| Description | Present; The President; Mr Gale; Mr West; Mr Collinson; Mr Machin; Mr Paul; Doctor Teisier; Doctor Mortimer
' Mr West said that, in compliance with the desire of the Council, he had made an enquiry into the State of the two Purchases proposed to the Council, one at Uxbridge, and the other at Acton : and that upon the whole, he was of opinion, that the latter was the more proper of the two for the Society. For he was informed, that that near Uxbridge is only an Estate in Reversion upon a life, and seems to be rated at an extravagant Value, and is besides too small to answer the Society's demands. But that the other at Acton is a freehold farm, the Estate of Mr Pannet of Kensington, to be sold outright; having a dwelling house and outhouses with abuot forty eight Acres of arable Land : and that it having been let, for forty years past, to the present Tenandt Roger Life and his father before him at the rent of sixty five pounds per annum, it is in all probablility an improveable Estate. And he said, that he believes it may be had at under twenty four years purchase, which will amount to near the value which is wanted : But that the Owner was unwillilng to enter into further particulares about the Title or other Satisfaction which might be required, foir want of sufficient power to treat with him.
Mr West had thanks for the triouble he had taken in this affair, and was desired to undertake the Commission of treating with the Owner.
Whereupon it was ordered, that Mr West have full power to treat, in the name of the Society, with the Owner of the Freehold Farm at Acton in the present occupation of Roger Life; in order to make a purchase thereof : And that whatever bargain or contract he in his best discretion shall make therein, shall be ratified and stand good.
The President shewed the Council a fair Impression of Doctor Grew's Copper Plates of the Rarities in the Society's Museum, and of his Anatomy of Vegetables : and said that the Plates themselves were now to be purchased, and he believed might be had for about thirty pounds : And that he thought it would be adviseable to make a purchase of them.
Whereupon it was ordered, that whatever bargain the President will please to make with the proprietor of the Plates for any Sum not exceeding thirty pounds, shall stand good : and that the said Sum shall be paid to the Proprietor upon the delivery of the Plates to Mr Hauksbee.
Mr Hauksbee made a report, that he had wrote several times to Mr Mallary, to make up his account : but could never receive from him a satisfactory answer.
Whereupon it was ordered, that Mr Frewin the Sollicitor be directed to write to Mr Mallary, to adjust his account forthwith, or otherwise that he shall be sued.
Mr Hauksbee delivered in a Bill for Presses made in the Repository, amounting to £9..16..9 which Bill was referred back to the Committee for the Repository, to be approved of. ' |