266 A HISTORY OF 



No. 9. It has always been the practice to admit 

 the public to the lectures gratuitously, and the evening 

 courses should be again tried, in deference to the 

 committee's wish. 



No. 10. This resolution was recommended. 



No. 1 1 . The committee thought that the exclusion 

 of newspapers would hardly be reconcilable with the 

 desire for information as to every branch of science, 

 arts, manufactures, and agriculture. The reduction 

 of the stamp duties encouraged the reading of papers, 

 and it would seem inconsistent to deprive members 

 of this advantage. The committee found that it 

 could not recommend a discontinuance of the practice, 

 but thought that perhaps newspapers should not be 

 purchased out of public money. 



No. 12. This resolution was recommended. 



No. 13. The Society would gladly co-operate in 

 attaining the objects mentioned in this recommenda- 

 tion, but, in order to carry them out, a consider- 

 able extension of its pecuniary means would be 

 necessary. 



The entire of this report of the committee was 

 adopted by the Society, and copies were sent to the 

 Treasury and the Chief Secretary. A special committee 

 to prepare by-laws in accordance with the new situation 

 was also appointed. A Treasury minute required a 

 specific admission from the Society with regard to the 

 right of ownership mentioned in the first resolution, and 

 in reply, the Society declared that it did not claim the 

 right of disposing of its property for the advantage of 

 members, or for objects foreign to those for which it 

 was incorporated. The Society admitted that the pro- 

 perty was held as a public trust, for the public benefit, 

 with a view to the objects for which the charter had 

 been obtained. 



