REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1902. ix 



into the possibility of securing a suitable site within the means of the 

 Society. 



Relying on the already promised subscriptions and the enthusiastic 

 reception with which the appointment of the Committee had been hailed, 

 the Council reported to a Special General Meeting, held on March 21, 

 1902, that a suitable site had been found in Vincent Square, Westminster. 

 The utmost enthusiasm for the Hall prevailed at this Meeting, which was 

 attended by nearly 300 Fellows ; " the principle of building a New Hall " 

 was " accepted," and the Council were " authorised to take the necessary 

 cteps to enable the building to be opened in the year 1904," a resolution 

 embodying these words being carried with only three dissentients. 



The Council at once took " the necessary steps to enable the building 

 to be opened in 1904," on the completion of the one hundredth year of 

 the Society's existence. The site in Vincent Square was secured by 

 Baron Schroder on behalf cf the Society, and after careful consideration 

 Mr. Edwin Stubbs was requested to draw up plans for the buildings in 

 accordance with instructions given by the Council. A subscription list 

 has been opened, to which H.M. the King and H.R.H. the Prince of 

 Wales have been graciously pleased to subscribe, their subscriptions 

 being accompanied by letters of full approval and encouragement. The 

 sum subscribed up to the date of this Report going to press is 

 ±22,000, which the Council cannot but regard as a promising commence- 

 ment. The total estimated cost of the New Hall and Offices is £40,000, 

 inclusive of furniture and equipment. While the Council gratefully 

 acknowledge, on behalf of the Fellows, the response they have already 

 received to their appeal, they feel confident that there are very many 

 Fellows, amateur and professional, who will desire to recognise the great 

 and continuous advantages they receive from the Society by liberally sup- 

 porting the New Hall Fund. 



The Council are aware that the plans and elevation they have placed 

 before the Fellows have been criticised. They desire to point out that 

 they have purposely restricted expenditure on external ornamentation 

 in order to provide satisfactory internal accommodation, and that the 

 Architect has to comply with the restrictions and limitations necessary to 

 meet the requirements of the ground landlords, the County Council, and 

 other authorities. 



22. The Council desire to assure the Fellows that the provision of a 

 New Garden has by no means been lost sight of. The Society's lawyers 

 are in correspondence with those of the Duke of Devonshire, and negotia- 

 tions for the surrender of the Chiswick lease are in progress, and they 

 hope that these, when completed, will materially facilitate the acquisition 

 of the New Garden. 



23. At the request of some of the Fellows, the Council have arranged 

 to send (in the week preceding it) a reminder of every Show to any 

 Fellow who will send to the R.H.S. Office, 117 Victoria Street, West- 

 minster, twenty-four postcards, fully addressed to himself, or to whom- 

 soever he wishes the reminder sent. 



24. The Programme for the ensuing year will be found in the 

 Arrangements for the year 1903, lately issued to all Fellows. 



25. Subjoined is the usual Revenue and Expenditure Account, with 

 the Balance Sheet for the year ending December 31, 1902. 



