THE ZOOLOQIGAL SOCIETY. 97 



In April, 1848, the Council resolved to admit the public on 

 Mondays, and children at any time, for sixpence each. This 

 policy was justified by results. The Athencewm of May 20 

 said: 



We hear that the experiment of reducing the admission to the Zoologi- 

 cal Gardens on Mondays from Is. to 6d. has thus far been attended with 

 perfect success. The numbers of visitors on that day already have been 

 more than double the former average. Children, now charged only six- 

 pence at all times, throng the Gardens. With such results, the Society 

 will probably see it judicious to carry the experiment further. 



From 1841 there had been a gradual decrease of income till 

 (as will be seen from the tables at the end of the chapter) the 

 lowest point was reached in 1847. With the change of policy 

 matters began to improve. The attention of the Council had 

 been aroused by the circulation of a printed "Letter to the 

 President," of which no copy exists in the Society's Library or 

 that of the British Museum. Its purport, however, may be 

 gathered from the following extract from the Literary Gazette 

 of September 21, 1850: 



It went to expose the vicious system of forming Councils of men of 

 wealth and station, unaccustomed to habits of business, possessed of every 

 desirable qualification, except an acquaintance with the matter in hand, 

 and contented to place themselves in the hands of an honorary secretary, 

 while incurring the mismanagement that insensibly arises out of a compact, 

 in which one party takes all the power, the other all the homage. 



This occurred in a review of some of the Society's publications. 

 The reviewer approved of the matter contained in the " Letter," 

 but condemned the style. The purpose, however, was attained ; 

 the policy of exclusiveness came to an end, and the Council 

 sought to attract visitors by making known the means of access 

 to the Gardens, "feeling that in affording facilities to all the 

 intelligent classes, they were taking the most effectual course for 

 diffusing that true and comprehensive taste for Natural History 

 which was the principal object of the Founders of the Society." 

 As a natural consequence the number of visitors increased ; and 

 in 1849 the Council were authorised to express the approval 

 of the Queen of the efforts which they had made "for the 

 restoration of this Institution, and for the diffusion of in- 

 tellectual recreation, by its resources, among the great masses 

 of the people." 



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