COUNCIL FOR 1888 . 
9 
Antiquarian Collections have been more than doubled during 
the last twenty years, and are even now inconveniently 
crowded. 
The Curator of Antiquities has been obliged to give much 
attention during the past year to the condition of the ruins. 
Some portions of these most interesting but decaying remains 
were found to be so unsafe that it was absolutely necessary, for 
the prevention of accidents, to take immediate measures to 
repair them. Among these were the great arch of the tower 
of the Abbey, the condition of which necessitated the erection 
of scaffolds which are always expensive, the upper portions of 
the Multangular Tower, and the Water Gate, close to what is 
erroneously called the llospitium. The Curator proposes to 
repair with cement, &c., during the present year the old 
Norman Gateway which constitutes the entrance from Mary gate, 
and he considers it highly desirable that in the course of the 
next four or five years the whole of the ruins in the gardens 
should be thoroughly examined and made safe. 
Mineralogy. —The acquisitions during the past year have 
not been numerous, the only ones of importance being a 
collection of rocks and minerals presented by Mr. J. Hatfeild, 
of Thorp Arch Hall, and a series of Teesdale minerals 
presented by J. Backhouse, Esq. 
Since the collection of shells hitherto kept in the Mineralogical 
room is shortly to be removed to the new gallery, it is suggested 
that the space thus set free may be utilized for the exhibition 
of a typical rock collection, together with the necessary material 
for illustrating the same. 
Library. —The Honorary Curator reports that the Library 
has received considerable additions during the past year, due 
chiefly to the generosity of other scientific societies. Indian, 
American, Norwegian, French, Italian, Herman, Russian, and 
Mexican publications of no small value continue to be sent. 
The Reed Reference Library has also been largely added to 
by Mr. Reed, amongst these additions vols. XXIII., XXIY., 
and XXY. of the 44 Challenger ” Reports are especially 
noteworthy. 
