The 8u))-CV)iniiiitt(>e, consisting o[ t]ic Ilonblo. N. C. 

 Rothschild (Chairman), Mr. W. G. Sheldon and Dr. S. A. 

 Neave, was originally ai)pointcd by the Council to consider 

 the whole question of new quarters for the Society, and in the 

 first place, to endeavour to obtain free accommodation from 

 the Government at Burlington House or elsewhere. 



After consideration it was decided to approach the First 

 Commissioner of Works through the Royal Society, this body, 

 according to an entry in the Council Minute-book of our 

 Society, dated so far back as 1856, having promised that 

 they " would watch the interests of the non-accommodated 

 societies in the event of the Government ])roviding further 

 accommodatio)!." 



The Secretary of tlie Royal Society, Mr. W. B. Hardy, was 

 extremely helpful, and personally interviewed the First 

 Commissioner on our behalf. Whilst sympathetic with the 

 idea, the Commissioner explained that ho had no authority 

 to grant accommodation to a learned Society in any other 

 building than Burlington House, which was already full, and 

 that in view of the present financial position the probability 

 of any departure from this policy being approved by the 

 Treasury for many years was extremely remote. He suggested, 

 however, that there was a remote possibility of some accommo- 

 dation becoming available in the offices of the Civil Service 

 Commission at Old Burlington House. On further inquiry by 

 the Sub-Committee it was found that this prospect was so 

 extremely uncertain as not to merit further consideration. 



In the face of this position the Sub-Committee considered 

 that as the Society could not continue to occupy its present 

 very inadequate accommodation without becoming absolutely 

 moribund, there were two courses o])en to it : — ■ 



1. To rent larger premises. 



2. To purchase a Building, which sliould b." freehold if 

 possible, and to adapt it to suit the requirements of the Society 

 so that it might become possessed of a permanent home. 



With respect to the first of these alternatives, the Sub- 

 Committee were unable to find any suitable accommodation, 

 and it was felt that even if it was obtainable, it would not 

 provide a permanent solution of the Society's difficulties, and 



