ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. 15 



The Minutes of the last Meeting having been read and con- 

 firmed, the Secretary read the following 



REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 



The Council of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, in present- 

 ing the 7 1st Annual Report and Balance Sheet, have pleasure in 

 stating that the increased interest on which they congratulated 

 the members last year has in no wise abated, and that the year 

 which has closed has been marked by an unusual interest taken 

 in the welfare of the Institution by members, non-members, 

 and visitors alike. 



The Council regret the loss by death, since the last Annual 

 Meeting, of Viscount Falmouth and Mr. Leverton, M.R.C.S. 



Viscount Falmouth and his predecessors were associated 

 with this Society from its foundation, and were always consistent 

 supporters of everything which tended to its prosperity. Mr. 

 Leverton was from his early years greatly interested in the work 

 carried on by this Institution, which he fostered to the best of 

 his ability as a member of Council and constant attendant at the 

 Meetings ; his familiar figure and genial presence will undoubt- 

 edly be long remembered. 



The Council are pleased to notice an increase in the number 

 of members ; they took occasion in presenting their Report last 

 year to draw attention to the losses the Society had sustained by 

 death and other causes. They are, therefore, this year more than 

 compensated by the addition of several new subscribers ; still, 

 they would urge on the members the necessity of further securing 

 the support of their friends, in order that the usefulness of the 

 Society may be more widely extended. 



The visitors to the Museum continue to become more 

 numerous ; possibly, the many descriptive notices issued by the 

 Curator have had the effect of stirring up public interest in its 

 contents. We have had, during the year, 1,200 more free visitors 

 than last year. There has been a most encouraging increase in 

 the introduction of friends by members — in this class alone the 

 gain has been five-fold, stimulated no doubt by the acquirement 

 of Sir Godfrey Kneller's portrait of Anthony Payne, to which 

 further reference will presently be made. 



