10 
REPORT. 
been favoured, from first to last, through a succession of 
four administrations. 
But the patronage which the Government so readily 
extends to scientific objects, would be of little avail, if those 
i 
objects were regarded with indifference by the public. It is 
therefore a source of no less gratification to the Council, 
that they have a satisfactory account to render of the 
Subscriptions to the Yorkshire Museum, which have 
increased, since their last report, to an amount little short 
of the expectations they then ventured to express. 
The value of philosophical research is beginning to be 
more generally appreciated ; and in whatever part of Great 
Britain public spirit exists to any considerable extent, there 
institutions are rising for the advancement of natural know¬ 
ledge. The more than common prevalence of such a spirit 
in this County, is one of its proudest distinctions ; and when 
a scientific Institution for Yorkshire was projected, those 
who were entrusted with the superintendence of the under¬ 
taking, did not hesitate to count upon a degree of support, 
which in a less liberal and less wealthy district they would 
have had no reason to expect. 
These anticipations have not been disappointed. In the 
report made in February 1828, the expense of the work was 
estimated at £8000; and the amount of subscriptions at the 
present moment is £7 665 . Thus the call of the Society has 
been answered in a manner of which a Yorkshireman has no 
