REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 477 



him, in the management of its affairs, he had recently been at 

 considerable trouble to get together a really representative 

 series of coal samples for the museum, and a few years ago 

 he defrayed the cost of having the labels throughout the 

 mineral collection rewritten. Another Vice-President, Dr. 

 G. S. Brady, F.R.S., has been lost owing to his removal from 

 the district. It is to be hoped that Dr. Brady, as one of our 

 most distinguished naturalists, and the last representative of 

 the group who were associated with Joshua Alder and Albany 

 Hancock, will still remain closely in touch with us. 



Two matters may here be alluded to which do not come 

 strictly within the year under review, but which can hardly be 

 reserved for the next annual report. For the Royal Visit on 

 July nth special arrangements were made to accommodate 

 members and their friends. The procession passed the whole 

 length of the museum grounds, and stands commanding a 

 good view of it were put up at three points. Members were 

 admitted free, but a charge of half-a-crown per head was 

 made for their friends ; and in this way the expenses were 

 cleared without any call upon the regular funds. The arrange- 

 ments made on this occasion by the Council appear to have 

 given general satisfaction. 



The other matter referred to is the erection and unveiling of 

 the memorial statue to the late Lord Armstrong. The statue 

 is the work of Mr. Hamo Thornycroft, R.A. ; it stands on a 

 large stone base at the southern corner of the museum grounds, 

 overlooking Barras Bridge, and it is intended that the ground 

 which it occupies shall be formally handed over to the city. 

 The unveiling ceremony was performed on July 24th by the 

 Duke of Northumberland. 



Your Council feel compelled once more to call attention to 

 the inadequacy of the Society's income. So far the Council 

 have always avoided actually running into debt ; but in every 

 direction — the publication of transactions, the care and im- 

 provement of the collections, the upkeep of the buildings and 

 grounds, the organizing of lectures, the development of 

 educational work — the Society's activity is continually checked 



