| Description | Present at the meeting: The President; Mr Bussiere; Mr Hadley; Mr Pound; Mr Graham; Dr Harwood; Dr Jurin; Mr Pitfeild; Sir Hans Sloane; Mr Gale; Mr Folkes; Dr Halley; Dr Sherard; Mr Machin
' The Council being informed that Mr Brawn of the Rummer Tavern in Queen's Street with Mr Branfeild his Son in Law an Attorney, were waiting without to lay Something before them, they were called in. And Mr Brawn informed the Council, That whereas there is now a Box of Writings in the Custody of Mr Webb the Conveyancer, which Box contains the Deeds of the Society's two Houses in Crane Court with those of his own House adjoining, And that Mr Webb being now grown Ancient, and having the Care of great Concerns with a Multiplicity of Various Papers and Writings of divers People in his hands, he proposed it as his opinion that it would be adviseable for the Society as well as for himself (for fear of any Accident in Case of Mortality) to have the said Box of Writings removed out of the hands of Mr Webb during his lifetime and he Said he should be well pleased if the Society would take the charge of the Said Writings, and keep them in a Box under two keys one to remain with the Society and the other with himself.
Whereupon it was Ordered That the said Box of Writings be taken out of the Hands of Mr Webb, And that Mr Frewen the Sollilcitor have Notice given him , to act for the Society in conjunction with Mr Brawn in Removing the said Box of Writings to the Society's House.
The President took occasion to putt the Council in mind, to think of Some way of Imploying the Society's Money now in his hands Arising from the Legacy left by Mr Keck, and proposed it as his Opinnion That it would be better to lay out the said Money in purchasing East India Bonds, rather than suffer it to lye Dead.
And after some debate upon the proper ways of imploying all the Money now remaining in the Presidents and Treasurers hands of which there is no Interest made
It was Resolved That the Society's money in the Presidents hands be joined to that which rests in the Treasurers hands, and the whole be laid out in the Purchase of East India Bonds.
Then the President laid before the Council several Letters, Certificates and other recommendations in favour of Several Persons who Stand Candidates for the place of Clerk to the Society n the room of Mr Thomas who has absented. The Names of which Candidates were as follow -
Mr Zollman recommended in a Letter from the Lord Townshend and Mr Walpole to Sir Hans Sloane and in another Letter from Mr Points to Dr Clarke
Mr Thomas Overton recommended in a Letter from Mr Wren to the President.
Mr Thomas Glover recommended by Mr Desaguliers
Mr Methusalem Bowen who had the recommendation of Judge Vaughan, Sir John Phillips, Mr Chamberlain and My Lady Williams
Mr Hauksbee recommended by divers members of the Society
Mr Watley recommended by a Certificate Signed by Mr Buckley and Mr Crotcherade, by my Lord Chief Justice King.
Mr Rossillon who had the recommendation of Sir William Humphreys
Their names being read over there were Severally called in and Examined in the following particulars;
1. In their hand Writing
2. Their knowledge of Languages
3. Their skill in Natural knowledge or History
4. Their Conversation in Librarys and Books
5. The sufficiency of the Security they were able to give for their Trust.
Mr Zollman being called in and examined, He shewed his hand Writing, Said he had knowledge in the following Languages, Latin, French, Dutch, German, Italian, and Spanish, That he had some knowledge in Mathematicks, and could give any Security that should be demanded. He appearing to be a Forreigner the President enquired whether he had been Naturalsied, and he said he was not.
Mr Overton being called in likewise shewed his Writing and said he was able to give any Security.
Mr Glover not being present, Mr Bowen was called in and after he had Written before the Council, said he understood Latin, Welsh and English, and was able to give £500 Security.
Then Mr Hauksbee being called in shewed his hand Writing and said he undersood [understood] Latin and French, is conversant in Books, and has frequently been in the Societys Repository to Look over the rarity's and is able to give four or five hundred pounds Security.
Mr Watley was Next called and shewed his runing hand, and said he was acquainted with Latin, French, Italian and Dutch having Translated some Books and discourses in most of these Languages which have been printed , That he is not altogether unacquainted with Natural History having had occation to peruse several Books which occationally make mention of foreign Animals and Productions, whilst he was employed in Writing part of the Atlas Geographus. That he has at times visited some public Librarys tho' never was employed as Librarian to any : and that he is able to give any Security that shall be askt.
Mr Rossillon was then called in, and having shewed his Writing said, He has had an University Education and understands Greek, Latin, French, with some Italian and Dutch. That he attended the Lectures of Natural Philosophy for two Years at the University that he was conversant in the public Library there and can give any Security required.
Then the Council being informed that Mr Williams who at present takes care of the Societys House was desirous to stand for the place of Library Keeper if the Society thought fit to make that place distinct, he was called in. And being askt whether he would not be willing to act as Clerk as well as Library Keeper if the Society should choose him he answered that he would be very willing to Serve the Society in all the Employments which Mr Thomas held, if the Society should approve of him and then being examined , his hand Writing was shewn to the Society. he said he understood Greek, Latin, French and Welsh. That he was acquainted with public Library's, having made out a Catalogue of the Bodleian Library when he was at Oxford. That he had been conversant in the Society's Repository in Mr Thomas's time. And he could give any Security the Society shall demand.
Dr Desaguliers then came to give a Character of Mr Glover who was not present himself. He said that Mr Glover understands Latin and French and can give any Security.
The Candidates being Examined The President Observed to the Council, That the Statutes appoint the Election of the Clerks place in the same manner with that of the other Officers. That is That the Clerk shall be chosen uypon St Andrews Day be a Majority of Votes in the Body of the Society not less than 31 being present. That if the said place becomes Vacant before the next St Andrews Day, then another person shall be Chosen at one of the ordinary meeting of the Society by a Majority of Votes not less than 21 being present. And that the person so Chosen Shall hold the Place till the next St Andrews Day following and them the Society shall Proceed to another Election. And the President proposed that to Save the Society's time in making the following Election, The Election might be in the following manner. Each Candidates Name shall be put to ballott in Order, and if a Majority of Votes happen upon a Name that shall determine the Choise According to the Statute, but if no Majority of Votes Arise in passing over the Whole List, then the Greatest Number shall Determine it,; but if two persons happen to have an equal Number of Votes and each of them a greater Number than all the Rest those two Persons shall be ballotted for over again. ' |