REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1935-36 xli 



Thanks to the kind offices of the Director of the Victoria and Albert 

 Museum and the generosity of the Board of Education, two hats which 

 formerly were Darwin's have been handed over to the Association from the 

 Museum and are now exhibited at Down House. Original letters of 

 Darwin's, presented by Prof. Van Dyck and Prof. G. D. Hale Carpenter, 

 have been added to the collection. A sculptor's model of a seated figure of 

 Darwin, the history of which is not at present known to the Committee,' 

 has been presented by Mr. J. Peacock. 



Members of the Urban District Council of Orpington (in which district 

 Down House is situated) were received at the house by Prof. W. W. Watts, 

 F.R.S. (President), Sir Buckston Browne (Hon. Curator) and other members 

 of the Committee on July 28, 1935. They were afterwards entertained at 

 tea at the Buckston Browne Research Farm by invitation of Sir Arthur 

 Keith, F.R.S. 



The Committee are interested to learn that the Secretary, Dr. Howarth, 

 is now chairman of the Town Planning Committee of the Urban District 

 Council. 



A new series of photographs of the house and grounds has been made 

 and placed on sale : copies of some of them have been presented to appro- 

 priate learned societies for exhibition. 



Considerable damage was done to buildings, trees and fences by the gale 

 of September 23, 1935. 



The Committee have obtained from a qualified architect a structural 

 survey of the property with a view to informing themselves as to repairs 

 and renewals which are or will become necessary in the next few years. 

 They have given careful consideration to this and to kindred questions. 



They have also constantly in mind the possibility of establishing on the 

 property scientific records dependent upon instruments which it would be 

 within the competence of the staff to read — and, indeed, of making any 

 appropriate use of the property for purposes of research. 



They therefore desire to support the proposal, which they understand 

 the General Treasurer will bring before the Council, that a sum of money 

 from the Spencer bequest or other funds of the Association should be ear- 

 marked to meet temporarily the cost of repairs and other works on the 

 property, and the provision of facilities for scientific work as occasion may 

 arise. 



The following financial statement shows income and expenditure on 

 account of Down House for the years ending March 31, 1935 and 1936 : — 



Income 



By Rents receivable 



Income Tax recovered 



Interest and Dividends 



Donations .... 



Sale of Postcards and Catalogues 



Pilgrim Trust Grant 



Balance, being excess of expenditure 



over income, 1934-35, transferred to 



Suspense Account 



£1,327 9 9 £i,4i8 5 9\ 



