| 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: George James Allman; Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie; George Busk; Robert Bellamy Clifton; James Fergusson; Thomas Archer Hirst; Joseph Dalton Hooker; Thomas Henry Huxley; William Hallowes Miller; Joseph Prestwich; Rear-Admiral George Henry Richards; Henry Enfield Roscoe; Philip Lutley Sclater; William Sharpey; Francis Sibson; William Spottiswoode; George Gabriel Stokes; Major-General Richard Strachey; Sir Charles Wheatstone; the President,, Sir George Biddell Airy, in the chair; followed by the Treasurer and Vice-President, William Spottiswoode, in the chair.
Among matters discussed or noted: minutes of the last meeting read and approved. Deaths of John Bishop, Frederick Crace-Calvert, the Earl of Hardwicke, Sir Henry Holland, John Robinson McClean, George Ormerod, Francis Ronalds, Count de Strzelecki and the Bishop of Winchester. Report of the House Committee, full text entered into the minutes: delays by the builders meant that removal of the Society's effects to its new rooms did not begin until 12 September; there is space for stock of Philosophical Transactions and other publications, appliances for use in the conversaziones, copper plates and printed Council minutes; old fittings have proved appropriate and the remainder sold, keeping those useful at soirees; the removal of the Library and the placing of books; finishing of the house and Instrument Room and remedial action required for the lift. Report of the Committee appointed to confer with the Arctic Committee of the Royal Geographical Society, full text entered into the minutes: submitting a memorandum, recommending the fitting out of an expedition to explore unknown regions about the North Pole by way of Smith's Sound; the memorandum ordered to be circulated to Council Members. Adjudication of the award of Royal Society medals was discussed and adjourned. A letter from the Charity Commissioners was read and the Secretaries instructed to write in agreement. Letter from E.H. Stirling offering £100 for the Donation Fund, accepted with thanks. Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie offered a portrait of his late father by Alfred Thompson, after G.F. Watts, accepted with thanks. Letter from Dr. J.E. Gray offering portraits of John George Children and Taylor Combe, accepted with thanks. A request from Colonel Tennant to copy a paper by Canon Moseley, granted. Osbert Salvin granted an extension of time for admission to the Fellowship. The Treasurer reported the death of Mrs. Kemino, the pensioner who had long been in receipt of £15 annually from the Society. A donation of two guineas to be made to the parochial schools at Mablethorpe. The Earl of Rosse and General Strachey appointed members of the Kew Committee. Mr. Busk gave notice of a motion to increase the salaries of the Assistant Secretary and Clerk. The nomination of Fellows recommended for election to Council was considered and would be discussed at the next meeting, with a list of retiring members of Council entered into the minutes. Resolved that an application was to be made to H.M. Government to send naturalists with the three astronomical expeditions to the island of Rodriguez, Kerguelen's Land, and to the Sandwich Islands, a draft application to be prepared. General Strachey gave notice of a motion to be proposed at a future meeting of Council on alterations in procedure for classes of persons to be admitted to the Fellowship under Clause 3, full text entered into the minutes. List of bills for payment, for printing, paper, and for other services. |