| 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; Sir John Barrow; Samuel Hunter Christie; John Frederick Daniell; Bryan Donkin; Thomas Galloway; Sir John Frederick William Herschel; Dr. John Lindley; John William Lubbock; Richard Phillips; Peter Mark Roget; Major Edward Sabine; the President, Spencer Joshua Alwyn Compton, 2nd Marquess of Northampton, in the chair.
Among matters discussed or noted: minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Hussey offered to exchange copies of Philosophical Transactions 1770-1793 for more recent parts, accepted. Sir John Herschel presented the amended report of the Committee of Physics, including Meteorology, on instructions for the Antarctic expedition; the committee recommended the purchase of listed instruments, using the Donation Fund, for a magnetic observatory to be established at Hammerfest. Extract of a letter from M. Hansteen, Christiana, 16 December 1839, to Major Edward Sabine, full text entered into the minutes: on speaking with M. le Comte de Wedel-Jarlsberg on proposals for a magnetic observatory at Hammerfest, required instruments and arrangements at Christiana; resolved that the President should communicate with Lord Parmerston on the establishment of an observatory at Hammerfest by the Government of Sweden and Norway. Resolution of the Committee of Physics and Meteorology on the importance of observations by an expedition proceeding to Western Africa, adopted. Sir John Herschel reported a communication from Mr. Enderby, requesting instructions for magnetic observations to be made on a private expedition to the Antarctic circle and soliciting the Society's support in asking the Admiralty to allow Mr. Henry Mapleton to command the expedition, recommendation adopted. List of new members elected to the Committee of Physics, including Meteorology. Letter from Major Edward Sabine, Elberfelt, 24 October 1839, to Baron von Humboldt, full text entered into the minutes: on conversations with M. Gauss and descriptions of progress in arrangements for magnetic observations. Letter from Humphrey Lloyd, London, 30 October 1839, to Sir John Herschel, full text entered into the minutes: on visits to Russian and German observatories and arrangements for European magnetic observatories. Extracts of magnetic observations letters from: Adolph Theodor Kupffer, St Petersburg, 26 November 1839, to Major Edward Sabine; Professor Boguslawski, Breslau, 24 November 1839, to Major Edward Sabine; Mr. Pentland, Paris, 10 January 1840, to Captain Francis Beaufort; M. Quetelet, Brussels, 2 December 1839, to Captain William Henry Smyth; John Caldecott, 26 November 1839, to Major Edward Sabine. Consideration of a draft letter to the Rajah of Travancore deferred. Major Sabine reprted that three officers had been trained in making magnetic observations by Professor Lloyd in Dublin. Thanks given to Major Sabine and Professor Lloyd. |