Page:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Vol 4.djvu/195

Rh with papers, that we should ask the opinion of a larger number of men conversant with the immediate sciences in question. At the same time, the Council retains its responsibility for its acts, and the chief officers of the society are officially members of each of the scientific committees^

The Council have derived a further assistance from these Com- mittees in the adjudication of our medals. In naming these Com- mittees, the Council has had both a difficult and a delicate task. Convinced that bodies, when too numerous, are little adapted for business, they have also felt that the power of giving their attend- ance might be more important than absolute superiority of scien- tific attainments. Some members have, however, been selected, though really non-resident, because it was believed that their col- leagues might wish to consult them by letter. With these objects and views, the Council have done their best ; but they have little doubt that some gentlemen have been overlooked and omitted, whose presence in the Committees might have been very desirable. The Society must consider this as in some degree a new system, to be perfected and improved by experience alone.

Another question has occupied a share of the time of the Coun- cil during the last year. We have felt that the testimonial of re- commendation for new Fellows has scarcely been sufficiently defi- nite and precise in stating the grounds on which the candidate was recommended to the body of the Society. We have therefore thought it desirable to draw up forms of testimonial, some one of which may be adopted as most fit for each individual so recom- mended. We have thought this more fair, at the same time, to the meritorious candidate and to those electors M^ho are otherwise left in the dark with respect to his claims for their suffi^ages. We hope and trust that this new regulation will not stand in the way of any candidate who would be a desirable addition to our number.

The labours of our tried and valuable officer, iMr. Roberton, ha- ving materially increased, partly in consequence of the establish- ment of Scientific Committees, and partly from other causes, and those labours having also become more valuable from the length- ened experience of many years spent in our service, it has appeared to us an act of mere justice to augment his salary from £160 to £200 per annum.

The Society are doubtless aware, that, at the time of the last An- niversary, no final settlement had taken place of the pecuniary claim of Mr. Panizzi, who had commenced the Catalogue of our Library, though that gentleman had received a considerable sum on account. Feeling that it was very desirable to bring this ques- tion to a termination, we agreed to a reference ; and Mr. Drink- water Bethune having been proposed by Mr. Panizzi, and agreed to by us, that gentleman has decided that a balance of £328 is still due by us.

The vacancies in the list of our Foreign Members have been supplied by the election of M. Savart of Paris, Signor Melloni of Parma, M. Quetelet of Brussels, M. Hansteen of Christiana, Prof.