102 Special General Meeting. [May 9,. 



those who use this building. The fact that such a library would 

 sooner or later become necessary has been long foreseen, and, for 

 myself, the time of need seems now to have arrived. This pro- 

 posal has many times been discussed in private, and I believe it 

 has been openly urged that the library of the Society should form 

 the nucleus of the new collection. A week ago the subject was 

 brought formally before the Council of the Society, and a. Com- 

 mittee appointed to report thereon. It will be plain to all that 

 the Society would be a great gainer if its books could be accommo- 

 dated in a more accessible room than that which they now occupy, 

 and members would without doubt find the large chamber on the 

 ground floor very commodious for their purposes. But, on the 

 other hand, there are necessarily some disadvantages, supposing 

 that this plan was carried out. In the first place, the books thus 

 being so much more accessible would have to be put under a much 

 stricter supervision than at present, and this supervision could not 

 be attained without some expense. Then, too, it has been an- 

 nounced that this large room will require to be used for examina- 

 tions, and it is of course obvious that in that case unrestricted 

 admission could not be at all times enjoyed even by Fellows of the 

 Society; while we all know, from the experience of past years, 

 the tendency of examinations to increase both in number and in 

 duration. Fellows of the Society might therefore come to find 

 that the projected change would involve a serious deprivation of 

 their rights. Yet, with all this, I fully believe that the Society 

 would on the whole benefit by the alteration, and I trust that 

 means may be found whereby the inconvenience I have mentioned 

 may be reduced to a minimum. More than this it is impossible 

 for me to say at present, and of course it will be understood that 

 the Society will have due notice given to it of any action taken 

 by the Council, and an opportunity of expressing its opinion there- 

 on, but I have thought it only right to take the present opportunity 

 of announcing to the Society at this meeting what is in contempla- 

 tion, and the possibility of some arrangement being entered into with 

 the University by the Council subject to the Society's approval." 



The Committee spoken of above having reported to the Council, 

 it was decided that the following letter be addressed by the Presi- 

 dent to the Vice-Chancellor: 



Co October, 1SS0. 



Dear Mr Vice-Chancellor, 



The Cambridge Philosophical Society occupies, as you 

 are aware, a room in the New Museums which is used for the 

 meetings of the Council of our Society, and also as a Library. 

 The books have now become so numerous that a larger apartment 

 is required for their convenient accommodation. 



