Annual Meeting. u 



the general public. The recent additions to the collection in 

 the Museum obtained through the kindness of a number of 

 friends were a subject of much gratification. 



Mr. William Gray desired to give his testimony to the 

 appreciation which the efforts of the Council during the past 

 year had received, particularly in the popular lecture depart- 

 ment. He trusted, notwithstanding the apparent apathy of 

 the public with regard to these lectures, that they would be 

 continued during the coming session. Those which had been 

 given were principally of a kind to be widely interesting, and 

 the vast majority of them might have been understood and 

 enjoyed by any intelligent working man. 



Mr. Greenhill thought Mr. Gray must be under some 

 misapprehension with regard to the alleged apathy of the 

 public towards the lectures. They were all splendidly attended, 

 and on almost every occasion the hall was nearly as full 

 as it could be. Some of the lectures, it was true, were not 

 financial successes ; but it was their object to instruct, not to 

 make a profit, and it must be remembered that in some cases 

 the expenses were particularly heavy. But, as far as the 

 attendance of the public went, they had really nothing of 

 which to complain. 



The Hon. Treasurer said since they began the course of 

 popular lectures, three years ago, the whole loss to the Society 

 incurred thereby was only^i 17s. 



The Chairman — My impression certainly was that the 

 attendance at these lectures was very satisfactory, considering 

 all the circumstances. At Sir Robert Ball's lecture, indeed, 

 the hall was crowded to its utmost extent. 



The motion was then passed unanimously. 



The Hon. Secretary said he had received the following 

 letter and enclosure from Sir J. P. Corry, Bart., M.P., relative 

 to an application to the Admiralty for the loan of some specimen 

 armour plates pierced by projectiles, for exhibition at the 

 Museum : — 



