14 
REPORT OF THE 
the year will nevertheless be found nearly equal to £4 per cent, 
upon the sum invested in their purchase. It is also satisfactory 
to state, that although the receipts from this source have been 
somewhat diminished, owing to the unfavourable weather 
during the two past seasons, the total receipts, during the five 
years the baths have been in the possession of the Society, have 
been equal to an average interest exceeding £5 per cent, upon 
this investment. 
The Council have great pleasure in noticing the success of a 
Floricultural Exhibition in the Museum Gardens, in the month 
of July last. For this the Society was indebted chiefly to the 
friendly feeling and spirited exertions of two of its members, 
Mr. Roper, and Mr. Backhouse. The Council are induced to 
hope, that arrangements may, at a future time, be made for 
similar beautiful and interesting displays. 
The ordinary income of the Society, during 1849, has 
exceeded its ordinary expenditure by £141. os. 2d. The 
extraordinary expenses of the year have, however, (after deduct¬ 
ing Mr. Read’s liberal donation, already noticed), amounted to 
the sum of £211. 12s. Id., so that the total expenditure of the 
Society has exceeded its total receipts this year by £70. 8s. lid., 
which sum has been added to the balance due to the Society’s 
bankers at the close of 1848. 
Under these circumstances it has been a matter of necessity 
to exercise the strictest and most watchful economy in every 
department of the institution; and on this account the Council 
have, with regret, postponed to a future, but (they trust) not 
distant day, some very desirable improvements connected 
with the Observatory, and the addition of instruments to the 
Meteorological Department, of which the Society has here¬ 
tofore obtained the use chiefly through the zeal and kindness 
of the Meteorological Curator. 
With a view to offer increased facilities to persons desirous 
of enjoying the advantages afforded by the Society, the Council 
have been induced to recommend to this Meeting the adoption 
of a new Rule, under which parties may hereafter, under the 
title of “ Associates,” at the cost of £1 annually, obtain for 
themselves (only) admission to the Museum and Gardens. 
