| Description | ' Present at the Council Summoned by the Secretaries for the Election of a President in the Room of Sir Isaac Newton Kt. deceased: Sir Hans Sloane; Mr Pitfield; Mr Jones; Mr Hadley; Dr Mead; Mr Folkes; Dr Halley; Dr Stuart; Mr Graham; Dr Jurin; Mr Machin
The Council being mett for the Election of a new President the Lists were marked by the Several members of Council according to the form used in the Anniversary Elections, and being read over Sir Hans Sloane appeared to be unanimously Elected President and was accordingly declared and Sworn.
Mr Gale, Dr Douglas, and Mr Buissiere were sworn of the Council.
The President having taken the Chair,
Appointed Dr Mead, Mr Folkes, and Mr Gale for his Vice Presidents, who were sworn accordingly.
The President took occasion to mention an Alteration he Judged ought to be made in a matter of form hitherto used in the Ordinary meetings, which is to make a difference of solemnity in laying the Mace when the President is in the Chair, and not laying it when the Chair is Supplyed by a Vice President. He observed that there was no foundation for making any Such difference, and that as the Vice President is invested with the powers of a President in every respect in his absence, he ought also to be Attended with the same Solemnity in the Ordinary meetings.
The President observed that Some years Since a Copy of the Journals and other Books was ordered to be made out, but was never yet finished. The chief design of which was to have had two Copies, that one might be lodged in Some differant place for a Security to preserve Copies of the Books against any accident of fire or otherwise, whereby they might be destroyed were theRe but one Copy of them therefore He Judged it might be fitt to renew this Order , whereupon it was Ordered.
That the copies of the Journals and other Books which were begun to be made be continued to the present time and when they Shall be finished, That the Said Copies be for the future lodged in the hands of the President, the President at the Same time giving an Obligation under his hand to oblige himself, his Executors and Administrators to deliver the Same to the Society at the Expiration of his Office.
Mr John Martin was put to the ballot and was approved. ' |