xxiv REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1936-37 



a party of representatives of L' Association franfaise visiting England, 

 and including M. Maurain, the President, Mme. Maurain, Dr. Verne, 

 the Secretary-general, and Mme. Verne. The party was received by 

 Sir Arthur Keith, F.R.S., ex-President (in the absence of the President, 

 Sir Edward Poulton, F.R.S.), and by members of the Council and others. 

 The medal of the French Association was presented by M. Maurain to 

 the British Association, and copies thereof to the General Secretaries, 

 Lt.-Col. W. Campbell Smith, and the Secretary. 



XXII. Amendment of Statutes. — In view of the occupation of premises 

 by the Association at Burlington House and at Down House, the Council 

 recommend that Statute VI, 5, where now reading ' The Secretary shall 

 be charged . . . (ii) with the control and direction of the office and of all 

 persons therein employed,' be amended to read ' The Secretary shall be 

 charged . . . (ii) with the control and supervision of all persons in the 

 employment of the Association and of premises in its occupation.' 



Down House. 



XXIII. — The following report for the year 1936-37 has been received 

 from the Down House Committee : — 



The number of visitors to Down House during the year ending June 6, 

 1937. has been 6,148, compared with 7,022 in 1935-6, and an average of 

 7,242 per year for five years in 193 1-6. 



The Committee have expressed their gratitude to Prof. F. T. Brooks, 

 F.R.S., who, on succeeding to the chair of botany in the University of 

 Cambridge, continued the loan of Darwin's library to Down House. This 

 loan was originally granted by Prof. Brooks' predecessor. Sir Albert Seward, 

 F.R.S., the possession of the library having been vested, under the will of 

 Sir Francis Darwin, in the professor of botany in Cambridge for the time 

 being. 



A fine plaster model of a seated figure of Darwin has been presented to 

 the house by Mr. J. Peacock. Enquiry has not revealed the name of the 

 artist. 



Lady Avebury has presented to Down House twelve letters from Darwin 

 to John Lubbock (afterwards Lord Avebury), and one from Francis Darwin 

 to Lubbock. 



The Committee reported last year that they had obtained an architect's 

 report on the structural condition of the house and other buildings on the 

 estate. Acting upon this report, the Commiittee have undertaken certain 

 repairs (mainly of the cottages and old farm buildings) ; for the rest, the 

 report provides the Committee with some guidance as to works which may 

 be expected to become necessary in the course of the next few years. The 

 Committee deeply appreciate the action of the Council in placing at the 

 disposal of the General Treasurer the sum of £500 from the Herbert 

 Spencer bequest towards the cost of repairs, renewals, and the provision of 

 scientific appliances if required. 



The Committee have enquired into the question of carrying on scientific 

 observations at Down, and are grateful to Sir George Simpson, C.B., F.R.S., 

 Dr. F. J. W. Whipple, and Dr. R. G. Hatton, for their personal interest in 

 this matter. Various possibilities have been considered, but, with the 

 exception of the establishment of a standard rain-gauge, no line of enquiry 

 which would be both possible and justifiable on the ground of expense of 



