16 
REPORT OF 
Institution : and whilst in new hands it continues to prosper 
more and more, its early friends wdll still view it with in¬ 
creased satisfaction, rising in reputation from year to year, 
improving its resources, augmenting its acquisitions, and 
extending the sphere of its activity. Nor will they have 
cause to regret any time or labour which they have ever 
bestowed upon it, if it shall eventually accomplish the two 
creat ends for w’'hich it was founded 5 —the erection of a 
t5 
well-supported school of science in this northern metro¬ 
polis, and the execution of such a history of Yorkshire 
as the antiquary and the natural historian may be contented 
to possess. 
After reading the Report, the President said 
“ That objects so comprehensive as those which had been 
stated in the conclusion of the Report, could only be effected 
by a COUNTY INSTITUTION 5 and to this character the Society 
might now justly lay claim, having members and contribu¬ 
tors in all parts of Yorkshire, and being possessed of a 
commensurate establishment. On one point, however, it 
was still defective ; to complete the plan of such an Institu¬ 
tion, it remained for the Meeting to choose a president, 
who, adding to ardour for the objects of the Society, the 
influence of rank and property, might be at once a zealous 
director of its course, and a powerful guardian of its interests. 
During the period of its first struggle for existence, the 
choice of a President was limited, by the pressure of business, 
within a narrow compass ; and contiguity of residence was 
