xxxvi Annual Report of the Council. 



Annual Report of the Council, April, 1898. 



The Society began the session with an ordinary membership 

 of 161. During the present session 7 new members have joined 

 the Society ; 9 resignations have been received, and the deaths 

 have been 7, viz. : Rev. G. H. G, Anson, M.A. j Mr. Thomas 

 Ashton, LL.D. ; Mr. William Grimshaw ; Mr. Peter Hart ; Mr. 

 James HeeHs ; Mr. James Heywood, F.R,S., F.G.S. ; and Mr. 

 John Ramsbottom, M.Inst.C.E. This leaves on the roll 152 

 ordinary members. The Society has also lost 4 honorary 

 members by death, viz. : Francesco Brioschi ; Professor Victor 

 Meyer, Ph.D.; Professor Julius von Sachs, Ph.D., For. Mem. 

 R.S. ; and Professor E. J. Stone, M.A., F.R.S. Memorial 

 notices of these gentlemen appear at the end of this report. 



The Treasurer commenced the year with a balance in 

 favour of the Society of ^375. 4s. 34d. (including £,(iTi. 4s. 2d., 

 balance of the Wilde Endowment Fund), and reports that the 

 total balance, including the Wilde and Joule Funds, and not 

 including the amount still owing by the Natural History Fund, 

 in hand and at the bankers, at the close of the year; is 

 ;^236. los. 7d. 



The state of the floor of the old Tea Room, above the 

 Meeting Room, has for years been so unsatisfactory as almost to 

 preclude the use of the room, and the renewal of the floor could 

 not have been long delayed without danger. The constant 

 growth of the library has also made the provision of additional 

 bookcases a matter of almost immediate urgency. The floor 

 has, therefore, been relaid in so substantial a manner that it will 

 now carry the weight of bookcases, and the room will constitute 

 a material addition to the space which can be used for library 

 purposes. 



The re-cataloguing of the library has been continued during 



