| Description | ' Present at a Council.
The President, The Duke of Richmond, Mr Hadley, Mr West, Mr Mann, Mr Jones, Mr Burrow, Mr R Graham, Mr Eames, Mr Hodgson, Dr Mortimer, Mr Machin.
The List of Members, whose Arrears remain as yet undischarged, being read over, and their several Cases duely weighed and considered, it was represented that in respect of some particular Members who may be under unfavourable Circumstances, it might not be unreasonable or inconsistent with the former Practice of the Council, to allow them such Remission and Indulgence as the present Circumstances, wherein they stand, seem to require, Which Motion being approved, it was thereupon
Ordered, that all Prosecutions for Arrears, and Demands for Contributions shall be respited till further Order, in respect particularly of Edmund Alles Esq, Sir Alexander Cuming Bart, Walter Jeffreys Esq, And Mr John Warburton.
And it being represented, that Dr Douglas and Mr Cheselden stood at present exempt from weekly Payments by virtues of an Order made on January 14 1740, whereby they were excused till further Order; it was therefore moved that the said Order be now repealed : which being approved, it was.
Ordered that notice be given by Mr Hauksbee to Dr Douglas and Mr Cheselden, that the said Order to exempt them from Payment is repealed, and that their Contributions will be charged from this Day forward.
It being represented that Dr Graeme and Mr Stone had forfeited their Right of holding a place in the Society, by not complying with the Terms according to their own agreements, of making good their Payments since the Timie they were discharged their arrears : it was
Ordered that notice be given to Dr Graeme and to Mr Stone, that unless they forthwith comply with their said Agrreement, their Names shall be left out of the List.
The Cases of the Members, who have died in Arrear, being taken into consideration ; as List was marked with names of their executors, and delivered to Mr Hauksbee, with Directions to write to them for the Debts that are due.
The Original Deed of the Fee-farm Rents in Sussex being missing among the Papers in the Strong Box, nor any other Writing relating thereto being found, except a Paper containing a Draught thereof under the Title of "A Copy of the Indenture dated 22nd January 1674 between Sir John Banks, Henry Fisher and John Gadd of the one part, and the President, Council and Fellows of the Royal Society on the other, relating to the Fee farm Rents in Sussex"; and it appearing upon the Minutes of the Council, that the said Deed had been put into the hands of Mr Frewin, in order to recover the Rent, and no Entry yet met with to signify the return thereof :
Mr Hauksbee was directed to speak to Mr Tyler to enquire for the Original of the Executors of Mr Frewin : and for better Direction to deliver to Mr Tyler the said Copy of the Indenture.
The President delivered in a Paper containing the particular of all the several Books and Boxes he had received from the late President Sir Hans Sloane Bart, and from the Secretaries; with his Receipt dated this day 22nd of February, acknowledging his taking them into his own Custody, Viz:
Three Boxes of Wainscot with Locks and Steel handles for the Journal Books, marked No 1. 2. 3. and containing the Duplicates of the first 15 Volumes of Journals from December 5 . 1660 to November 30 1736.
Three Boxes for the Register Books, containing the Copies of of all the Volumes from No.1 to No. 19 inclusive, excepting the Volume No . 10, which is wanting in the Original, being left vacant for the Entry of papers at present missing.
Three Boxes for the Letters Books, containing the Copies of all the Volumes from No .1 to No. [blank] inclusive, excepting vol. 17 which is for the like reason left vacant.
Also one Volume conataining the Copy of Mr Walker's general Index made Anno 1689.
And one Volume conataining the Copy of the Minutes of the Council from the first Council on May 13 1663 to the Council on February 8 . 1681-2.
Which particular being read over, and the Receipt, it was ordered to be put into the Strong Box.
The President delivered to the Council the Matrix of Sir Godfrey Copley's Medal in a Mahogany Box : which was ordered to be put up into the Strong Box.
He also delivered in the Bill from the Mint, for the Gold, Silver and Copper purchased for the Medals, and for the Charges in striking them and the allowances for Lymel and Waste with a Receipt from Mr Tanner the Engraver in full discharge of the Ballance, which he disbursed himself for the Service of the Society.
And likewise his own accompt with the Society; both which were read and agreed to: by which it appeared, that the fine Gold purchased for the fourteen Medals which were ordereed beside the Proof-piece, was in weight 16oz 0 pw 4gr. which at £4.9.0.per ounce amounted to £71.4.10 ; the allowance for Lymel was 8 pw. 16 gr, which at £4.5.0 amounted to £1.16.8 ; and the Waste was 1pwr . 10 gr which reduced the weight of the fourteen Medals to 15oz. 10 p. 2gr and the value of the Gold to £69.8.2. So that each Medal weighed 1oz 2pw. 3 1/2 gr, amounting to the value of £4.19.2.
The fine Silver for the 92 Silver Medals, which were ordered to be struck, that is twelve for the Society, and eighty to be disposed of to such Members who woudl otherwise subscribe for them, amounted to 106oz 1 pwt . 12 gr which at £6s . 3 d was £33.2.11 1/2 : the Lymel allowed was 4 oz . 13 pwt at 6s amoubnting to £1.7.10 : which with 11 pwt Waste reduced the Weight to 100oz . 17 pwt . 12 gr, and the Price to the Sum of £31.15.1 1/2. So that each Silver Medal wieghed 1 oz . 1 pwt. 22 gr and was valued at 6s.11d. The Charges of the Mint Bill with the Price of 1>34 pound of Copper at 3shilling amounted to £9.11.2 : and the whole Bill paid to Mr Tanner by the President amounted to £110.14.5 1/2.
The President in his Bill charges himself with the Price of eighty Silver Medals at £00.10.6d amounting to £42; and with a Gold Medal sold to Dr Mead for £5, in all £47 : which produced a Ballance due to the President of £63.14.5 1/2. Which was immediately ordered to be paid.
The President delivered to the Council 7 Gold Medals, which were all that were left out of the fourteen: five being given to the Gentlemen for Prizes, one to Sir Hans Sloane Bart the late President, and one sold to Dr Mead charged in the Accompt.
He likewise delivered six Silver Medals, being the remainder of the twelve struck for the Society : two being given to the two Secretaries, two to Mr Vertue, one to Mr Theobald, and one to Mr Arundell.
And also the twenty four Copper Medals struck for the Society.
The Council, in consideration of their great Obligations to the President, desired he would accept of the Gold Medal as a Present, and not allow them to take the Value of it, according to his Proposition at the last Council.
The seven Gold Medals were ordered to be put up in the Strong Box.
Ordered that one Silver Medal be given to Mr Zollman, and one to Doctor Stack.
And that the President be desired to take the custody of the four remaining Silver Medals, and of twenty of the Copper Medals: four of them being purchased by the Duke of Richmond at 5 shillings a piece.
The Printer's Bill of £5.2.0 was agreed to, and ordered to be paid.
The Sollicitor's Bill amounting to £6.19.1 having an Article left Blank in it, and referred to the consideration of the Council; the same was postponed, and referred to Mr West to consider what would be proper to allow for it.
Ordered that Mr Treasurer be impowered to purchase either East India or South Sea Bonds with such Money as can be spared according to his Discretion, as may seem most for the advantage and Service of the Society.' |