| 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 George Bonney; George Busk; Sir Richard Assheton Cross; Edwin Dunkin; Alexander John Ellis; John Evans (Treasurer); Thomas Archer Hirst; William Huggins; Thomas Henry Huxley; Daniel Oliver; Sir James Paget; Henry Tibbats Stainton; George Gabriel Stokes; Lieutenant-General Richard Strachey; 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 Dr. John Jeremiah Bigsby and Mr. John Gould. An extension of time for admission to the Fellowship granted to Professor John Anderson of Calcutta. Seal of the Royal Society added to a memorandum varying the time for measuring the Society's Acton Estate. Letter from Francis Galton, 42 Rutland Gate, 1 February 1881, to the President of the Royal Society, full text entered into the minutes: asking that the portrait of Sir Joseph Hooker, delivered, should be accepted as the donation of sixty-eight Fellows; accepted with thanks. Thirteen works on the history of logariths were tabled, the donation of Mr. A.J. Ellis, received with thanks. Application by W.A. Forbes for the loan of wood blocks to aid in the publication of the works of A.H. Garrrod, approved. President and Council noted their willingness to nominate a Governor for Dulwich College in response to a letter from the Charity Commissioners. Further accommodation for the International Medical Congress to be left to the discretion of the Officers. Letter from Mr. Ernest Hart of the National Health Society, the Secretary to return a reply. Report of the Government Fund Committee, in the form of minutes of the meeting of 14 February, full text entered into the minutes: appointment of representatives. Letter from Norman Macleod, Science and Art Department, London, 2 February 1881, to the Assistant Secretary, the Royal Society, Burlington House, full text entered into the minutes: the sum of £2,420 of the £4,000 for scientific research is unappropriated and available for Grants. Lists of applications received and referred to the Sub-Committees of Recommendations A-C: with lists of recommendations and amounts, with discussion and amendment into confirmed lists of grants; approved by the Government Fund Committee. Report of the Government Grant Committee in the form of minutes of the meeting of 15 February 1881, full text entered into the minutes: report of Mr. R.H. Scott on expenditure of £50 granted to him and Dr. Rae for collecting fossils , with a cheque for the unexpended balance received; consideration of the list of applications left by the General Committee of the Government Fund and a list of recommended grants confirmed, with a resolutution that all instruments and specimens obtained would be disposed of in a manner decided by Council of the Royal Society. Leave granted to the Transit of Venus Committee to meet in the Secretaries' Room. Letter from Thomas Henry Huxley, South Kensington, to William Spottiswoode, President of the Royal Society, full text entered into the minutes: Huxley's acceptance of the Inspectorship of Salmon Fisheries, noting the possibility that this would interfere with his attendance as a Secretary of the Royal Society; requesting that Council should consider if he should continue, tendering his resignation. On the motion of Sir James Paget, Huxley asked to continue if his new office does not interfere with his duties as Secretary. A preliminary list of candidates for Foreign Membership of the Royal Society to be circulated for consideration at the next meeting. Minutes of the Soiree Committee read and the Committee empowered to issue invitations, with soiree and reception dates. Letter from Mr. J. Lawrence Hamilton applying for a £300 grant for research into the production of an artificial vaccine lymph, the Secretary to reply. List of bills for payment for lithography and engraving. |