| 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; Dr. John Davy; Bryan Donkin; Edward Forster; Thomas Galloway; Thomas Graham; Sir John Frederick William Herschel; Francis Kiernan; Dr. John Lindley; Richard Phillips; Peter Mark Roget; Major Edward Sabine; John Taylor; Robert Bently Todd; the Treasurer, John William Lubbock, in the chair.
Among matters discussed or noted: minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. John Davy made and subscribed to the declaration in lieu of the oath. Mr. Few reported that the Rector of Mablethorpe had offered a rate of one shilling per acre, should the Society agree to submit to the decree on tithes; Few directed to decline the offer and Council may join in an appeal against the decree. Letter from John Backhouse, Foreign Office, 18 December 1839, to the Marquess of Northampton, full text entered into the minutes: by direction of Lord Palmerston, transmitting copies of a despatches relating to the Pasha of Egypt. Correspondence between Viscount Palmerston, Patrick Campbell, John Backhouse and Boghos Joussoff, 21 November-27 December 1839, full text entered into the minutes: on magnetic observations in Egypt. Resolved that Major Sabine superintend the instruments necessary for the proposed observatory in Egypt, and that the gratitude of the Society be relayed to the Pasha. Treasurer reported on Mr. Shuckard's letter, the Library Committee concluding that the present arrangement of the Library should not be altered, but that the Tracts should be arranged and bound. List of candidates for Foreign Membership, two names to be recommended at the next meeting. Permanent committees to report on any potential objects for the disposal of grants from the Donation Fund. Application on behalf of John Augustus Lloyd of Mauritius, for re-election. Reports on behalf of the Committees for Mathematics, Astronomy, Geology and Mineralogy, and Physics including Meteorology, that no increases in membership were required. Mr. Maclear's paper 'Observations made at the Cape of Good Hope...' to be returned to the Admiralty, with a recommendation for publication. Letter from M. Quetelet acknowledging his election as a Foreign Member. |