncertain amount, depending on many 

 casual circumstances — the addition of new or curious animals 

 to the Menagerie — the prevalence of fine dry weather, or the 



