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RefNoCMO/3/5
AltRefNoMO/3/9
LevelFile
TitleMinutes of a meeting of the Council of the Royal Society
Date22 February 1727/1728
DescriptionPresent: The President: Lord Percivale; Lord Paisley; Mr Hadley; Dr Douglas; Mr Bussiere; Mr Gale; Dr Rutty; Mr Machin

' The President informed the Council that he had consulted with Sir John Fortescue upon the Case of Mr Kecks will with relation to the disposition which is to be made of his Legacy to the Society, and having obtained from him a Written opinion upon the Same it was proper for the Council to take it into their consideration, Accordingly the Case as Stated to Sir John fortescue together with his Opinion upon the Same was read as follows

The Words of Mr Kecks Will
I give unto the President, Council and Fellows of the Royal Society of London for the encreasing Natural knowledge Five hundred pounds to be by them laid out and the profits arising to be bestowed on Some one of the Fellows whom they Shall appoint to carry on a Foreign Correspondence
The Royal Society is by the Charter a Corporation under the Name of the Royal Society of London for the Encreasing Natural knowledge
The Council of the Royal Society is by the Charter invested with the Sole power of Managing all the Estate in Money, Lands, Goods etc. And with the Government of the Body
The Election of the Members, Council, and Officers upon the Establishment of the Society is appointed by the Charter to be in the Body; And the Election of the Council and Such Officers to be Annual
The Election of a Curator of Experiments, Clerk, Housekeeper and other Officers not upon the Establishment have by custom, or by Statutes made the Council, been in the Body of the Society but the Election is not Annual.

Question 1st. Whether the Election of the Person to be appointed to receive the Profits of Mr Kecks Legacy be in the Council who are entrusted to Lay out the Money. or in the Body of the Society who by the Charter are appointed to Elect the Established Officers
Question 2nd Whether it be in the Power of the Council by Statute or otherwise to make the Election of this New Oficer to be Annual or not Annual as they Shall See fit.

Sir John Fortescue's Opinion

1. By the Charter the Council have the making of all By-Laws, and have the Government of the whole Body of the Society, and to them is likewise given by the Same Charter the Case management and disposal of the Moneys profits and Revenues of the Society, as well Such as are Established by Charter, as what are casually given by will or otherwise; it also Seems as plain from the latter part of the Charter, that the Indulgence of a foreign Correspondence is given to the shole Society; but the Exercise and Management of that power is expresly committed to the Case of The President and Council; and therefore I am of Opinion That the Council may by Virtue of the Will of Mr Keck apply Such Sums of Money as they think reasonable, to Such person or persons as they Shall from time to time appoint to manage Such foreign Correspondence without the interposition of trhe whole Body.
2. I think the best way will be for the Council to appoint Such person from Time to Time, as they think proper, to manage the foreign Correspondence for the Royal Socirty, during the pleasure of Council.

J ffortescue
February 20th 1727

The Council having heard and considered Sir John's Opinion
It was Resolved, That in conformity to Sir John's Opinion The Person or Persons who Shall hereafter enjoy the profits of Mr Kecks Legacy Shall be appointed by the Council from time to time during pleasure

Ordered That Mr Zollman Shall be the Person at present appointed during pleasure to carry on the Foreign Correspondence according to the Will of Mr Keck.

The Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy were taken Severally by Sir Hans Sloane Bart. as President, and by Roger Gale Esqr and John Hadley Esqr as Vice Presidents of the Royal Society.'
Extent3p
FormatManuscript
AccessStatusOpen
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