16 
REPORT OF THE 
The Council have to congratulate the Meeting on the repa¬ 
ration of the Hospitium by means of a Subscription raised 
among the Members, and augmented by the proceeds of a 
County Ball, very handsomely devoted to this object. The 
sum thus raised has been found nearly sufficient (after deduct¬ 
ing various collateral expenses) under the direction of Mr. J* 
Harper, to reconstruct the roof and the walls, but not to com¬ 
plete the building for general purposes, which requires the 
introduction of floors, doors, and windows. It might be easily 
and effectually warmed by stoves, and would then become in 
many respects a most desirable and valuable acquisition, as an 
Antiquarian Museum, and a place for public meetings. The 
tiles which now cover the building were the gift of the York 
and North Midland Railway Company. 
The effect of this reparation of an interesting part of the 
buildings of St. Mary's Abbey, combined with the enlarge¬ 
ment of the pleasure ground in front of it, has been generally 
acceptable to the members as well as peculiarly gratifying to 
artists, and has already yielded valuable fruits. 
The Horticultural Exhibition in August experienced the 
advantage of increased accommodation afforded by the ample 
rooms in the Hospitium, and the scene presented in the Mu¬ 
seum grounds on that occasion was in every respect most 
gratifying. These exhibitions being now considered as an 
established part of the proceedings of the Institution, the 
directing: Committee, for whose prudent arrangements and 
zealous exertions the Society cannot be too grateful, found 
it desirable to make purchases of some articles indispensable 
to the exhibition. * If it should be found advisable also to 
purchase rather than to borrow the requisite tables, the So- 
* The Committee is much indebted to James Barber, Esq. for arranging 
these purchases satisfactorily. 
