6 



measures have been taken for publishing a correct state- 

 ment of them, as extensively as possible ; and the Council 

 feel that in aifording facilities to all the intelligent classes, 

 they are taking the most effectual course for diffusing that 

 ti'ue and comprehensive taste for Natural History Avhich 

 was the principal object of the Founders of the Society. 



The Council have therefore, after due consideration of 

 the subject, come to the conclusion that the interests of 

 Zoology, of Public Instruction, and of the Institution itself, 

 will be equally benefited by the Regulation which was 

 adopted on the 10th of April last, for the admission of the 

 Public on the payment of Sixpence each on one day in the 

 w'eek, and of Children at the same price on all occasions 

 except Promenade-days. 



Increase and Decrease upon the items of Expenditure. 



The decrease in the Income, as compared with that of 

 1846, has been £539 2s. 3d,, and it appears to have been 

 chiefly caused by a faUing off of £211 IJs. in the Subscrip- 

 tions, and £305 4*. in the receipts at the Garden Gate: 

 for the decrease under the heads of Compositions, £142; 

 Arrear of Subscriptions, £7^', Ivory Tickets, £31 l\s.; 

 and Promenades, £39 I'Js. (which is to be attributed to 

 their being limited to Four Days instead of Six), is nearly 

 balanced by increase in Admission Fees of £35 ; Garden 

 Sales, £95 5*. 4d. ; Rent of Refreshment Room, £50 ; 

 Transactions and Proceedings, £80 14*. 5d. 



In the payments made in 1847, as compared with 1846, 

 the Council have to observe that the principal increase has 

 been £1009 14*. 'Jd., under the head of Arrears, it having 

 been thought advisable in 1846 to allow certain Habilities 

 to that amount to stand over, with the view of avoiding if 

 possible the diminution of the funded capital, which is 

 alluded to hereafter. 



In looking at the Balance-sheet appended to the Audi- 

 tors' Report, there is an apparent increase of £240 19*. Id. 

 for Rent, Rates, and Taxes, which arises, not from any in- 

 ci'ease in the liabilities of the Society on that account, but 

 because that portion of the payment of 1846 was postponed, 

 and now appears in the An'ears. 



