vi Appendix.
ment of which will be made when the profit and loss account of the
publication and sale of the report is issued in the next annual statement.
In order to effect a sale among general readers the publication of the
book was entrusted to Messrs. Macmillan & Co., and it has been issued
in a form which reflects credit upon the Club. Inasmuch as it was not
issued before Christmas last it is too early to estimate the amount of sales,
nor have the accounts for printing, binding, &c, yet come in. The
Council hopes that members will do all in their power to effect the sale
of the edition of 1,000 copies, so as to encourage and aid the Council to
issue further volumes of the Special Memoir series. It is manifest that
upon the results of the present venture will very much depend the Club's
power of doing this in the future.
The Council cannot but acknowledge with gratitude its indebtedness
to the authors for their persevering labours, and in particular to Prof.
Meldola for the very clear and scientific form in which he has pre-
sented the mass of observations upon which the report is based. The
work has been already very favourably noticed by the scientific and
general press, and whatever may be the financial results of the under-
taking the Council thinks that in the publication of the report
they have acted in furtherance of the scientific position and best interests
of the Club, and in accordance with the recommendations of the British
Association, referred to in another part of this statement.
Library.—Additions have been made to the Library by exchange,
gift, and purchase, about equal in number and character to those of last
year. The whole of the volumes and pamphlets belonging to the Club
have been carefully arranged in three large book-cases, two of which
have been purchased during the year at a cost of £9 4s. 9d. Additional
book-case accommodation is now urgently required. Binding is perhaps
the most pressing duty, and a large sum might be spent with great
advantage in preparing a mass of valuable material, at present unbound,
for a permanent place upon our shelves. But the financial position of
the Club is not yet such as would warrant it in devoting an adequate
amount to so desirable an object. The same cause prevents the purchase
of books, although the Librarian is anxious to complete the set of Essex
works as soon as possible, and indeed has made some purchases of
interesting local books during the past year. The library has been
very little used by the members during that period, which is no
doubt due to the inconvenience of having the head-quarters of the Club
in a different building from that in which the meetings are held.
Mr. A. Lockyer has resigned the post of Hon. Librarian, which he has
held for five years. The Council very much regrets this loss, and begs
to tender to Mr. Lockyer its very hearty thanks for the valuable services
he has rendered to the Club during his term of office. Mr. Copland,
formerly Assistant-Librarian, will carry on the work ; but, up to the pre-
sent, the Council has received no offer from any member to act as
Assistant-Librarian.