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the finances of the Society into a healthy state, your Council 
can point to no more satisfactory method than that of 
increasing the number of the members, and while it is 
satisfactory to observe that there is a slightly larger roll of 
members, as compared with the number at the corresponding 
date last year, much greater extension in this direction is 
still a desideratum. 
A financial review of the Society’s affairs during the pre- 
vious fourteen years was given in detail in last year s report, 
and the accounts for the session here presented do not call 
for any lengthened explanations. 
The Charges on Property show a decrease as compared 
with previous years, but it is more nominal than real. After 
the fire which took place in the adjoining warehouse, and 
the consequent repairs to our own property which followed, 
your Council considered it prudent to cancel the old policies 
of insurance against fire, and take out new ones after the 
insurance companies had resurveyed the buildings and its 
contents. These new policies now fall due at Midsummer 
instead of at Christmas, and the smaller amount now 
appearing in the accounts is owing to the sum of £7 4s. lOd., 
being allowed for unexpired prsemia upon the cancelled 
policies. The building is insured for £2,000, and its 
contents for £9,500 in the Sun Fire Office and Royal 
Exchange Assurance. 
In House Expenditure there is a slight decrease in each 
of the headings of expense. In order to make the new 
electric and gas lantern more useful, two new gas bags and 
pressure boards have been purchased by the Council, the 
Microscopical and Natural History Section contributing one- 
half the cost. 
In Administrative Charges there is an increase upon last 
year’s figures. Your Council voted the sum of £4 to the 
housekeeper for the additional work caused by the renova- 
tion of the Society’s building during the enlargement and 
