xii Report. 



The difficulty which exists as to the execution of this plan is the 

 want of adequate funds, and this is increased by the present commercial 

 pressure and the circumstances which discourage any present applica- 

 tion to Government for pecuniary assistance. The Council are never- 

 theless of opinion that the object may be accomplished with success 

 and safety, by having the requisite buildings erected on mortgage of the 

 new premises, and which would entail a monthly charge of from 150 to 

 200 rupees a month. This may partly be met at first from the proceeds 

 of sale of duplicate specimens of Natural History, and by the opening of 

 a subscription among the members, and by the surplus income of the So- 

 ciety, which may next year be fairly expected to reach 3000 Rs. Subse- 

 quently whenever vacancies arise, the Council consider it would be high- 

 ly advantageous that the Curators in the Zoological and Geological de- 

 partments should be also Professors and Lecturers in their several 

 branches, and that courses of lectures for elementary instruction be 

 delivered on Geology and Mineralogy and on Natural History, open to 

 the public and to regular pupils, on the payment of a moderate fee, the 

 proceeds to be applied to the rent charge, and to the remuneration of the 

 Professors in addition to their present scale of allowances. The Coun- 

 cil have reason to believe that such classes would command a numerous 

 attendance, and be very favourably regarded by the public. By this 

 addition to their sphere of exertion the Society would assimilate itself to 

 the Royal Institution of London and the Royal Society of Dublin — and 

 would soon establish such enhanced claims on the consideration of 

 Government as might justify a claim for considerable assistance towards 

 the liquidation of the mortgage debt. 



Impressed with the importance of this subject, the Council propose 

 that the President, Mr. Bushby, Mr. J. Ward, Mr. Grey, and the 

 Secretaries, be appointed a special Committee to examine and report on 

 the practicability of carrying the proposed measures into effect. Mean- 

 while the Council should be authorized to enclose the piece of ground 

 granted by Government, and take the requisite steps for the repairs of 

 the present premises, now urgently required ; to provide the requisite 

 means for which the cash balance and surplus dependencies from 1847 

 should be reserved exclusively. 



