412 



Anniversary Meeting. 



[Dec. 1, 



found desirable to lay out additional roads at the expense of the 

 Society. There appears, however, to be every probability that, by 

 selling and letting various plots on the estate, the eventual income of 

 the Society from this source may be materially increased. 



Besides the estate at Acton, the Society is possessed of a small grazing 

 farm at Mablethorpe, in Lincolnshire, and although this has been let 

 to a substantial tenant at a moderate rent, it seems not improbable 

 that our income so arising may, like that of many others, be affected 

 by the prevailing agricultural depression. The amount, however, is 

 in this case comparatively small. 



Legacies. — Under this'head I have the pleasure to mention two impor- 

 tant contributions to the Society's funds. First, an unconditional be- 

 quest of 1,000L by the late Mr. Sydney Ellis, of Leicester ; and secondly, 

 a legacy by the late Sir Walter Trevelyan, " the interest of which is 

 to be applied to the promotion of scientific research." The object of 

 this last bequest appears to be almost identical with that of the 

 Donation Fund ; and the name of our benefactor may not improperly 

 be associated with those of Wollaston the founder, and of others who 

 have from time to time contributed to augment that fund. 



The Royal Society, as is well known, possesses a rather extensive 

 gallery of portraits, almost exclusively of Fellows of the Society, but 

 among them also a fine painting of Lord Chancellor Bacon. Many of 

 these portraits, however, have, through the lapse of time, begun to show 

 signs of decay. Acting under the advice of Mr. F. W. Burton, F.S.A., 

 Director of the National Gallery, the Council has entrusted the 

 pictures which seemed most to require attention to the care of Mr. 

 Dyer, of Orchard Street, who is now engaged upon them. Some of 

 the portraits require lining, and others cleaning, or partial restoration. 

 As will be seen from those which have been returned to their places, 

 the work appears to have been done in a satisfactory manner. The 

 present appearance of the pictures has been much improved, and it is 

 hoped that these interesting portraits of those who have gone before 

 us may now be passed on in an unimpaired condition to future genera- 

 tions. 



Among other acquisitions to the Society's property, I would call the 

 attention of t\ie Society to the collection of no fewer than 973 portraits 

 of Fellows of the Royal Society, formed by the late J. P. Gassiot, Esq., 

 F.B.S., and bought during the past year. The collection consists 

 mainly of engravings ; many of which are of great artistic merit, and 

 in excellent condition. It is to be hoped that the existing Fellows 

 will aid in completing and continuing this interesting series, by con- 

 tributing engravings or even photographs of themselves or of other 

 Fellows, as occasion may offer. 



Mention should also be made of a bequest by the late Mrs. Faraday 

 of "a book containing the numerous diplomas and other documents of 



