29 



In presenting their Report the Committee of Auditors no- 

 tice, in the first place, that which must be a source of much 

 satisfaction to the Society, the great increase in the Re- 

 ceipts, which have more than exceeded the expectations (how- 

 ever sanguine) expressed in former Reports, the income for 

 the present year being £14,957 ^Os. 5d., of which only the 

 small sum of £236 14*. is for arrears of previous years, 

 leaving the net income £14,720 16s. 5d., and presenting an 

 increase of £6167 45. 9d. over that of 1849. 



The Expenditure, which in times of prosperity requires 

 perhaps a greater degree of vigilance on the part of an Audit 

 Committee, will not in this instance be found to have in- 

 creased beyond the necessary and natural augmentation which 

 a larger Collection induces ; the gross Expenditure, including 

 a sum of £397 funded for Rent, being £13,583 15*. 6d. ; but 

 of this sum £1929 9s. lOd. belongs strictly to 1849, being for 

 the Bills of that year unpaid, leaving the net Expenditure for 

 this year £11,654 55. 8d. ; and it should be borne in mind 

 that this sum includes an excess of £1229 for Repairs, Build- 

 ings, and Carriage of Animals. 



The funded property has been restored to £5000 Stock, as 

 recommended in a former Report. 



The Assets show an increase of £1674, to which, if the 

 item £1169 expended on permanent Buildings, and £2559, 

 the lowest estimate of the increased value of the Collection of 

 Animals, be added, an increase of Assets in round numbers 

 of £5000 is shown. 



The Liabilities are £862 4s. 9>d., and exhibit a diminution 

 of £1301. 



The number of new Fellows elected during the last year is 

 a subject of congratulation, as indicative of renewed interest 

 and confidence, and had the Society not to deplore the re- 

 moval of many Fellows by death, an increase would also have 

 been shown in numbers. 



The 'Auditors observe with especial satisfaction that the 

 number of Visitors during the past year has been nearly 

 double that of 1849, thus demonstrating the benefits of the 

 liberal policy pursued by the Council in conjunction with 

 the zealous and judicious exertions of the Secretary, Mr. 

 Mitchell ; and attributing mainly to this cause the renewed 

 prosperity and importance of the Society, the Committee 

 strongly advise that such policy should be thoroughly car- 

 ried out. 



