Proceedings of the Royal Institution. 293 
sary to remark that most of the suggestions contained in it have 
been carried into effect by the Board of Managers. 
By the liberality of the president and a few members (to one of 
whom most particularly the Institution is indebted for the sugges- 
tion, and a munificent contribution towards carrying it into effect) a 
loan, without interest, has been raised, to pay off all the outstanding 
demands ; so that the ruinous expedient of borrowing money at an 
interest of five per cent. to meet the current expenses, will no longer 
be deemed necessary. 
The laboratory has been placed upon a new foundation, and the 
expense of its maintenance has been withdrawn from the general 
fund. It will in future depend for its support upon the liberality 
of the old members, and an additional contribution from the new. 
There can be no doubt that these means will be amply sufficient 
to the end in view; for when it is considered that the question 
to be determined is, whether or not the Royal Institution shall 
maintain the high consideration it enjoys by means of original in- 
vestigation and experiment, which of the members will refuse his 
contribution ? One guinea per annum from each member, it has 
been calculated, will be sufficient to maintain the laboratory in its 
present state of efficiency, and for this small sum the privilege of 
personally introducing one person to all the public lectures has 
been conferred. The list of donations and contributions to the 
laboratory fund, which accompanies this report, will prove that 
the subscription has been begun with alacrity and spirit. 
The admission fees and compositions of members will no longer 
be considered, as heretofore, in the light of annual income, but 
will be immediately vested in public securities; and, after paying 
off the loan, will be carried to the account of the permanent fund, 
which some years ago was so liberally begun by one of the mem- 
bers. 
With regard to the expenditure of the last year it may be ne- 
cessary to make one remark as, without some explanation, the 
total may be deemed excessive. Amongst the items is included 
a sum of 6001. which was paid to the city of London, as a fine for 
the renewal of the lease of the premises. By their under-leases 
