31 



The Committee of Auditors, in examination of the Accounts 

 of the Society for the year ending on the 31st of December 

 last, have the pleasure to report that a considerable increase 

 of Receipts has taken place as compared with those of the 

 previous year, amounting to the sum of £1191 2s. lid. 



They have also, however, to report that an increase of 

 Expenditure incurred, has taken place to the extent of 

 £755 5s. Id. 



Your Committee had hoped that a more rigid system of 

 economy would have been persevered in ; they regret to find 

 that this has not been the case, and that the resolution of the 

 Council, not to commence any new Works until the funded 

 property had been increased to £5000, should not have been 

 strictly adhered to. That this has not been the case is evi- 

 denced by the fact, that the amount expended for Works 

 and Repairs is £1767 10*. 8d., being an increase of 

 £421 4*. 10c?. over and above the expenditure of the year 

 1855. 



Your Committee, in going through the items of Expenditure, 

 cannot but notice the considerable increase incurred under 

 the heads of " Garden Expenses," amounting to the sum of 

 £172 16*. 7c?., and "Museum Expenses," £129 12*. Oc?.,and 

 trust that, for the future, these items will be considerably 

 reduced. 



Your Committee have to congratulate the Fellows of the 

 Society that the anticipation expressed in the last Report of 

 the Council, has, in part, been confirmed by the large addi- 

 tion of Visitors to the Gardens during the past year, for, 

 although the numbers are not equal to those of the years 

 1853 and 1854, still there is an increase of 29,182 admissions 

 into the Gardens over those of the preceding year ; as also 

 an increase in the number of Fellows, notwithstanding the 

 numerous deaths and some few resignations; these are sources 

 of much congratulation, testifying that the great interest taken 

 by the Public in the Society's operations is in no way dimi- 

 nished. 



Your Committee find that the Liabilities of the Society on 

 the 31st of December, including a temporary loan of £800 

 from the Bankers, were £2962 19*. lOd., presenting a small 

 decrease of £30 13*. 7d. ; and the Assets £4277 16*. 8d., 

 including £3000 Red. 3 per Cents invested in the Funds, 

 showing an increase of £69 13*. 76?- as compared with the 

 previous year. The Cash at the Bankers was £554 9*. 4d. 



