The Council have the pleasure to report that the anticipation expressed last year has been realized, in the addition of the Proceedings and Papers of the Geological and Natural History Societies of Dublin, the Archæological and Architectural Society of Chester, the proceedings of the Archæological and Architectural Societies of Northampton, York, Lincoln, Bedford, and Worcester, the Journal of the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society. In consequence of the increase of the Library more space was required, and the Council have therefore fitted up with book cases the room formerly appropriated as a laboratory, as an additional Library room, by which alteration considerable space is obtained for this purpose, at a comparative small outlay. In order to extend the advantages of the Society, a Rule was passed during the recess by which, in addition to the existing rights of Members and Subscribers, all residents in the family of a Member or Subscriber (except gentlemen above 21 years of age) should be admitted to the Ordinary Meetings and to the Lectures and Museum of the Society on payment of an annual subscription of 5s. It is satisfacfactory to report that already 18 Subscribers of this class have been elected, in addition to which there has been an accession of 8 Ordinary Members and 30 Annual Subscribers during the Session; so that, notwithstanding a slight loss in the last two classes by removal or death, there is a decided improvement in the finances of the Society. It will be observed the amount received for admissions to the Museum is less than in former years. This, however, does not arise from a decrease in the number of Visitors; but, from the Museum having been closed for the last four months to allow of the necessary cleaning and re-arrangement of the Specimens. This slight tempo rary loss will be more than compensated by the increased value of the Museum, and ought on that account to be considered matter for congratulation rather than regret. On the removal of the Rev. Wm. Sinclair to a distant field of spiritual labour, several Members of the Society, who were anxious to mark their estimation of the valuable services he had rendered to the Society, subscribed for a Marble Bust of that gentleman, to be placed in the Lecture Room. The execution was entrusted to the Baron Marochetti, for the sum of One Hundred Guineas, and the Council have much satisfaction in reporting that the bust is both life-like as a portrait and admirable as a work of art. From the insufficiency of light on the principal staircase, the Ethnological Collection has not hitherto been seen to advantage, and the general appearance of the Vestibule was very objectionable. The Council have great pleasure in reporting that this defect has been entirely removed by the liberality of William Gott, Esq., who at his own expense has placed a large plate of glass on the top of the lantern from which the light is derived. From the Meteorological Register kept in the Hall the following abstract is derived, to show the monthly averages The greatest degree of Heat, as indicated by the Thermometer, in the sun was 114°, on the 28th June; greatest in the shade, 91°, on the 24th June; the minimum, 20°, on the 29th January. The greatest Barometric pressure was on the 11th of November, 30.720 inches; the temperature of the Mercury being 61o. The least pressure was on 14th March, being 28.688; temperature of Mercury 51o. The greatest fall of rain was on the 6th August, being 1.530, |