Appendix. iii
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE
YEAR 1885.
[Read at the Sixth Annual General Meeting, held at Loughton,
January 30th, 1886.]
Roll of Members.—The number of new members elected into the
Society was considerably less than in 1884, partly owing, no doubt, to
the general depression of trade which affects injuriously alike small
affairs of a local scientific society, and the prosperity of the country at
large. The imposition of an entrance-fee may also have had some
effect in diminishing the number of candidates ; but this new rule
appears to be working for the ultimate benefit of the Club in building
up a more permanent and responsible body of members.
During the year 39 members were elected, four of whom paid life
compositions. Thirty members have resigned, owing to removal
from the neighbourhood or inability to attend the various meetings of
the Club, and we regret to announce that death has removed five mem-
bers from the roll, vis :—Prof. John Morris, M.A. (hon. member), the
Rev. J. Francis, M.A., Dr. Priest, Mr. George Burney and Mr. Thomas
King.
The death of Professor Morris is a great loss to science, and to the
various local societies in and near London, where his kindly aid was
always 80 valuable and so freely given. The President will more fully
allude to this subject in his Annual Address ; but we may recall the as-
sistance the Club has often received from Professor Morris, and the
interest he always took in its progress and welfare. The deaths of the
Rev. J. Francis, vicar of Waltham Holy Cross, and Dr. Arthur Priest,
remove almost our only members in that town. Both gentlemen took
very considerable interest in the Society, and gave great assistance dur-
ing the visit of the Club to the Abbey, &c., in April, 1881. Mr. Francis
was one of our original members. The death of Mr George Burney
removes a figure very familiar to those who remember the long and
arduous struggles made for the rescue of Epping Forest from the spoilers.
Mr. Burney was a vigorous and consistent upholder of the rights of the
public to the free use and enjoyment of the forest ; and on at least one
occasion, at very considerable risk and pecuniary loss, he asserted those
rights in a direction which assuredly brought matters to a crisis, and
helped, in a rough and ready way certainly, but with marked success, to
the final settlement of a very difficult question. Mr. Burney was pre-
sented with a public testimonial in recognition of Ms exertions
in the cause of a free forest, and open lands generally. He was an
original member of the Club, and its good friend ; always willing to aid
its work by contributing to the funds. In Mr. King the Club has lost
a very early member, and a gentleman much respected in the neighbour-
hood.