| Description | The series falls into two chronological groups. The first series contains the early financial accounts for the Royal Society, 1660-1768. Much of this material deals with the financial state of the Society during James West's Presidency, and represents the administrative work of the two Library Keepers/Clerks, Francis Hauksbee and Emanuel Mendes da Costa. The second series consists of cash-books and ledgers of the 19th and 20th centuries, 1867-1976. These deal with the Society's general finances, as well as its administration of the Government Grant and various Trust Funds. A third section contains copies of the Royal Society's Annual Accounts - both signed and unsigned. |
| Administrative history | Emmanuel Mendes da Costa was a naturalist and antiquarian.
He became clerk of the Royal Society in 1763 after the death of Francis Hauksbee left an opening. He was appointed with recommendations from friends and correspondents. On taking up the position as clerk, librarian and keeper of the Repository and housekeeper of the Royal Society da Costa withdrew as a Fellow. This withdrawal may have been financially motivated as Fellows had simultaneously held paid positions as Society staff prior to da Costa - his predecessor Hauksbee for example was both Fellow and clerk. Da Costa sought the position as clerk becuase he was in financial difficulties after a period in the Netherlands where he worked for his brother in law, Abraham del Prado, a supplier to the English army.
In 1767 da Costa was discovered to be withholding Royal Society members' subscription fees, was convicted of fraud, and sentenced to five years in debtors' prison. The issue was detected when John Hope was listed as an annual instead of perpetual member and sought investigation. Da Costa would release the annual membership amount to the Royal Society but draw interest from the remainder of the life membership subscription. After release he struggled to make a living lecturing about fossils, and dealing in shells and minerals. |