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: Neil Arnott; William Benjamin Carpenter; Arthur Cayley; Arthur Farre; William Hopkins; William Allen Miller; William Hallowes Miller; Lyon Playfair; General Edward Sabine; William Sharpey; Rear-Admiral William Henry Smyth; George Gabriel Stokes; the President, John Wrottesley, 2nd Baron Wrottesley, in the chair.
Among matters discussed or noted: minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Archbishop of Dublin was unable to undertake the Fairchild Lecture at the appointed time, therefore the Reverend Robert Walker was nominated in his place. Letter from John Ball, Colonial Office, 11 March 1857, to Lord Wrottesley, full text entered into the minutes: informing the President that John Palliser and others were proceeding on an exploring expedition into western British America from northern Saskatchawan to the United States border; the Royal Society's advice is sought on scientific aspects of the expedition, including the class of observations to be made, the instruments to be sent, and instructions on their use; because of limited time, it would be desirable if Mr. Palliser was put in contact with nominated representatives of the Society; the President noted that a committee had been established for the purpose and had produced an interim report; recommendations were made, including that Dr. Carpenter should be consulted for instructions on ethnological observations, and that the expedition should be accompanied by a photographer. An estimate was presented from Fox, on fitting up pedestal cases and Tammy lining the bookcases in the Ante Room at Burlington House, and was approved. Application from Professor Dove on behalf of the Berlin Academy, for missing parts of the Philosophical Transactions. A pension of £15 per annum was awarded to Mrs. Keminoe for her services as a charwoman since 1834, now unable to work because of her age and infirmity. £40 was granted to Dr. Tyndall from the Donation Fund, for enquiries into glaciers in Switzerland. Bill for payment, for James, the cleaning of pictures. |