| Description | Present at the meeting: the President in the chair; Lord Charles Cavendish; Dr Bradley; Dr Heberden; Mr Davall; Dr Nesbitt; Mr Burrow; Mr Clarke; Dr Birch and Dr Morton, Secretaries
Minutes of last Council read.
President reported he had been sommoned by the Duke of Newcastle, who had informed him he had taken the Society's Memorial and ' had laid it before his Majesty, who had been graciously pleased to comply with the request of the Society, and had Ordered a Warrant to be immediately made out for the payment of Eight Hundred pounds to them, for defraying the Charge of Sending Observers to St Helena; But it being very doubtfull whether there would be Sufficient time for Sending observers to Bencoolen [Bengkulu, Sumatra, Indonesia], the warrant for the Second Eight Hundred pounds would not be made out till it could be Shewn with Some degree of certainty, that the observers would arrive there in due time. '
Resolved
1. To employ the Reverend Mr Maskelyne FRS as principal with a gratuity of £150, and Mr Charles Mason assistant to Dr Bradley, as Second with a grtuity of £100, in the proposed observations at Saint Helena. Payment exclusive of their passage and maintenance.
2. To provide the several instruments in Mr Maskelyne's list at the Council of 3 July, except for the Quadrant, and adding a further 10 guineas for a 'more compleat Timepiece'
3. Peter Davall Esq Vice President to collect the money granted by warrant from the King from the Treasury
4. From this money Mr Davall to pay out £50 to Mr Maskelyne to be dispensed at £10 a time to Mr Syson upon account, to enable him to complete ' the Sector now directed by the Council. '
Rough estimate of expenses drawn up for a second observation at Bencoolen [Bengkulu, Sumatra, Indonesia] - two Reflecting Telescopes, one with a Micrometer and time piece, £110 - 5 - 0d ; fittiing out two observers in sea stores etc £60; diet etc at Bencoolen [Bengkulu, Sumatra, Indonesia] for 6 months, £120 ; Passage back again £80. |