288 THE EARLY HISTORY OF [CHAP. V. 



by the promotion of science and literature, and by the 

 supply of innocent and useful sources of intellectual 

 pleasure.' 



The visitors made' their report to the proprietors, 

 April 18, thus : 



' The circumstances attending our present situation 

 seem to call for much consideration and reflection, 

 and it would become our duty to state what reasonable 

 expectation could be entertained of more income or less 

 expenditure. But the managers have done this, and 

 therefore we forward their report. 



6 Upon inspection there seems no deficiency of any- 

 thing which could contribute to the success or general 

 utility of the Institution, and our financial state alone 

 leads us to concur in the necessity of resorting to new 

 measures for the support of so valuable an establishment. 



6 The visitors heartily concur with the managers in 

 their recommendations.' 



In May a committee of the proprietors, with the 

 managers and visitors, was appointed to consider the 

 general state of the affairs of the Institution. The 

 first step was to request Mr. Davy to prepare a plan 

 for the future management of the Institution, and 

 every member of the committee was asked to lay 

 before the committee in writing his ideas or plan. 

 One proposal was to put an annual tax on the transfer- 

 able tickets ; another to get a new charter ; another to 

 get an Act of Parliament ; and another to shut the 

 Institution at six o'clock daily. By the end of the year 

 the joint committee had formed a plan which was in 

 the following year proposed to Parliament. 



