302 RECORD OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY 



Gassiot Committee may approve for the maintenance of these observations 

 and researches, in augmentation of the sums assigned for the purpose by the 

 Meteorological Committee. 



VII. THE METEOROLOGICAL COMMITTEE. 



The present Meteorological Committee is the official descendant of the 

 Meteorological Department of the Board of Trade, established in 1854, the 

 history of which is given in the Report by the Committee of Inquiry nominated 

 by the Roval Society, the Board of Trade, and the Admiralty, respectively, 

 which was printed and presented to Parliament in 1866. This Department 

 was superseded in 1867 by the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society. 

 In 1877 the Committee transferred their charge to the Meteorological Council, 

 a paid body, consisting of a chairman and four members, nominated by the 

 President and Council of the Royal Society, and approved by the Lords Com- 

 missioners of the Treasury, with the Hydrographer of the Admiralty as an 

 official member. In 1905 the Meteorological Council was replaced by a Com- 

 mittee appointed by H.M. Treasury, and containing two representatives of 

 the Royal Society. The Gassiot Committee above described co-operates with 

 this Meteorological Committee in promoting the scientific study of the branches 

 of science to which the Gassiot Trust relates, viz. Meteorology, Terrestrial 

 Magnetism, Atmospheric Electricity, Seismology, and the cognate subjects. 



VIII. THE BOTANIC GARDENS, CHELSEA, FORMERLY KNOWN AS 

 ' THE PHYSICK GARDEN \ 



In February 1721 (1722 new style) Sir Hans Sloane by a deed, one part of 

 which is in the possession of the Society, granted unto and to the use of the 

 Society of Apothecaries for ever, subject to a yearly rent of <*5 and to certain 

 conditions, a plot of ground formerly leased to that Society by Lord Cheyne, 

 and known as ' The Physick Garden \ The most important condition is That 

 the Garden should at all times hereafter be continued as a Physick Garden ' 

 by the Society of Apothecaries, which shall yearly present to the Royal 

 Society * fifty specimens or samples of distinct plants, well dryed and preserved, 

 and which grew in the said Garden the same year, together with their respec- 

 tive names or reputed names, and so as the specimens or samples of such plants 

 be different, or specifically distinct, and no one offered twice, until the compleat 

 number of two thousand plants have been delivered \ 



The deed further provides that if these conditions be not fulfilled, or if the 

 Society shall at any time convert the Garden into buildings for habitations or 

 for any other uses save as a Physick Garden, Sir Hans Sloane, his heirs and 

 assigns, may enter and hold the premises in trust for the Royal Society, which, 

 however, must pay the said rent, and in like manner deliver fifty plants from 

 the Gardens annually to the College of Physicians, and if the Royal Society 

 fail to comply, the Gardens are to be held in trust for the College of Physicians, 



