14 ^ The Journal of the Royal 
there might be a difficulty in renting the premises. 
They, might re-organize the Museum and perhaps 
estabhsh a laboratory. A new class of members, with 
small monthly subscriptions, would not interfere with 
the present membership. He suggested that the 
Directors should consider the possibility of such an 
institution when the matter of the new Post Office 
was decided. 
The President said there was a strong feeling that it 
would be a mistake to remove the Post Office. Whether 
the expression of this would have any effect he did not 
know — probably not. The Directors would be happy 
to receive suggestions and might have a discussion, but 
it was really a matter of ways and means, for just now, 
even with the rents, they were only living from hand to 
mouth. 
The Assistant Secretary stated that the Post Office 
accommodation was provided when the Society's building 
was erected, at the request of the Government, moved 
thereto by a petition from the merchants. 
The President reported that the Directors had taken 
the necessary steps to request His Majesty the King to 
become Patron of the Society, and read the following 
reply to the address of sympathy : — 
Government Secretary's Office, 
Georgetown, Demerara, 
lltli March, 1901. 
Sir, — With reference to j^our letter of the 30th 
Januar}^, I have the honour to inform you that the 
Secretary of State for the Colonies has requested His 
Excellency, by His Majesty's command, to convey to 
the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society an 
expression of His Majesty's grateful appreciation of 
