10 
REPORT OF THE 
The objects of Antiquity and Mediaeval Art, selected by the 
Commissioners from the Art-Treasures Exhibition at Man¬ 
chester, were sent in the Spring and have since been returned 
without loss or injury. 
The Library has received from Lord Londeshorough the 
two concluding Nos. of his Miscellanea Graphica, and from 
various Societies copies of their Proceedings and Transactions. 
Among these is to he mentioned, for the first time, the 
Smithsonian Institution, at Washington. This Institution, 
founded by an Englishman for the increase and diffusion of 
knowledge, and endowed by him with half a million of dollars, 
embraces every branch of Science, and its Reports not only 
contain information respecting the Natural History and Anti¬ 
quities of America, but take a survey of the progress of 
scientific discovery in all parts of the world. 
The Council have also subscribed for the Crania Britannica, 
published by Mr. J. B. Davies, and Dr. Thurnam, formerly 
Medical Superintendent of the Retreat near this city. This 
work is intended to elucidate the Ethnology of Britain by 
drawings and measurements of skulls, found in ancient tumuli 
and sepulchres, and to illustrate them by an antiquarian com¬ 
mentary. The subjects engraved and illustrated have been 
in part derived from Roman York, or from barrows in York¬ 
shire which have been opened by members of this Society, and 
the contents of which are deposited in our Museum. 
The numerous demands made in the past year upon the 
Funds of the Society have prevented the printing of the 
Catalogue, which has been prepared for some time, but it is 
the intention of the Council immediately to proceed with it. 
The Mineralogical Collection has not been augmented 
this year by any considerable donations or purchases, but its 
utility has been much increased by the labelling of the 
specimens, a work which previously had been imperfectly 
performed. 
According to the Report of the Curator of Meteorological 
Instruments, the temperature of the year 1857 was 1*8° above 
the mean of twenty years, and higher than that of any year 
since 1846, of which year the mean temperature was 50". In 
