| Description | Present at the meeting: James West Esq Vice President in the chair; Dr Bradley; Mr Burrow; Mr Davall; Mr Fauquier; Dr Heberden; Dr Nesbitt; Mr Sotheby; Dr Birch and Dr Morton, Secretaries.
Minutes of the last Council read
Three letters read from applicants for observers posts for Bencoolen [Bengkulu, Sumatra, Indonesia]; also Dr Bradley suggested Mr Mason as the principal in the manner of making the observations
Resolved, that ' Mr Charles Mason who was lately appointed Second to Mr Maskelyne for the observations at Saint Helena, be now appointed principal for the intended observations at Bencoolen, with a Gratuity of £200, exclusive of the necessary expenses: and that a proposal be made to Mr Jeremiah Dixon of Cockfield to attend Mr Mason as Second or assistant in the said intended observations, in a proper Subordination, but with the Same Gratuity of two Hundred pounds, and the other necessary expenses. '
After ballotting, ordered Mr Maskelyne ' to bespeak the following instruments; from Mr Short two additional Reflecting Telescopes, one of them with a Micrometer, value 85 guineas,: from Mr Ellicott one Time piece value 20 Guineas, and one alarum value three Guineas; from Mr Dollond five Helioscopes at 2 Guineas and an half each, value 12 guineas, and one half. ' |