| 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: Thomas Bell; Dr. Richard Bright; Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie; John Frederic Daniell; William Henry Fitton; Sir John William Lubbock; Richard Phillips; Peter Mark Roget; Major Edward Sabine; Lieutenant-Colonel William Henry Sykes; Reverend Robert Willis; 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. Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie made and subscribed to the declaration in lieu of the oath. Letter from Constantine Phipps, Marquess of Normanby, Whitehall, 11 January 1841 and a letter from George Edward Anson, Buckingham Palace, 12 January 1841, to the Marquess of Northampton, full text entered into the minutes: acknowledging the Society's addresses to Queen Victoria and to Prince Albert. Major Sabine reported that the Committee of Physics had approved magnetic instruments prepared for the African Expedition, listed and their use described; instructions adopted by Council and the President to communicate with the Admiralty. Circular from Humphrey Lloyd, Dublin, 15 January 1841, full text entered into the minutes: additional instructions for magnetic observatories; resolved that the Foreign Secretary communicate this to observatories.The Foreign Secretary to communicate with His Excellency Boghos Bey, Minister of the Pacha of Egypt, on the completion of the magnetic observatory there. Letter from Baron de Brunnow, Ashburnham House, 31 December 1840, to the Marquess of Northampton, full text entered into the minutes: relaying a letter from Comte Cacrin, St. Petersburg, 21 May 1840 to Baron de Brunnow, on co-operation of the Russian Government in magnetic observations, the President to respond with thanks. Major Sabine presented a letter from Dr. Knorr with a draft for £50 in payment for the invariable pendulum; Sabine to rate the pendulum at Mr. Simms before it is sent. Joseph Edye requested an extension on the period for admission to the Fellowship, granted. Dr. Lindley applied to take impressions from the plates of Andrew Knight's papers, on behalf of Knight's family, granted. Reverend C. Pritchard applied to borrow Ehrenberg's work on Infusoria from the Library, granted. |