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or its officers, as such, should take any part in them. It is enough 

 that your Council have expressed their opinion ; they must leave the 

 result to time. 



Since the last Anniversary we have been installed in the occupation 

 of the building in which we are now assembled, and all the arrange- 

 ments for our reception have been completed, except the painting of 

 the Great Hall, which has been delayed by the dampness of the walls ; 

 nor have the requisite seats been yet supplied. I trust that the fur- 

 niture of the rooms and the arrangement of the library in the main 

 building have given satisfaction. I think credit is due to Mr. Weld 

 our Assistant Secretary, and also to Mr. White, for the care and 

 attention they have displayed in carrying into effect all our in- 

 structions. 



It would appear from the Address of the noble Earl the President 

 of the Society of Antiquaries, that some of that distinguished body 

 are disposed to think we did not much regret the severance of the 

 connexion which had so long and happily subsisted between the two 

 Societies. Speaking for myself, and I have no doubt for many other 

 members of the Royal Society, I may say that I should greatly rejoice, 

 if by the liberality of Her Majesty's Government that ancient 

 Society again found an abode in our own immediate neighbourhood 

 not however to the exclusion of any Scientific Society that had just 

 claims to similar accommodation. 



Several applications have been made to your President and Council 

 requesting permission to use the Great Hall for various purposes. 

 On the part of the Government it has been applied for, for the pur- 

 pose of holding Competitive Examinations for admission into the 

 Royal Academy of Woolwich, and likewise for the Examinations of 

 Candidates for Commissions in the Army. These applications on 

 the part of the War Department have always been framed with a 

 courteous regard to our convenience, and they have been acceded to. 

 Your Council were of opinion that the object sought to be obtained 

 was one of great public importance, and that under the circumstances 

 they should not be justified in withholding their consent. At the 

 same time it must be admitted that frequent demands of this de- 

 scription might be productive of inconvenience, especially in reference 

 to the access to the lower library. An application was also made by 

 the Royal Geographical Society for the use of the Hall during 



