4 Annual Meeting. 



much regretted he had not been present at the last meeting of 

 the Council. There were two subjects he would like to draw 

 the attention of the meeting to, first, their large and successful 

 meetings, and, secondly, the rearrangement of their collections. 

 The latter was a matter upon which he felt strongly, and he 

 would not trust himself to speak as strongly on it as he felt. 

 Many of the specimens were very old, and while every care had 

 been taken of them that circumstances would permit, they were 

 clearly worn out. For his part, he thought it would be better 

 to have a small and perfect collection, as far as it went, than a 

 large and faulty one. The financial report showed that the 

 slight diminution in the balance-sheet is accounted for chiefly 

 by expenditure on the building. 



Dr. MacCormac, in seconding, regretted that he could not 

 use the superlative degree when speaking of the monetary side 

 of the question ; but, considering the admirable lectures they 

 had had, he was bound to speak in the superlative degree. He 

 was present at one, the most interesting he had ever had the 

 opportunity of listening to, apart from its literary aspect, and 

 he was sorry to see so few present. He might say if the Belfast 

 public knew the merits of the lectures they had in that room 

 they would always have the room filled, and filled to overflowing. 



Mr. Henry Musgrave proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. 

 Brown for having presided, and to Mr. Young, Secretary. He 

 paid a high compliment to Mr. Brown's ability, and said he 

 understood he had consented to occupy the presidency for 

 another year. He (Mr. Musgrave) thought that very proper. 



Mr. Davys Bowman seconded the motion, which was sup- 

 ported by Mr. William Armstrong, and carried by acclamation. 



The Chairman briefly replied, after which the ioUowing were 

 elected members of Council : — President, John Brown ; Vice- 

 Presidents, President Rev. T. Hamilton, D.D., LL.D. ; R. L. 

 Patterson, D.L., F.L.S. ; W. Swarstcn, F.G.S. ; Robert Young, 

 C.E., J.P. ; Hon. Treasurer, W. H. F. Patterson ; Hon. 

 Librarian, J. H. Davies ; Hon. Secretary, Robert M. Young, 

 B.A., J.P., M.R.I.A. 



