18 
REPORT OF THE 
perhaps no other provincial scientific institution can be said to 
compete, whether we look to its invaluable Collections in 
Natural History and Antiquities, or to the singular attractions 
of the site within which these collections have been deposited; 
that its expenditure necessarily hears some proportion to the 
extent of the riches of which it is the guardian; and that if it 
is to go on in that career of usefulness which for more than a 
quarter of a century has associated it with the progress of 
science in Yorkshire, it must continue to receive that full 
measure of support which has hitherto maintained it in effi¬ 
ciency and vigour. 
The Council, in considering what means seem most likely to 
he successful for the improvement of the Society’s finances, are 
of opinion that improvement is to he sought, not so much by 
retrenchment and inactivity, as by the constant progress of its 
Collections, and by rendering its resources more attractive and 
accessible to its members and the public at large. With this 
object they have made certain alterations, and have others to 
propose for the consideration of the present meeting, which it 
is necessary here to mention. 
Orders of Admission. —At a special meeting held Dec. 4th, 
1848, a resolution was passed to the effect that after that month 
no member should give more than 25 orders in the course of 
one year, each order not admitting more than 4 persons. The 
above regulation has continued in force up to the end of last 
year; and to prevent the admission of parties with fictitious 
orders, the Council during the above period supplied the mem¬ 
bers with printed and stamped forms, to the use of which they 
were restricted. Some inconvenience, however, having arisen 
from the use of these printed forms, the Council have this year 
discontinued them, and they have likewise made the number to 
be admitted by each order optional, it being understood that 
the limit of one hundred visitors in the course of each year is 
not to be exceeded. 
Privilege of introducing Strangers by the Wives of Members. 
— Complaints have been made by several members that, owing 
to their engagements, it is not in their power to attend their 
friends to the Museum, and that consequently the privilege of 
