EXTRACTS Otf PROCEEDINGS. ix 
in the course of a few years to increase their income to £10,000. 
"When he looked at the great mansions in that neighbourhood he 
could not hut think of the serious injury which would accrue if 
the gardens were built upon, and it was to his perfect astonish¬ 
ment that all round about in the neighbourhood did not endeavour 
to keep up the gardens (hear, hear). No doubt horticultural 
science could be carried on elsewhere than in South Kensington, 
but was not the latter the place in which the late illustrious 
Prince Consort, whom they all lamented, initiated the gardens ? 
(Hear, hear.) He should be very pleased if the Commissioners 
would come down to £7000 income for next year, and that if the 
income of the Society were so increased the Commissioners would 
not adopt the strict letter of law. tie did not wish to say this in 
the way of a menace or threat, but the Commissioners must know 
the Society was not going to surrender without an effort. The 
Society had done a good deal; there were the debenture-holders’ 
and other interests to be looked to, and he should be very glad in 
this matter to take the word of their noble chairman that the 
Council would do their best. With extraordinary aids a forced 
income might be got together. Above all things he thought it 
desirable that the Commissioners and the Council should work in 
harmony together. With these observations he supported the 
motion for the adoption of the report (hear, hear). 
Mr. George E. Wilson was sorry to hear the £1700 was put 
out of chance of recovery. He spoke feelingly, as he was on the 
Council when the first provincial show took place. When it was 
proposed to hold the show, the Commissioners of the Exhibition 
of 1851 said they could not sanction the expenditure, as it was 
not for the purposes of the South Kensington estate ; but the 
Council took the responsibility on themselves. He thought it 
was very hard, that being the case, that the money should go for 
the general purposes of the Society. It was distinctly said that 
any money earned by that show should be devoted to horticultural 
and not to general purposes (hear, hear). He wished to say he 
should have liked all the guinea members should have votes, and 
he had reason to know if that were the case there would be a 
great accession of members. However, it was distinctly said 
when the guinea members were accepted they should have all the 
privileges of membership except the vote, and yet he was sorry 
to find that when the great show was held in June — and one- 
guinea members took the greatest interest in the shows — an 
