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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the insertion of that letter； a resolution would naturally have followed； recommending another name instead of the one withdrawn。 Such was the natural and open course； but this would have exposed to the Society the weakness of those who manage it。 If the rough minutes of each meeting of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 Council； of the 31st October； 1818； that the Superintendent of the Nautical Almanac should be allowed a salary of 300L。； and the Superintendent of Chronometers 100L。 a year； and； whereas； the act above mentioned has been repealed； and the Board of Longitude abolished； and doubts have therefore arisen； whether the said Orders in Council shall still continue in force； and whereas it is expedient that the said appointments be continued； We beg leave most humbly to submit to your Majesty； that your Majesty may be graciously pleased； by your Order in Council； to direct that the said offices of Superintendent of the Nautical Almanac； and of Superintendent of Chronometers； and also the three persons before…mentioned as a Resident Committee； to advise with the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral； on all questions of discoveries； inventions； calculations； and other scientific subjects； be continued； with the same duties and salaries； and under the same regulations as heretofore； and further beg most humbly to propose； that such three persons to form the Resident Committee； be chosen annually by the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral； from among the Council of the Royal Society。
His Majesty； having taken the said Memorial into consideration； was pleased； by and with the advice of his Privy Council； to approve thereof and the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty are to give the necessary directions herein accordingly。
（Signed） JAMES HILLER。
Thus； it appeared that the Admiralty were to choose three persons from among the Council of the Royal Society； who were to have a hundred a year each during the pleasure of the Admiralty。
Such an open attack on the independence of the Council could not escape the remarks of some of the members； and a kind of mild remonstrance was made； in which the real ground of complaint was omitted。
MINUTE OF COUNCIL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY。 December 18； 1823。
RESOLVED； That in acknowledging the communication of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty； made to the C