decline of science in england-第12章
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〃Resolved； that the following gentlemen be recommended to be put upon the Council for the ensuing year。〃 ＇Here follows a list of persons； amongst whom the name of Sir John Franklin occurs ＇Sir John Franklin was absent from London； and altogether unacquainted with this transaction； until he saw it stated in the newspapers some months after it had taken place。 That his name was the one substituted for that of Captain Beaufort I know； from other evidence which need not be produced here； as the omission of the latter name is the charge that has been made。＇； and that of Captain Beaufort is not found。 ＇Any gentleman may satisfy himself that this is not a mistake of the Assistant Secretary's； in copying； by consulting the rough minutes of that meeting of the Council； which it might perhaps be as well to write in a rough minute…book； instead of upon loose sheets of paper； nor can it be attributed to any error arising from accidentally mislaying the real minutes； for in that case the error would have been rectified immediately it was detected； and this has remained uncorrected； although publicly spoken of for months。 As there is no erasure in the list； one is reluctantly compelled to conjecture that the real minutes of that meeting have been destroyed。＇＇
Now this could not be the list actually recommended by the Council on the morning of the 26th of November； because the President himself； on the evening of that day； informed Capt。 Beaufort that he was placed on the house list； and that officer； with the characteristic openness of his profession； wrote on the next or the following day to the President； declining that situation； and stating his reasons for the step。
Upon the fact； therefore； of the suppression of part of a resolution of the Council； on the 26th of November； there can be no doubt； but in order to understand the whole nature of the transaction； other information is necessary。 It has been the wish of many members of the Society； that the President should not absolutely name his own Council； but that the subject should be discussed fairly at the meeting previous to the Anniversary this has always been opposed by Mr。 Gilbert； and those who support him。 Now； it has been stated； that； at the meeting of the Council on the 26th of November； the President took out of his pocket a bit of paper； from which he read the names of several persons as fit to be on the Council for the ensuing year；that it was not understood that any motion was made； and it is certain that none was seconded； nor was any ballot taken on such an important question； and it was a matter of considerable surprise to some of those present； to discover afterwards that it was entered on the minutes as a resolution。 This statement I have endeavoured to verify； and I believe it to be substantially correct； if it was a resolution； it was dictated； not discussed。 It is also important to observe； that no similar resolution stands on the council…books for any previous year。
On examining the minutes of the succeeding Council； no notice of the letter of Captain Beaufort to the President is found。 Why was it omitted？ If the first entry had been truly made； there would have been no necessity for the omission； and after the insertion of that letter； a resolution would naturally have followed； recommending another name instead of the one withdrawn。 Such was the natural and open course； but this would have exposed to the Society the weakness of those who manage it。 If the rough minutes of each meeting of the Council were read over before it separated； and were copied previously to the next meeting； such a substitution could hardly have occurred； but； unfortunately； this is not the case； and the delay is in some cases considerable。 Thus； the minutes of the three Councils； held on February 4； on February 11； and on March 11； were not entered on the minute… books of the Council on Tuesday； the 16th March； nor was this the fault of the Assistant…secretary； for up to that day the rough minutes of no one of those Councils had been transmitted to him。
Deeply as every friend to the Royal Society must regret such an occurrence； one slight advantage may accrue。 Should that resolution be ever quoted hereafter to prove that the Council of 1829 really discussed the persons to be recommended as their successors； the detection of this suppression of one portion of it； will furnish better means of estimating the confidence due to the whole。
SECTION 4。
OF THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISERS。
Whether it was feared by the PARTY who govern the Royal Society； that its Council would not be sufficiently tractable； or whether the Admiralty determined to render that body completely subservient to them； or whether both these motives concurred； I know not； but； low as has been for years its character for independence； and fallen as the Royal Society is in public estimation； it could scarcely be prepared for this last insult。 In order to inform the public and the Society； （for I believe the fact is known to few of the members；） it will be necessary to trace the history of those circumstances which led to the institution of the offices of Scientific Advisers； from the time of the existence of the late Board of Longitude。
That body consisted； according to the act of parliament which established it； of certain official members； who usually possessed no knowledge of the subjects it was the duty of the Board to discussof certain professors of the two universities； and the Astronomer Royal； who had some knowledge； and who were paid 100L。 a year for their attendance；of three honorary members of the Royal Society； who combined the qualifications of the two preceding classes； and； lastly； of 〃three other persons；〃 named Resident Commissioners； who were supposed to be 〃WELL VERSED IN THE SCIENCES OF MATHEMATICS； ASTRONOMY； OR NAVIGATION；〃 and who were paid a hundred a year to do the work of the Board。
The first three classes were permanent members； but the 〃three other persons〃 only held the appointment for ONE YEAR； and were renewable at the pleasure of the Admiralty。 This Board was abolished by another act of parliament； on the ground that it was useless。 Shortly after； the Secretary of the Admiralty communicated to the Council of the Royal Society； the copy of an Order in Council：
ADMIRALTY OFFICE； November 1； 1828。
SIR； I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty； to send herewith； for the information of the President and Council of the Royal Society； a copy of His Majesty's Order in Council of the 27th of last month； explaining that the salaries heretofore allowed to the Resident Commissioners of the Board of Longitude； and to the Superintendents of the Nautical Almanac； and of Chronometers； shall be continued to them； notwithstanding the abolition of the Board of Longitude。 And I am to acquaint you； that the necessary orders have been given to the Navy Board for the payment of the said salaries。
I am； Sir； Your most obedient humble servant；
JOHN BARROW。
AT THE COURT AT WINDSOR； 27th October； 1828。
PRESENT； The King's most Excellent Majesty in Council；
Whereas； there was this day read at the Board a Memorial from the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty； dated 4th of this instant； in the words following； viz。
Whereas； by an Act of the 58th of his late Majesty's reign； cap。 20； instituted 〃An Act for the more effectually discovering the Longitude at sea； and encouraging attempts to find a Northern passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans； and to approach the North Pole；〃 three persons well versed in the sciences of Mathematics； Astronomy； or Navigation； were appointed as a Resident Committee of the Board of Commissioners for discovery of the Longitude at sea； and a Superintendent of the Nautical Almanac and of Chronometers was also appointed； with such salaries for the execution of those services as his Majesty might； by any Order in Council； be pleased to direct； and； whereas； your Majesty was in consequence； by your Order in Council of the 27th of May； 1828； most graciously pleased to direct； that the three said Resident Commissioners should be paid at the rate of 100L。 a year each； and by your further Order in Counc
