186 heport— 1873, 



total assets, having over £10,000,000 advanced on uioitgage, and an income of over 

 £11,000,000." 



These Societies have grown spontaneously, rather in the absence than under the 

 protection of legal enactments. It is the province of Parliament to consolidate into 

 law the existing practice, which experience has tried and proved to be safe, in- 

 stead of attempting to remodel it into something altogether different, foreign to the 

 purpose for which the Societies have been instituted, and not adapted to meet the 

 wants of their members. 



Dwellinrjs for the Industrial Classes. By William Botlt. 



The author discussed sites, plans, and sanitary effects, &c. of cottages, also the 

 pecuniary advantages of some extensive operations, deduced from observations in 

 various localities and statistical returns, showing the great requirement <and its easy 

 accomplishment. He noticed and particularized many of the model cottages and 

 villages in England and Wales, those of the Society of Arts and the Prince Consort's 

 at the Exhibition in 1851, those of the Society for the Improvement of the Dwellings 

 of the Working Classes, the various companies, amongst others that of Sir Sidney 

 Waterlow and " The Artisans, Labourers, and General Dwellings Company," ob- 

 ser-\dng that the latter had propounded a scheme solving the problem long wished 

 for, that of erecting artisans and labourers' cottages on a plan and cost to remunerate 

 the builder, without being oppressive in the amount exacted from the tenant. They 

 do aw.ay with the evils of overcrowding, imperfect ventilation, bad drainage and con- 

 Btruction — not only so, but they show that a profitable return is secvired on the outlaj'. 

 The author then gave full particulars, illustrated by di-awings of plans, elevations, &c. 

 Amongst other things, he makes the following almost imperative : — 



1st. South aspect (as most healthy, and in illness contributing to earlier conva- 

 lescence). 



2nd. The offices to be in the rear. 



3rd. No_ cottage to be allowed to be built less than 15 or 20 feet above any 

 neighbouring watercourse or sea-side high tide. 



4th. That each cottage should have an allotted space for a good vegetable garden, 

 as the cottager growing his own vegetables will teach his childi'en to weed, hoe, 

 &c., and will not spend his hard-earned money at a beer-house. 



On the Influence of Large Centres of Po2mlation on Intellectual Manifestation, 



By Hyde Claeke. 



After considering how far town populations are a means of exhausting those 

 portions of the rural populations by which they are supplied, an examination was 

 made of the towns, showing that there was a greater manifestation of intellectual 

 vigour than in the country. This was assigned to two chief influences, one the 

 extent of the population, and the other the continuous effect of educational institu- 

 tions, as shown in collegiate and cathedral towns. Thus the establishment of 

 large towns with adequate educational provision was treated as contributing to the 

 national advancement. The gTadual development of communities in prehistoric 

 times and among the lower races was referred to as illustrative of the influence 

 Avhich the foundation of towns exercises in the history of civilization. 



On Peat, By P. Hahn Danchell. 



Siaiisiics and Olsenmtions on the National Belt and ovr Bislursenunis from 

 the Bevohttion in 16SS to the present time, shoivinc/ the advisability of 

 ascertaining our Anmial Governmental Capital and Current Exjpendit\ire. 

 By Frank P. Peilows, F.S.S. 



This paper gave statistics of our National Debt from the time of its commence- 

 ment in 1691, when it was £3,130,000, the interest being £232,000, or about 71 per 



