208 TKANSACTIONS AND FliOCEElJlNGS OF THK [Sess, Lxvi. 



The Council lield a meeting at 5 St. Andrew Square 

 on 5th March 1872, and at that meeting the following 

 Minutes of the meeting of the Library Committee, held at 

 5 St. Andrew Square, 5th March 1872, were read, which 

 were as follows : — 



Present — Dr. Craig, Convener ; Mr. Buchan, Mr. Evans, 

 and Mr. Sadler. 



Dr. Craig stated that Professor Balfour had reported to 

 him that he had had an interview with Mr. Matheson, of 

 H.M. Office of Works, on the subject of handing over the 

 Society's Library to the Government, and Mr. Matheson 

 was of opinion that the Society should make an offer of 

 the Library, in the first instance, to Professor Balfour, as 

 Eegius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden, and he to 

 bring the matter under the notice of Government. 



This the Committee agreed to recommend to the Council. 



After some remarks from the Chairman (Professor 

 Wyville Thomson) and Professor Balfour, the Council 

 decided to bring the recommendation of the Library 

 Committee before the next general meeting of the Society. 



The matter was brought up at the meeting of the 

 Society, held at 5 St. Andrew Square, on 14th March 1872. 



It was moved by Dr. Anderson Henry, and seconded by 

 Mr. Buchan, that the consideration of the recommendation 

 of the Council as to the Society's Library be delayed till 

 the April meeting, when it would be disposed of. A 

 notice to this effect to be put on the April billet. 



The Council of the Society met at 5 St. Andrew Square, 

 30th April 1872. 



The following letter, drawn up by the Library Committee 

 in accordance with instructions received at last general 

 meeting, was read and authorised to be transmitted to 

 Professor Balfour. The letter referred to read as follows: — 



Botanical Society's Rooms, 5 St. Andrew Squaee, 

 Edinburgh, 'lord April 1872. 

 To Professor Balfour, 



Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden. 

 Sir, — We are authorised by the Botanical Society of 

 Edinburgh to offer, through you, the Library of the Society 

 to H.M. Board of Works, for the purpose of forming a 



