| 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; William Thomas Brande; Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie; Samuel Hunter Christie; William Henry Fitton; Richard Phillips; Peter Mark Roget; Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Sabine; Lieutenant-Colonel William Henry Sykes; the Treasurer, Sir John William Lubbock, in the chair.
Among matters discussed or noted: minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Records of magnetical observations from Simla, Madras [Chennai] and Singaore were laid before Council and ordered to be sent to Professor Lloyd with a request that he examine them. The question of the scientific purpose of occupying the building at Kew Observatory referred to the Committee of Physics, in case of a grant being made to the Royal Society by Government. List of salaries paid to Officers and staff of the Royal Society. List of bills to be paid for printing, engraving, legal expenses and for other purposes. Appointment of auditors of the Treasurer's accounts. Treasurer authorised to pay bills from Messrs. Troughton and Sims and Mr. Robinson, for instruments furnished to the Pacha of Egypt. The Committee of Chemistry recommended the award of a Royal Medal to Robert Kane, endorsed by Council. The Copley Medal to be awarded to Dr. G. S. Ohm for his work on electric currents. No person being recommended for the award of a Royal Medal for mathematics, Council refered to the Committees of Physics and Geology for recommendation in their subject areas. Request from Sir David Brewster for a copy of his paper 'On the compensation of polarized light', the author or a deputy allowed to make the copy at the Society's apartments. |