THE BOOK OF THE ROYAL 



their purcliase with the Society's funds was out of the question, 

 it was thought that it might be effected by subscrijition. To 

 this proposal the Council readily lent their aid, first by receiving 

 general subscriptions, and afterwards more particularly by in- 

 viting from the Fellows subscriptions limited to one guinea each. 

 The amount of 800^. was thus obtained ; but such a sum was 

 inadequate, even for the purchase of one of the fountains, not- 

 withstanding that their price had been subsequently reduced by 

 one half. Under these circumstances, the Council suggested to 

 the Subscribers that they might allow their subscriptions to be 

 applied to the purchase of bronzes and other works of art ; a 

 suggestion which was adopted by a considerable number of 

 them, and which placed a sum at the disposal of the Council 

 sufficient to enable them to purchase about a dozen of the best 

 bronzes which had been exhibited. 



