| 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: William Fairbairn; Hugh Falconer; Sir Henry Holland; Thomas Henry Huxley; William Sharpey; William Spottiswoode; George Gabriel Stokes; John Tyndall; Colonel Philip Yorke; the Treasurer and Vice-President, Major General Edward Sabine, in the Chair.
Among matters discussed or noted: minutes of the last meeting read and approved. Dr. Falconer made and subscribed to the declaration in lieu of the oath as a new Member of Council. Letter from Edward Sabine, 13 Ashley Place, 4 July 1861, to William Sharpey, full text entered into the minutes: his receipt of the resolution of Council and acceptance of the nomination to be President. The Treasurer noted the investment of subscriptions to the Scientific Relief Fund. Council approved a draft of the security bond required of the Assistant Secretary, from Few and Company. Assent given for the Civil Service Commissioners to hold examinations for the Civil Service of India at Burlington House. Letter from T.H. Farrer, Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade, Marine Department, Whitehall, 25 June 1861, to the Secretary of the Royal Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, full text entered into the minutes: the Lords of the Committee have received from Admiral Fitzroy a copy of a paper read to the Society by Archibald Smith on the subject of variation of the compass needle aboard iron vessels; he asks for the Society's opinion on the method described and how it might be disseminated to those in charge of correcting compasses in merchant vessels. The matter referred to a committee consisting of Edward Sabine and Archibald Smith. Draft letter prepared by Edward Sabine and Archibald Smith, 4 July 1861, to T.H. Farrer, full text entered into the minutes: reporting on the paper by Smith and Evans on variation in the compass needle in iron vessels and submitting general observations on the different practices in compass correction between the mercantile fleet and the Royal Navy; were the practical problem of who should conduct 'swinging' tests resolved, the committee see no reason why the Board of Trade or the Admiralty should not supervise deviation correction of compasses in all iron ships. Letter from Robert J. Upton, Apothecaries' Hall, London, 29 June 1861, to the President of the Royal Society, full text entered into the minutes: the Society of Apothecaries have decided to relieve themselves of the responsibility of maintaining the Physic Garden at Chelsea, held under the deed of gift granted by Sir Hans Sloane; the Garden would devolve to the Royal Society on payment of rent and the announcement has been communicated to the Royal College of Physicians and to Earl Cadogan; the Officers were requested to make further enquiries. Letter from Balfour Stewart, Kew Observatory, 27 June 1861, to William Sharpey, Secretary of the Royal Society, full text entered into the minutes: applying for a grant of £90 from the Donation Fund to defray expenses in the verification of instruments supplied to the Dutch and American Governments and to the University of Coimbra; £90 granted for the purpose described. Draft of a letter to the Office of Works drawing attention to the decay of woodwork in the basement of Burlington House. £500 placed at the disposal of the Library Committee for the purpose of purchasing books from the Humboldt Library. An estimate of £44 from Mr. Turner for extending hot water pipes into the four basement store-rooms of Burlington House. Leave of absence granted to the Assistant Secretary. The Koniglische Physikalisch-oconomische Gesellschaft of Konigsberg placed on the list of institutions to receive the Philosophical Transactions and Proceedings. Bill for payment, for lithography. |