elegant entertainment, given by his Worship the Mayor, at the Town 

 HaU. 



The Council congratulate the members on the determination of the 

 British Association to hold its next meeting in this town, and they feel 

 assured that nothing will be wanting on the part of the members of the 

 Society and its oflBcers to contribute to the comfort of the distinguished 

 visitors that may be expected in Liverpool on that occasion ; and that 

 every endeavour will be made to carry out such arrangement as shall 

 make the meeting worthy of this town. 



During the recess, the publication of the Proceedings has advanced, 

 but the Council regret that, owing to unforeseen circumstances, 

 respecting the printing, over which they had no control, they are 

 unable to present the entire volume in type this evening. The volume, 

 however, will be in the hands of the members in the course of a few 

 weeks. 



The Council cannot allow tliis opportunity to pass without expressing 

 to the members the gratification they feel in being able to state that, 

 inasmuch as every former volume has excelled its immediate 

 predecessor, so will the present one excel the last, both in value of 

 matter and in illustrations. 



The Council being anxious that the Society should still extrcise its 

 functions with unimpaired efficiency, appointed a sub-committee from 

 its own body, to consider the state of the finances, and to report to the 

 council upon the following points ; namely, the propriety of raising 

 the subscriptions ; the formation of different classes of subscribers ; on 

 life subscriptions ; on compositions ; upon the continuance of the practice 

 of giving tea, coffee, &c., and sending out circulars; on the j^ayment 

 for the transactions, for the tea and coffee ; and such other points as 

 they may consider to bear upon the subject ; and the Council beg to 

 lay before the Society their Report, which is as follows : 



" The Sub-Committee are of opinion that it is desirable the Society 

 should make the following alterations with reference to the above 

 subjects, namely : — 



" That the subscriptions payable by ordinary members be increased 

 to £1 Is., with an entrance fee of 10s. 6d. as at present ; and that life 

 members be admitted at £10 10s., without entrance fee. That the 

 present members of the Society, and all proposed as members prior to 

 the adoption of any alteration in the subscription, be allowed to 

 compound for their future annual subscriptions by the payment of £5 5s., 

 provided the same be done during the Session 1853-54. 



" The Sub-Coraniittee are also of opinion that tea and coffeo, and 



