XXXll 



The usual tabular slatemcut of receipts and payments sliows the fullowiug 

 result : — 



£381 



Payments. 



Invested in Consols 



Library 



Publications 



Rent and Office Expenses 



Tea at Meetings . 



£ 



. 35 



. 28 



, 239 



61 



14 



£377 



During the year four gentlemen have quali6ed as Life Members by paying the 

 composition in lieu of annual contributions. Hitherto compositions have been 

 regarded as wiudfolls, and spent as soon as received. The four received in 1869 have 

 been expended, partly in the purchase of books, which is equivalent to capitalization, 

 and partly in the purchase of Consols. This is a small beginning; but the smallest 

 beginnings are the most difficult to make: after thirty-five years existence the 

 Society has for the first lime laid by just as many pounds out of its ordinary receipts ; 

 and the Council regards this microscopic investment as the nucleus of a fund which 

 some day will yield an income sufficient to keep the Library regularly supplied with 

 the current periodical literature of Entomology of this and other countries, which has 

 now become one of our principal deficiencies. 



The year 1869 was begun with a cash balance of £5 \2s. Od. and £109 14s. 9d. 

 Consols. The year 1870 is begun with a cash balance of £9 8s. 3d. and £148 Os, 5d. 

 Consols. The Council cannot, however, disguise the fact that, of the sum of £64 

 entered for donations, £50 is due to the renewed liberality of Mr. Dunning, but for 

 which there would have been a deficit of nearly £40. 



Now that the Third Series of Transactions has been completed, it becomes 

 necessary to make ready for sale the stock of the five volumes which compose the 

 Series ; and, in fact, a considerable portion of the work has been already done, and 

 large outlay made, principally for colouring plates. But, as the undertaking remains 

 unfinished, no part of the expense incurred on this head has been brought into the 

 accounts for 1869. It is left as a problem for the next Council to devise a scheme, 

 by which, without interfering with the ordinary action of the Society, to raise a sum of 

 £170 or thereabouts. 



It has been decided to renew the offer, suspended for the last two years, of 

 Prizes for Essays on Economical or Structural Entomology. Further particulars will 

 be announced, probably at the next Meeting. 



In spite, then, of the comparative depression which has generally prevailed 

 throughout the year 1869, the prosperity of the Society has been maintained. Our 

 numbers have increased, we have added largely to our Library, the interest of our 

 Meetings has been well sustained, our publications have been issued with regularity 

 and dispatch, and our balance is larger than at the last Anniversary. Each of these 

 is a fair criterion of success; the combination of them all warrants the Council in 

 believing that for the future the future will provide. 



January 24, 1870. 



