THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 361- 



lie authorities, have been hitherto borne by the 

 city of Richmond. 



The receipts of the Society are variable and 

 uncertain in amounts, bein^ contingent on the 

 success of the yearly exhibitions. The annual 

 contributions due from members, exceeding 

 eight thousand five hundred in number, are sel- 

 dom realized from many who do not attend the 

 fairs. Indeed, the idea extensively prevails not- 

 withstanding the clear and explicit provisions of 

 the constitution to the contrary, that in becoming 

 a member of the Society the relation ceases at 

 the end of the current year, and maybe renewed 

 or not at pleasure by paying or withholding the 

 the annual dues. Hence large arrears for the 

 years 1854, '55, and '56, which are justly due 

 according to the constitutional term of mem- 

 bership, will be a total loss to the Society to the 

 extent that the contrary construction of the ob- 

 ligation of members practically prevails. It is 

 respectfully submitted whether a change in the 

 Constitution, limiting the term of membership 

 to the time for which payment is made, would 

 not, if adopted, prove an effectual remedy for 

 this evil. The interest accruing on the invest- 

 ments of the Society and the receipts from old 

 and new members attending the Fairs under tne 

 inducements offered by the very liberal discrim- 

 ination of the Rail Road companies, generally, 

 in favor of members, added to gate fees and 

 other incidental receipts of exhibitions, have 

 usually supplied ample means for defraying the 

 current and contingent expenses of the Society, 

 and sometimes exceeding them. But whether 

 there is likely to be any excess of receipts over 

 expenditures this year, can not now be fore- 

 seen. Such a result is not probable, owing to 

 the extraordinary expenditures already adverted 

 to. Should there be a deficiency, however, an 

 unappropriated balance of the contingent fund 

 adequate to the satisfaction of any probable de- 

 mands upon it, may be resorted to — a fund 

 which it has been the policy of the Committee 

 to hold in reserve to cover any failure in receipts, 

 from the ordinary sources of revenue, while all 

 receipts in excess of such provisional reserva- 

 tion, have been invested in stock, and added to 

 the permanent fund, the interest of which only 

 is thenceforward subject to appropriation for 

 contingent purposes. 



The following is a brief synopsis of the finan- 

 cial operations of the Society, from its com- 

 mencement to the present time. 



RECEIPTS. 



Total amount of Receipts since the organiza- 

 tion of the Society. $82,071.97 



DISBURSEMENT. 



In City Scrip, at par, now held as per- 

 manent investment. $45,250 

 Premiums, 1853, 3248,00 

 Do 1854 3,707,50 

 Do 1855 3,812,00 



10,567,50 



Expenses 1853 3,853,37 

 Do 1854 0,820,50 



[ Do 1855 



Including $520 in plate 9,078,76 

 Do 1856 

 For preparation of Fair 



Grounds, 1,031,43 



20,703.06 



76,810,56 



Balance to the credit of contingent 



fund, 5,261,43 



By a resolution of the Virginia Mechanics' 

 Institute, the Virginia Historical and Philosoph- 

 ical Society and the Executive Committee of the 

 Virginia State Agricultural Society, were invi- 

 ted to confer with that Institute on the subject 

 of erecting a suitable building for the accommo- 

 dation of the three Societies. The conference 

 asked was held by sub committees deputed from 

 each body, who agreed upon a report in the form 

 of a joint memorial to the Council of the city of 

 Richmond, which was accepted by the several 

 Societies and ordered to be presented to that 

 body. The action taken by the Council has 

 been to refer the subject to the City Engineer, 

 with instructions to prepare, if practicable, a 

 plan for the erection of a building on the site of 

 Layfayette Hall, adapted to the purposes of the 

 three Societies, with the intention, if found suit- 

 able, to bestow the property upon them, in the 

 manner and form set forth in the memorial, a 

 copy of which is herewith submitted to the As- 

 sembly. 



The portraits of John Taylor, of Caroline, the 

 author of " Arator," and of Fielding Lewis, of 

 Charles City, " the first in the State to uee lime 

 on a large scale as an improver of the soil," 

 have been generously presented to the Society ; 

 the former by his grandson, John Taylor, jr., 

 and ■ the latter by Robert Douthat and seven 

 other grandchildren of Mr. Lewis. These por- 

 traits will be preserved as grateful souvenirs of 

 venerable names, connected with the history of 

 Virginia Agriculture as pioneers of improve- 

 ment. 



All which is respectfully submitted. 



By the Executive Committee. 

 Chas. B. Williams, Secretary. 



R. W. N. Nowland tendered his resignation 

 as Clerk of the Assembly, which was accepted. 

 John G. Mosby, Jr., was then nominated for 

 that of&ce, and duly elected. 



On motion of Mr. Nowland, it was 



Resolved, that a salary of Thirty dollars per 

 session be paid to the clerk of this Assembly as 

 a compensation for his services. 



The Assembly then went into the election of 

 the officers of the Virginia State Agricultural 

 Society, for the year ending 1st January, 1858. 

 Whereupon, Mr. Cocke being nominated for re- 

 election, and being withdrawn by Mr. Macfar- 

 land, who speaking by authority of Mr. Co.ke, 

 stated that he could not, under any circumstan- 

 ces, hold the office any longer, having only con- 

 sented to the last election to relieve the Societ}?' 



