lvi Proceedings, &c. 



" embarrassment to the Council, and has materially checked the 

 " progress of the Society. The Council have on several occasions 

 " waited on the Government, urging the continuance of a moderate 

 " annual grant, but as yet without avail. In consequence of this 

 " the publication of the Society's Transaction has ceased since the 

 " Vol. V. for 1860 was issued. This is the more to be regretted as 

 " we are unable to reciprocate with those foreign societies who 

 " regularly add to our library by donations of their periodical publi- 

 " cations and valuable works. It was contemplated by the Council, 

 " at the commencement of this session, to publish, monthly or 

 " quarterly, the proceedings of the Society in abstract ; and it was 

 " thought, by strictly economizing the current expenses, that this 

 " might have been done out of the year's revenue ; but the impera- 

 " tive necessity of clearing off some long-standing liabilities, and 

 " the strong desire of your Council to avoid incurring further debt, 

 " has hitherto prevented them carrying this into effect. It has, 

 " nevertheless, been decided at a late meeting of your Council, that 

 " the publication shall at once be proceeded with, and a sub- 

 " committee has been appointed to carry this decision into effect. 

 " The expense will have to be borne by the next year's revenue, 

 " unless, as the Council hope, the Government give a favourable 

 " reply to their present aj)plication. The literary fund, inaugurated 

 " last year at the instance and through the praiseworthy exertions 

 " of your late secretary, Dr. Mueller, has been contributed to by 

 " seventeen individuals, and the amount of their subscriptions, 

 " £178 10s., of which, according to rule, the interest only is avail- 

 " able for publication, has been placed for twelve months at interest 

 '• in the National Bank. Your Council, in conclusion, wish to 

 " congratulate the Society on a marked increase of vitality during 

 " the last session, and trust that, through the energy and interest of 

 " its members, and by economy and good management on the part 

 " of its office-bearers, it will rapidly rise out of its past embarrass- 

 " ments, and become independent of all resources outside its own 

 " proper revenue." 



The Eeport, at the request of the members, being first amended by 

 the introduction of the words "A Paper on Spectrum Analysis, by 

 Mr. Ellery, (which the Hon. Secretary promised to contribute,) em- 

 bodying the gist of his remarks on that subject on the 19th 

 September, 1865," was then adopted. 



The Hon. Treasurer submitted the following balance-sheet, with 

 the remark that, although he had only received two subscriptions 

 since the end of the session, he yet hoped to be able to clear off all 

 liabilities before the close of the year. 



