236 Namral History Society, 



therefore, determined to raise £500 in addition, by private sub- 

 criptions, amongst the members and friends of the Society. Your 

 Council are happy to report that £250 has aheady been subscribed, 

 and they entertain a lively hope that the balance will be obtained 

 by their successors so as to complete the work they have had the 

 honor to commence. In order to obtain sufRcient means to cover 

 all the expenses of removal, and to enable the Society to open its 

 new erection, with their Natural History collection arranged and 

 perfected, your Council drew up, and presented through H. H. 

 Whitney, Esq., M. R P., a petition to Parliament, for a moi-e 

 liberal annual grant to the Society, They are happy to report, 

 that their petition has been so far successful, and that a sum of 

 £500 has been granted by Parliament to meet the extraordinary 

 expenses of the Society on account of the approaching convent- 

 ion. Your Council further expect that should the decision of 

 her Most Gracious Majesty in Council be that Montreal shall be 

 the seat of the Provincial Government, property will so increase 

 in value as to enable their successors to dispose of the premises 

 to greater advantage than could be done at present, and thus 

 enable them more fully to realize the wishes of the Society. In 

 eonnection with the new erection, the Council recommend the 

 establishment of an Observatory if at all practicable and if suffi- 

 cient means can be got to maintain it. Your Council have to 

 regret that the revision of the Constitution and Bye laws, which 

 have been effected at the cost of much labor, yet waits the con- 

 firmation of the Members. They are, therefore, obliged to lea\e 

 so important a work, in its unfinished state, to their successors. 

 The Society has been favored with several valuable donations 

 during the year, for which thanks have been conveyed to the 

 donors. 



The Council have great pleasure in announcing that there has 

 been a large increase in the number of members — eighteen cor- 

 responding and thirty ordinary members having been elected 

 during the past year. It is wiih regret that they are called upon 

 to record the loss, by removal to Toronto, of Dr. Workman, 

 His departure from the city has deprived the Council of a pains- 

 taking treasurer and a most efficient member, and the Society of 

 one of its oldest and firmest supporters. They beg also to note 

 that the services of Dr. Wright, Curator for a period of three 

 years, in arranging the Museum and the Library, are worthy of 

 the thanks of the Society. 



