XXXI. At the Business Meeting of Members two Auditors, not being Members of the Council, are appointed, on motion, by show of hands, to audit the accounts for the ensuing year.

XXXII. The accounts of the Association are made up to the end of July in each year; and, after being duly audited, are appended to the Annual Report of the Council.

Vacancies in Offices.

XXXIII. The Council fills up any vacancy occurring during the year in any of the offices named in Law IX.

REGULATIONS FOR BRANCH AND LOCAL
ASSOCIATIONS.

THE Association recognises two classes of Provincial Associations.
I. Branch Associations, of which the conditions are-
Their members to be members of the General Association, and
to subscribe £1 1s. annually, or £10 10s. as a life payment.

All the subscriptions to be paid to the Central Office, but a part to be allowed by the Council towards the expenses of the Branch, in addition to any special grants that may be made.

The Branch Association to elect its own President, Secretary, and other Officers.

The Branch Association to elect annually not more than two members of the General Council.

II. Local Associations, of which the conditions are—

That the Local Association shall regulate the amount of its own subscriptions, but that every member on whose behalf 10s. shall be paid yearly into the general funds of the Association shall have the privilege at his option

1. Of a copy of the Transactions.

2. Of attending the annual meeting of the Association, and of procuring a copy of the Transactions at a reduced price, to be annually fixed by the Council.

INTRODUCTION.

THE Ninth Annual Meeting of the Association was opened at Sheffield on the afternoon of October 4, 1865, by a special service in the parish church, at which the sermon was preached by the vicar, the Rev. Canon Sale, D.D. The usual meeting of members and associates was held in the evening in the Alexandra Music Hall, and the President, Lord Brougham, delivered the address. A vote of thanks to his lordship was moved by Earl Fitzwilliam, K.G., Lord-Lieutenant of the Riding, was seconded by the Mayor, Mr. Thomas Jessop, and was supported by Mr. Hadfield, M.P. for the borough.

On the evening of the 5th a large meeting of working men was held in the same hall, and addressed by Lord Brougham and other leading members of the Association. A vote of thanks to the President was moved and seconded by two of the artisans present, Mr. John Wilson and Mr. Henry Turner.

The business of Departments was carried on from the 5th to the 10th, and the addresses of the Presidents were delivered as usual on successive mornings to an aggregate meeting of the members and associates. The Dean of Chichester had been announced as the President of the Education Department, but was at the last moment prevented by illness from attending, and thereupon resigned his office. Mr. Thomas Chambers, M.P., was elected by the Council to the vacant chair, and having promptly accepted the responsibility, delivered an

extemporaneous address. The written address prepared by the Dean of Chichester, was also read to the meeting, and both have been printed in this volume.

On the evening of Friday the 6th, a soirée, open to members and associates, was held in the Cutlers' Hall; on the following Tuesday, Lord Brougham and upwards of one hundred of the members were entertained at a banquet in the same hall, by the Mayor of Sheffield, whose hospitality and kindness, not only on this occasion but throughout the meeting, will be gratefully remembered by the Association.

The concluding meeting was held on Wednesday the 11th, when a Report from the Council was read by the General Secretary, and the Reports of the several Departments were brought up by their Secretaries. The former, with the

omission of a few sentences, was as follows:

"In presenting their report of the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Association, the Council have to congratulate the members and associates on the value and interest of the proceedings which have now terminated. The special questions chosen by the Standing Committees of the Departments, with the advice and assistance of the Local Committees, have been most successfully discussed, especially those which were chosen with reference to local interests and the special information to be obtained in Sheffield, such as the question on the further regulation of the labour of children for the promotion of education, and that on the unnecessary exposure of workmen to dangers of life and health in collieries, mines, and manufactures. The value of such discussions as these can hardly be over-rated, and the Council hope that their practical results may be apparent in due time.

The number of members, associates, and ladies attending the meetings have been about 1,000.

"The Council desire to record their sense of the hospitable reception accorded to the Association in Sheffield, and to express their sincere thanks to the following public bodies and individuals for the services they have rendered to the Meeting:

"To his worship the Mayor for the munificent hospitality he has shown to the members of the Association.

"To the Mayor and Corporation for the use of the Council Hall and other public buildings.

"To the Worshipful Company of Cutlers for the use of the Cutlers' Hall.

"To the Rev. Canon Sale, D.D., for the special service and the sermon he preached on the occasion, and for the use of the Church Institute.

To the Council of the School of Art and the Committee of the Free Library for the use of the School of Art and the Mechanics' Institute. "To the noblemen who threw open their seats and grounds, and to the gentlemen who have allowed their works to be visited by the members.

The Council, having received invitations from the cities of Belfast,