Assistance is chiefly needed in funds, as will be seen by a reference to the Treasurer's account presented herewith. To meet the ordinary expenses of the Society more money is needed, and if the work indicated above is to be carried out still further expenses must be incurred. It has been often suggested that the Society should have some local habitation where Members could meet from time to time for discussion or carrying out any of the plans under consideration. It is also necessary that some secretarial assistance should be procured to lessen the burden thrown upon the Director and Honorary Secretaries.
The Council have to report with deep regret that during the past year the Society has lost two of its most valued supporters, Mr. William J. Thoms, its Founder and Director, and Mr. Edward Solly, both of whom had acquired considerable repute as sound and laborious scholars, and who took a practical and never-failing interest in the Society's work. The vacancy in the Directorship was filled up by Mr. Gomme undertaking that office, and Mr. J. J. Foster kindly came forward at the wish of the Council to undertake the duties of Honorary Secretary in conjunction with Mr. A. Granger Hutt.
It is hoped next session to organise some evening meetings for the reading and discussion of papers which for the last two or three years have not been attempted.
The publications are slightly in arrear owing to various unavoidable causes, but the two following volumes are now nearly through the press, and will be issued shortly:—
Magyar Folk-Tales, by Rev. W. H. Jones.
Folk-lore and Provincial Names of British Birds, by Rev. Chas. Swainson.
In 1886 the Council propose printing:—
The Folk-Lore Journal,
Hand-hook to the Science of Folk-Lore.
