Appendix.
vii
The heartiest thanks of the Club are due to those who have kindly
presented books, pamphlets, periodicals, &c, and whose names will be
found from time to time in the ' Journal of Proceedings.' Some of the
volumes are of considerable and increasing value, and it is only necessary
to add that the greatest possible care will be taken of all works entrusted
to the keeping of the Librarian, who hopes to have a busy year in
receiving additions to the Library, and circulating them among the
members.
The Museum has also made some progress, although the additions to it
have not been so numerous as to the Library. Early in the year the
Council voted a sum of £36 15s. towards fitting up the rooms. About
£33 of this amount has been so expended, but before much can be done
in the very desirable work of collecting a series of the natural productions
of Essex, a very considerable sum must be expended in the purchase of
cabinets and cases. Attention has been more than once drawn to this
matter at the meetings of the Society, and we have the benefit of a paper
by Mr. Harting, which very clearly points out the line we should take and
the methods to be employed in establishing a local museum. The Council
must impress upon the members the desirability of aiding in every way
in their power the growth of the collections. In this work almost every
one can help, with but a small expenditure of money, and it may be
pointed out to beginners and novices that no surer method is possible of
acquiring a definite and useful knowledge of natural history than by
judiciously collecting specimens under the guidance of some more ad-
vanced student in the same department. It is intended to issue some
detailed instructions as soon as possible. Pressure of other matters con-
nected with the Society has delayed the appearance of these hints, but it
is hoped that they will be issued by the summer, and that an immediate
result will be apparent in the extent of the Museum treasures.
The finances of the Society are not quite so satisfactory as could
be wished, owing mainly to the number of subscriptions still unpaid. In
the great majority of cases, no doubt, this neglect of the first duty mem-
bers owe to the Society is the result of thoughtlessness, but the Council
cannot too strongly appeal to the backward members to remedy this state
of things. The repeated sending out of letters of application entails
considerable expense, which is so much money wasted, and a more serious
consequence is that non-compliance with the rule that all subscriptions
are payable in advance on January 1st in each year throws upon the
officers of the Society an amount of irksome and very unpleasant work,
which it is not right that they as volunteers should be called upon to
perform. Ill-health, necessitating an absence from England during the
winter months, obliged Mr. H. J. Barnes to resign his office as Treasurer
in the autumn. To Mr. Barnes, as its first Treasurer, the Society owes
its best thanks, and the Council is sure that the members generally will
echo the wish that he may return in the spring completely restored
to health. Mr. R. L. Barnes very kindly undertook to act as Treasurer