And taking the year generally, it is most satisfactory to 

 the Council to observe that the decrease in the total 

 number of Visitors, as compared with 1853, in consequence 

 of the increase of Fellows, and the admissions by Fellows' 

 orders, only amounted to 1400, notwithstanding many 

 unpropitious circumstances, while the decrease of Visitors 

 at the British Museum, as compared with 1853, amounted 

 to no less than 201,851 ; the comparative numbers being 

 as follows : — 



The great successes of previous years were even ex- 

 ceeded on the Easter Monday and Whit Monday of 1854 ; 

 an aggregate of 37,370 persons having been admitted to 

 the Gardens on those tw^o days alone. 



b. Expenditure. 



The Expenditure paid in the year 1854 amounted to 

 £19,043 195. 5d., consisting of 



£ s. d. 



Arrears of 1853 2,248 11 8 



Extraordinary Expenditure for Permanent 



Buildings in 1854 2,593 9 5 



Ordinary Expenditure 14,201 18 4 



£19,043 19 5 



Of these payments, £l 7,568 \^s. \0d. was provided for 

 by the income and previous Banker's balance, and £1840 

 by the sale of £2000 Reduced 3 per Cent. Stock. 



With reference to the latter operation, the Council have 

 to observe that it would have been unnecessary, as it was 

 unanticipated, had not the increase of income derived from 

 the Garden Admissions, which characterized the first five 

 months of 1854, been counteracted by the rapid decrease 

 which took place, as before alluded to, during the pi-eva- 

 lence of the epidemic in June, July, August and Sep- 

 tember. 



