126 Royal Society. 



the powers granted by the present Charter : and it was finally 

 agreed that the advantages to be expected from those changes 

 would be more than compensated by the difficulties and expenses 

 that would attend the procuring of a new Charter. The Committee, 

 therefore, proceeded to direct their attention to the effecting of 

 such emendations of the Statutes as were compatible with the 

 powers granted by the Charter, and which appeared to afford ample 

 means for the introduction of much improvement. Many of the 

 Statutes which, in the course of time, had become no longer con- 

 formable to the practice, or adai'ed to the existing circumstances 

 of the Society, were rescinded ; manj' which required an altera- 

 tion in their form were remodelled; the Lmguage in which the 

 whole was expressed was rendered more uniform, consistent and 

 precise; and several new regulations were introduced, calculated, 

 in the opinion of the Committee, to promote the objects and the 

 welfare of the Society. The result of the labours of the Committee 

 has been the amended edition of the Statutes in the form in which 

 they have since been printed, after having been adopted by the 

 Council, according to the forms prescribed in the Charter, and in 

 the former Statutes of the Society. The principal alterations that 

 have been made in the Statutes are the following : 



1. The number of Fellows whose signatures are required as pro- 

 posing and recommending a candidate for election into the Society 

 is now extended to six instead of three. 



2. The times of election are now hmited to the first ordinary 

 meetings of the Society in December, February, April and June. 



3. Such persons as shall in future be elected P'ellows will be al- 

 lowed to pay annual contributions of four pounds, as long as they 

 shall continue to be Fellows of the Society; but no bonds, as here- 

 tofore, shall be required for enforcing these payments. 



4'. Lists of persons whom the Council recommend to the Society 

 for election as Council and Officers for the ensuing year are to be 

 prepared previous to the anniversary meeting. 



5. The process of balloting for the Council and Officers at the 

 anniversary meeting has been simplified by the employment of a 

 single balloting list for that purpose. 



6. An abstract of the Society's accompts in each year is to be 

 prepared by the Treasurer, and printed for the use of the Fellows. 



7. The duties of the Assistant Secretary and of the Librarian 

 are now united in one person, and the office of Housekeeper is 

 abolished. 



8. Provision has been made for calling special general meet- 

 ings of the Society whenever they may appear to be necessary. 



9. A great extension has been given to the time during which 

 the Library shall be accessible to the Fellows. It is now ordered 

 to be open every day, Sundays excepted, from eleven o'clock in 

 the morning till four in the afternoon, excepting on Good Friday, 

 and during Easter, Whitsun and Christmas weeks. 



. 10. Provision has been made for an annual inspection of the 

 Library at a stated period. 



The 



