| Description | Present at the Council: the President, Lord Brouncker; Lord Bishop of Sarum; Sir James Shaen; Sir William Petty; Mr Samuel Pepys; Mr Daniel Colwall; Mr Abraham Hill; Mr Henry Oldenburg
The President enquired what answers had been received to the printed Declaration. Mr Hook delivered a letter of Mr Oudard very civilly excusing and alleging reasons for his late omission, and promising compliance as soon as he was able.
Mr Oldenburg reported the following replies;
Sir John Talbot, that he would himself attend the Society as soon as he could, and see what his arrears were;
Dr Holder, that he would submit to the Declaration, with great expressions of his respect to the Society;
Mr Waller put it 'with an expression of merriment that he thought it best to forgive another for what was past and to begin upon a new score';
Mr Burner via Mr Boyle asked the Society's patience till he was settled and that then he would pay his arrears and sign the Bond.
Ordered that Mr Wicks and Mr Shortgrane should carry copies of the printed Bond to as many in and about town as had not yet signed, and to ask their positive resolution for signing or not signing.
Mr Hook read before the Council Mr Hoskins letter of 26 January 1674 concerning the conveyance from Sir John Banks, which he judges safe and sufficient, of the Fee Farm rents at Lewes in Sussex; adding that Sir John Banks and his Trustees must seal and acknowledge it before a Master in Chancery, so that it may be inrolled. Mr Lilly has since promised him to have it ready ingrossed for Thursday and to bring to Mr Hook an authentic copy of those records that make out what is due and out of what lands, so that if necessary the Society may be able to prove their title. The same has promised to make known to the Council Mr Thomas Henshaw, who is the person that returns the rent from Lewes. Lastly that Sir John Banks has promised to lend the Council his conveyances, if they need them.
Ordered that Sir John Banks be asked to extract out of his conveyances the particular parcel of the lands out of which these Fee Farm Rents of £24 per annum are payable.
Ordered that Mr Hook remove the Society's Repository and Library to the North Gallery of Gresham College as soon as he can, and when that is done to perfect the Catalogue of both.
Mr Hook mentioned that he had an invention for finding the Longitude to a minute of time, or 15m in the heavens, which he would make out and render practicable, if due conpensation were to be had for it. Sir James Shaen promised that he would procure for him ether a thousand pounds sterling in a lump, or one hundred and fifty pounds a year.
Mr Hook declared he would rather choose the hundred and fifty pounds a year; the Council pressed him to draw up Articles accordingly and to action the matter. |