10 



are assembled today, appearing, after careful survey, to be 

 likely to meet all the Society's requirements for many 

 years to come, the Council ultimately agreed to purchase 

 it for the sum of £1G,250. The house had been vacant 

 for many years, and was in a very dilapidated state, 

 or, it is manifest, could not have been acquired on the 

 above-mentioned terms. It would be therefore necessary 

 to spend a considerable sum on its repairs and on fitting 

 it up for the Society's use. At the same time it was 

 obvious that the accommodation which it presented would 

 be ample for the Society for many j^ears, and that the 

 burden of increased expenditure would be materially 

 lightened by the prospect of having several sets of rooms 

 to let to other scientific societies. 



The Council are quite confident that the Fellows who 

 have inspected the premises in which we are now lodged 

 will agree that a wise decision has been arrived at in 

 moving into the present house. The accommodation for 

 the Libi'ary, Publications, and Offices is ample, and is 

 likely to remain so for many years. The Meeting-room, 

 as will be acknowledged by those now present, is in all 

 respects suitable for the Society's requirements, and afForJs 

 every necessary convenience. At the same time there are 

 three sets of I'ooms not at present required for the Society's 

 operations, which will produce a rental of about £350 per 

 annum, and will thus materially lessen the gross burden of 

 the whole premises. 



The Council wish to acknowledge their obligations to 

 Mr. Frederick W. Waller, the architect employed on this 

 occasion, for the excellent plans which he has drawn up 

 for the arrangement of the new premises, and for the 

 efficient superintendence which he has devoted to the 

 carrying-out of these plans by Messrs. Smith & Co., of 

 South Street, Grosvenor Square. 



The amount devoted to the new Offices in 18S3 was 

 £5597 lOs., which, as will be seen by the Table given 

 above, was charged to extraoi'dinary expenditure. A 

 further sum of £4375 155. has already been paid this 

 year; and the Council are now only awaiting the Con- 

 tractors' final accounts in order to discharge the remaining 

 liability. 



Of the total amount of £16,250 required for the pur- 

 chase of the new freehold premises, the sum of £12,000 

 was advanced upon mortgage at 4 per cent, by Messrs. 



