Minutes of an ordinary meeting of the Royal Society ' The President reported from the Council to the Society , that because the Stationers and Printers are of one and the same Company, and may , by the confession of both sides practize both Trades promiscuoulsy, the Society may choose a Stationer for their Printer , without any Violotion to their Charter , which giveth them power to chuse Printers whereupon Mr Martin and Mr Allestree, being proposed and recommended to the Society , it was put to the Question , whether it should Question , That the Office of Printer to the Royal Society, should be conferred on the said Mr Martin, and Mr Allestree jointly; and it was carried in the affirmative after which these two persons were put to the vote by Ballot, and chosen . The Earle of Argile was propounded by Sir Robert moray for Fellow of the Society , and by reason of his quality , chosen the same day . Nemine contredicente . Mr Thomas Cox was also propounded by Mr Boyle . Mr Hook was charged to provide from time to time , such Experiments for the Compressing Engin , as he should think good . The same shewed the Company a Microscopical Observation of a Pismire ; He was also desired to take care and give directions that major Homes might be furnished with a dozen of his new SDounding Balls [crossed out; Engines] with Leads The Operator was ordered to make the Engin for the Tryals of Gunpowder . Item to make ready a Thermometer , and a Mercurial Cane to be sent with Major Homes ; as also Thermometers for Captain Taylor ; Mr Winthrop ; the Governoar of St Helena . Mr Hill was desired to take care of some Thamnes-water to be sent in Bottles of white Glasse , and glasse stopples , to the East - indies ; to observe the better the chang of the Colour of the Water . The same was also appointed Curator to haue some rain and River water brought hither out of Guiny , it being affirmed that the Waters of theat Country, are Subject to putrify sooner thatn our waters . Dr Wallis was desired to consider , what Enquiries might be sent and recommended to the English Governour of St Helena . Sir Robert Moray produced some horse - teeth petrified , brought bny Prince Rupert out of Germany . The same produced a peice of Copper - Oar , sent him of Sueden , and presented the Society with for theire Repository ; it was ordered , that Mr Hook , as the Custos thereof should alwaies affice some Note to the things of teh Repository whereby it may be known , what they are , and by whom they were presented . Sir Peter Moray was desired , to inquire of this friend in Sweden , what variety of Copper - Oar they haue there , and how rich they are . Dr Charleton , Dr Croon and Mr Hook were again appointed Curators , for the Experiment of planting a Cock's - spurr on a Cock's - head ; and the Operator wasa commanded to provide a fitt cock for it, against next day . Dr Charleton waas also desired ; together with Mr Hook , to repeat the Experiment of cutting off a peice of a Gog's skin , and sewing it on again , and the Operator ordered to provide another Dog for that purpose . The Operator tryed the Expereiment of making Feathers grow upon a Cocks - comb , with the mixture of Bolearmonia and the white of an Egge . Mr Boyle brought in a Paper , containing his Obser-vations upon Mr Claytons diamond : He received the thanks of the Company , and the Account was ardered to be entered [In margin; Lib.2.f.213 [crossed out ; Fol. 316] ] ' 28 October 1663