REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR 1903. 
7 
power to do useful work. More space and storage accommo¬ 
dation are urgently needed, and the provision of an improved 
lecture theatre would be a distinct benefit not only to our own 
members but also to those kindred Societies which hold their 
meetings on our premises. 
York has been visited by three Antiquarian Societies during 
the year. First among these in number and importance stands 
the Royal Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 
This Society, which had not visited York since 1848, held a 
well attended and successful meeting in July, under the presi¬ 
dency of Sir Henry Howorth. The members of the Institute 
were entertained in the Museum Gardens by the Society : tea 
was provided and every effort was made to give our visitors a 
pleasant afternoon. The President and Council of the Institute 
gracefully expressed their thanks to the Council of the 
Yorkshire Philosophical Society for help afforded during 
the meeting. The visits of the Yorkshire Archaeological 
Society and the East Riding Antiquarian Society (the latter in 
September under the presidency of Lord Hawkesbury), though 
on a smaller scale, were equally successful. 
It is worthy of remark that these Archaeological Societies 
visited the site of S. Mary's Abbe}’ Church, and each 
unanimously approved the work done by the Excavation Com¬ 
mittee on the foundations of the chancel. And it may be 
added that M. Camille Enlart, Director of the great Architec¬ 
tural Museum of the Trocadero at Paris and one of the fore¬ 
most Archaeologists in France, expressly commended the plan 
adopted by your Committee. 
The list that follows shows that the standard of our lectures 
has been fully kept up. The members had the unusual privi¬ 
lege of hearing an account of the great Nile Dam from the 
Engineer who carried out that magnificent work. Our warmest 
thanks are due to Sir Benjamin Baker for the lecture, and to 
to one of our vice-presidents for using his personal 
influence in inducing the famous engineer to come. So greatly 
was the Council impressed by the importance of this lecture, 
that it was resolved to engage the Festival Concert Room, 
and let each member have two free tickets of admission. And 
although this has resulted in some pecuniary loss to the 
