| 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: Frederick Augustus Abel; William Bowman; William Carruthers; Major-General Henry Clerk; William Crookes; John Evans (Treasurer); William Robert Grove; Augustus George Vernon Harcourt; Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker; Thomas Henry Huxley; Sir Ashley Cooper Key; Sir Henry Lefroy; Sir John Lubbock; Charles William Siemens; John Simon; George Gabriel Stokes; Allen Thomson; Alexander William Williamson; the President, William Spottiswoode, in the chair.
Among matters discussed or noted: minutes of the last meeting read and approved. Deaths of Charles Brooke, William Froude, Major-General Sir Thomas A. Larcom, Anthony Mervin Story Maskelyne, and Samuel Charles Whitbread. Letter from the Foreign Office on the earthquake on the Island of St. Thomas. Letter from Lord Lytton, Simla, 2 September 1878, to the Right Honorable Viscount Cranbrook, Secretary of State for India, full text entered into the minutes: on seismic obsratories in India, noting the selection of test staions at Calcutta and Rorkee, and a request for instruments and instruction from Robert Mallet. Letter from Robert Mallet, Enmore, The Grove, Clapham Road, 21 May 1879, to William Spottiswoode, Royal Society, Burlington House, full text entered into the minutes: in reply to the President's letter and unconfirmed Council minutes he states that although a network of seismic observatories in India would be of scientific promise, they would requite steady work and he does not believe that there is much prospect with the future revenue and expediture in India; he cannot participate in any active scientific work, due to loss of sight. Letter from William Spottiswoode, n.d., to the Under Secretary of State of State for India, full text entered into the minutes: relaying information from Robert Mallet, this with the death of Mr.Oldham deprives the Royal Sociey of valuable assistance and therefore it would be best to postpone the scheme. Letter from Louis Mallet, India Office, 17 May 1879, to the Secretary, the Royal Society, full text entered into the minutes: recommending the employment of Major John Herschel in connection with taking pendulum observations in India, and enclosing a long memorandum [present] from Major Herschel, 10 March 1879 and other correspondence extracts. Letter from George Gabriel Stokes, Secretary, the Royal Society, Burlington House, 20 June 1879, to Sir Louis Mallet, Under Secretary of State for India, full text entered into the minutes: on the proposal to send Major Herschel to England to prepare a work discussing pendulum observations and the figure of the Earth, noting previous work, and Major Herschel's qualification to be entrusted with discussion of the whole system of observations. Letter from Henry J.S. Smith, Meteorological Office, 116 Victoria Street, London, 19 June 1879, to the Secretary, the Royal Society, full text entered into the minutes: forwarding the report of the Meteorological Council. Treasurer reported that purchases of plots of land giving access to the Acton Estate were completed: Messrs. Few and Company authorised to give possession of the land required by the London and North Westren Railway Company on payment of £600. Repeal of Statute XIX Chapter 1 and the text of a replacement Statute on election of Foreign Members agreed. £50 from the Scientific Relief Fund placed in the hands of Warren De la Rue for the benefit of an applicant. John Anderson and Walter Lawry Buller granted an extension of time for admission to the Fellowship. Treasurer reported receiving the official receipt for the £1,500 Trevelyan bequest, which was then sealed and signed, the sum to be invested in stock recognised by the Court of Chancery, and Walter Calverley Trevelyan recognised for his liberality. £100 placed at the Treasurer's disposal for varnishing and lining of portraits. Henry White's salary increased to £3 10s. per week. Herbert Rix confirmed in his appointment subject to 3 months' notice. List of candidates for Royal Society medals, with proposers and seconders. All books to be returned to the Library by 31 July and none to be given out during August. Leave of absence granted to the Assistant Secretary. Treasure authorised to pay bills during summer recess. List of bills for payment, for printing, lithography, picture cleaning and for other expenses. |