REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR igo 7 . 
7 
the Conversazione given by the Executive Committee in the 
Exhibition Buildings, on August 2nd, and the Council gave a 
Garden Party on the afternoon of the 6th, which was well 
attended and highly appreciated. Your President, Dr. Tempest 
Anderson, gave afternoon tea in the Gardens throughout the 
Meeting to all members of the Association, and a large number 
availed themselves of this privilege. Several members of our 
Society helped largely, either in an official or private capacity, 
to further the success of the Meeting and to entertain the 
visitors. Prominent among these was our late lamented Lord 
Mayor who, as Sheriff of the city, distinguished himself by his 
active exertions while preparations were being made, and by 
his generous hospitality during the course of the meeting. 
An attempt has been made to render the Gardens more 
useful by devoting a portion of them for the purpose of a 
Botanical Garden, which should exhibit our British Flora as 
far as is practicable. So far this attempt has not been very 
successful, it has proved very difficult to obtain the expert 
assistance necessary for carrying out this project. But the 
scheme is being kept steadily in view, and there is still hope 
of its being carried out. 
The preservation of the ruins in the Museum Gardens is a 
subject which has for some time past received the earnest 
attention of the Council. These interesting relics are in a far 
from satisfactory condition, and they require careful treatment. 
The precautions taken to prevent the premature decay of the 
ruins may, in one respect, offend some lovers of our picturesque 
gardens. We refer to the removal of vegetation, and more 
particularly of ivy, which is disintegrating much of our stone¬ 
work. But it must be pointed out that the ruins are of 
paramount importance, and are a first charge on the Society's 
care. Our Roman relics, particularly, are unique and priceless, 
and to sacrifice these for picturesque effect would be not only 
short-sighted, but a positive betrayal of our trust. But we may 
assure any who would be disposed to criticize our action, that 
none of the vegetation that forms so pleasing a feature of our 
grounds will be removed without real necessity. Much time 
and trouble have already been expended on our ruins, and the 
Council desires specially to thank Mr. Benson for his help in 
