REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1933-34 XXili 
Down House. 
VIII.—The following report for the year 1933-34 has been received 
from the Down House Committee :— 
The number of visitors to Down House during the year ending June 6, 
1934, has been 8,536, compared with 7,022 in 1932-33. The increase 
is believed to be due, at least in part, to the establishment of an omnibus 
service to the village of Downe. 
Sir Buckston Browne has generously presented to the house his portrait 
by Mr. Robin Darwin. It is peculiarly appropriate that this work of 
Darwin’s great-grandson should find its place here. 
Several gifts of letters and other Darwiniana have been received during 
the past year and duly acknowledged, and have also been recorded in an 
addendum to the catalogue recently compiled. 
Under a scheme in which Mr. G. C. Robson, Prof. J. W. Munro, Miss 
Saunders of Goldsmiths’ College, and others are interested, opportunity has 
been given teachers in training and other students to do work on plant ecology 
in the neighbourhood of Downe, and they have made some use of accommoda- 
tion at Down House in this connection. 'The Committee feel that it is 
most appropriate that the Association should be able to grant such facilities. 
The Secretary and Mrs. Howarth have written, and published at their 
own charges, a History of Darwin’s Parish : Downe, Kent, to which Sir 
Arthur Keith has contributed a foreword. 'The Committee have consented 
to the announcement of this work along with other announcements relating 
to Down House in Association programmes, and have allowed it to be on 
sale at the house, as well as through ordinary channels. 
The following financial statement shows income and expenditure on 
account of Down House for the financial years ending March 31, 1933 and 
1934. For the latter year, a balance of income over expenditure amounting 
to £45 9s. 83d.is shown. The gift from the Pilgrim Trust, acknowledged 
in the last report of the Committee, has thus relieved the general funds of 
the Association. As the Council were advised last June, the present and 
any subsequent balance on the side of receipts will not be payable auto- 
matically to general funds, but will be placed in a suspense or maintenance 
fund for the house. If any payment to general funds should ultimately be 
considered possible, it will be by way of interest upon the so-called capital 
expenditure incurred on the property from general funds. 
It was explained in last year’s report that the figure for income from the 
endowment fund for 1932-33 was deceptive, as certain dividends included 
both a gross payment for the year and a refund of income tax on the pre- 
ceding year. This accounts for the apparent, but not actual, decrease in 
the returns on the invested fund. 
Income 
1932-33 1933-34 
ass as Meisel 7d 
By Dividends on endowment fund and 
income tax recovered . , i 1,030 I I0 978 17 6 
,, Grant from Pilgrim Trust : : — I50 0 0 
» Rents . , : : : : Tomo Oo 140) 150 
;, Donations. ; : E : ayy: tay 6 o 113 
,», Sale of Postcards and Catalogues ; 2417 0 34 14 23 
,, Balance, being excess of expenditure, 
as below, over income . B ; 40 7 114 — 
£1,240 11 14 1,310 7 8 
