| 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: Robert Bellamy Clifton; George Howard Darwin; David Ferrier; Michael Foster; Edward Frankland; Arthur Gamgee; Joseph Henry Gilbert; John Hopkinson; Joseph Norman Lockyer; Bartholomew Price; Charles Pritchard; John William Strutt, Lord Rayleigh; Sir George Henry Richards; Philip Lutley Sclater; The Treasurer [John Evans]; Alexander William Williamson; the President, George Gabriel Stokes, in the chair.
Among matters discussed or noted: minutes of the last meeting read and approved. Death of Admiral Sir Henry Denham. Letter from Henry Matthews, on behalf of the Queen, in thanks for the loyal address to Queen Victoria on the occasion of her jubilee. President's report on the presentation. Letter from Michael Foster, Secretary of the Royal Society, to Henry Matthews, Secretary of State for Home Affairs, 9 July 1887, full text entered into the minutes: on the manner in which the Society's representatives were admitted into the Royal presence and its departure from precedent. Letter from the Astronomer Royal, stating that H.M. Ambassador in Paris had given notice of the British Government's intention to withdraw from the Comite International des Poids et Mesures: letter from Michael Foster, Secretary of the Royal Society, to the Secretary of the Treasury, 8 July 1887, full text entered into the minutes, urgently appealing to the Government to reconsider that decision; with a list of Fellows to make up a Deputation to the Chancellor, if necessary. Letter from Sir William Dawson on a proposed Imperial Geological Union, referred to a committee formed to consider this. £150 from the Donation Fund to Dr. Gill for expenses in stellar photography. Report of the Electic Lighting Committee, recommendations adopted. Report of the Safety Lamp Committee, declining Ellis Lever's offer of a £500 premium to develop a miner's safety lamp; with a letter from Michael Foster, Secretary of the Royal Society, to Ellis Lever, 8 July 1887, ful text entered into the minutes, relaying this outcome and the committee's reasoning. Report of the Scientific Relief Committee, with sums placed into the hands of several Fellows, for applicants. Application of Professor R. J. Anderson to the Donation Fund, consideration deferred. Steps to be taken to obtain a Civil List pension for Professor W. K. Parker. Dr. P. H. Pye-Smith nominated as a Governor of Shrewsbury School. Annual report of the Meteorological Council read. Loan of a spectroscope to Mr. H. H. Turner to be taken to Russia to observe the Total Solar Eclipse. William Crookes given permission to take an electrotype of an illustration. Presentation of a portait of John Chardin by Mr. George Handford. Certificates received for stock. Budget for painting and redecoration of apartments increased to £150. Bills for printing and services. |