| Description | Printed minutes containing matters laid before Council, the Royal Society's governing body of Fellows, with records of decisions taken.
Commencing with a list of Council members present: Francis Baily; Samuel Hunter Christie; John Frederick Daniell; Thomas Galloway; Francis Kiernan; George Rennie; Peter Mark Roget; Robert Bently Todd; Charles Wheatstone; Reverend William Whewell; the Treasurer, John William Lubbock, in the chair.
Among matters discussed or noted: minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Letter from R. Jenkins and W. B. Bayley, East India House, 10 June 1839, to the President of the Royal Society, full text entered into the minutes: the Court of Directors had received letters from the Marquess of Northampton and Sir John Herschel and are ready to direct the astronomer at Madras [Chennai] to make observations and will give instructions for magnetic observations at two other stations, one near the Himalayas, the other at Bombay; observations will be made under the supervision of Lieutenant-Colonel Everest and his officers; engineers at home on furlough would be instructed in the use of instruments and a list of instruments is enclosed. Resolved that the President would reply and the letter and list would be referred to the Physical and Meterorological Committee. Letter from Sir John Barrow, Admiralty, 13 June 1839, to the Secretary of the Royal Society, full text entered into the minutes: the Admiralty is to send Captain James Ross to the Antarctic regions and ask that the Royal Society send suggestions for him. Resolved that this letter be sent to the relevant scientific committees for reports. The Very Reverend Archdeacon Thorp applied for an extension to his admission to the Fellowship, granted. William Henry Fox Talbot to be elected to the Committee of Botany. The Committees of Astronomy, and Zoology and Animal Physiology, asked to recommend candidates for the award of Royal Medals. Letter from Major T. B. Jervis, requesting a grant of Philosophical Transactons for libraries at public places in India; Council is unable to comply but would provide Abstracts to the named libraries. Messrs. Arnold and Dent ordered to repair clocks numbered 34 and 35. |