| Description | Present at the meeting: the President in the chair; John Campbell Esq; Lord Charles Cavendish; Dr Ducarel; Samuel Dyer Esq; Dr Knight; Mr Maskelyne; Dr Munckley; Samuel Wegg Esq; James West Esq; Dr Maty Secretary
Minutes of last meeting read
Account presented by Mr Robertson of the copies of the Philosophical Transactions in the house of the Royal Society, compared with the account given by Mr Da Costa the previous year
Mr Davis ordered to attend the next Council meeting
' Two letters of Mr Dymond and Mr Waddington were read, offering themselves to be employed in the observation of the next Transit of Venus. Ordered. That the Secretary write to Mr Dymond and Mr Wales acquainting them that the Council of the Royal society proposes to send them to Hudson's Bay, and pay to each of them, upon their return, a gratuity of £200; that they must be ready to set out by the end of May next, and will probably return to England some time in October 1769; that the Council will agree with the Hudson Bay Company for the whole expence of their passage out and home; and their maintenance on board the Ship and whilst in the Country. '
Ordered;
1. Mr Graham to repair the Kitchen Chimney; a ' Jack to be purchased, the places below be stopped and whitewashed; and the Grate behind the President's chair be raised upon a firestone.'
2. Treasurer to pay Mr Robertson £20 on account.
Meeting adjourned to the evening. Present at the meeting: the President in the chair; John Campbell Esq; Lord Charles Cavendish; Dr Ducarel; Samuel Dyer Esq; Dr Knight; Mr Maskelyne; Dr Munckley; Samuel Wegg Esq; James West Esq; Dr Maty Secretary
Discussed bill provided by Mr Rowland de Paiba for coal
Discussed bill from Mr William Cookes for work done for the Society with a promissory note from Mr Da Costa, which the Council refused to reimburse
Bond executed by the Reverend Mr Owen Manning BD delivered to the Secretary
Ordered;
1. The Clerk to deliver the Bonds received since the last meeting at every Council meeting
2. New set of certificates and receipts for each separate year be printed, replacing Mr Da Costa name with that of Mr John Robertson and instructions for issuing receipt
3. ' That the Secretary do write to the directors of the Honourable East India Company to desire they would recommend it to such of their servants in India, as have been accustomed to Astronomical Observations, to observe with care the next Transit of Venus of 3 June 1769, which will be visible, during some part of it, in all their settlements, and that he mention at the same time the Instruments which will be the most proper for such an observation; and acquaint them that the Astronomer Royal will send them instructions for the use fo the Observers. ' |