12 A. LIVERSIDGE. 



I am glad to be able to state that the Society's financial affairs 

 continue in a satisfactory condition. We are still able to afford 

 a very fair sum annually towards our library, and to put by a 

 small amount towards the building and investment fund. The 

 publication of the volume for 1889 cost us .£257, and there was 

 an additional item this year for printing the first part of our 

 library catalogue. 



Improved Accommodation. — It has long been my desire to see 

 the Society provided with better and more suitable accom- 

 modation, but until we were out of debt for our present building 

 it was considered inadvisable to speak of incurring fresh 

 obligations. Although the question has not been brought before 

 the general meetings of the Society, it has been under discussion 

 in the Council on many occasions, but deferred for lack of funds. 

 When I last addressed you in 1886 we were <£800 in debt for the 

 house ; but we are now in the fortunate position of having some 

 funds in hand towards the acquisition of a new building or the 

 enlargement of the old one. It may be thought by a few that 

 we ought now to rest and be thankful ; but we are not banded 

 together for that purpose. The objects of the Society will not 

 be advanced if we fold our hands. It is quite true that our 

 present hall is quite large enough for our ordinary meetings, but 

 it is altogether insufficient for lectures or our more popular 

 meetings. Moreover, our library and reading-room accommo- 

 dation is extremely limited ; we require additional store-rooms 

 for our books, and a separate reading-room, as well as other rooms 

 for the meetings of the Council and Sections. With greater 

 conveniences the members would be drawn more closely together 

 and the objects of the Society promoted. It is very desirable 

 that we should have a building specially designed for the work of 

 the Society, and such a building might be arranged to provide 

 accommodation for other societies and institutions at the same 

 time. In fact what is wanted is a modest edition of Burlington 

 House, Piccadilly, which was built by the Imperial Government, 

 to lodge the Royal Society, the Astronomical, the Chemical, the 



