THE COUNCIL. 
15 
to witness the speedy and satisfactory completion of the 
establishment. 
The account which has now been given of the state of the 
Society’s income, together with the fact, that in the two last 
years no less than fifty-five new members have been 
admitted, will afford a satisfactory proof to the Meeting, that 
an Institution boldly erected on a scale of sufficient magni¬ 
tude for the object which it proposed to accomplish, has 
not failed to meet with a corresponding degree of liberal 
and zealous support. The risk of failure may now be 
considered as surmounted : the labour of the first arrange¬ 
ments is drawing to a close. Other cares wait on the 
future progress of the Society, which are of a more pleasing 
and elevated kind. 
In looking to the future, it is gratifying to observe, that 
those who shall hereafter take a share in administering its 
affairs will have a smoother path to pursue. In reviewing the 
past, the acknowledgments must not be forgotten which 
are due to those who were first in the field: nor can the 
Council conclude their Report without noticing with regret 
the retirement of their coadjutor, the late senior Secretary, 
from the office which he has so long discharged, and without 
offering him the well earned tribute of their warmest thanks. 
From the infancy of the Society he has borne a large share 
of the burthen of its establishment, and has conducted its 
concerns with the unremitting ardour and constancy which 
such undertakings require. These disinterested exertions 
have begun to find their reward in the present success of the 
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