Copy letter from George Gabriel Stokes, to Sir Reginald Earle Welby Stokes replies to Welby's letter of 2 December [1885] to answer his two queries with further information as to why the President and Council of the Royal Society wish to make an expenditure of £1000 on the eclipse referred to in Dr Foster's letter, and with a statement in general terms of the division of the grant of £4000 between the different branches of natural science in each year. In relation to the latter a table is included to demonstrate expenditure of the grant from May 1882-December 1885 between astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology and biology, totaling £17,225. Stokes discusses two circumstances which have occurred since Dr Foster's letter which lead the Council to think that a smaller sum of £500 might suffice instead of the £1000 named. 18 December 1885