REPORT OP THE COUNCIL. XXXI 



Repo7't of the Council of the British Association, presented to the 

 General Committee at Manchester, September 4, 1861. 



(1) The Council were directed by the General Committee at Oxford to 

 maintain the Establishment of the Kew Observatory by aid of a grant of 

 £500. At each of the meetings of the Council, the Committee of the Observa- 

 tory have presented a detailed statement of their proceedings, and they have 

 transmitted the General Report for the year 1860-1861, which is annexed. 



(2) A sum not exceeding £90 was granted for one year, and placed at the 

 disposal of the Council for the payment of an additional Photographer for 

 carrying on the Photoheliographical Observations at Kew. On this subject 

 the Report of the Kew Committee, which is annexed, may be consulted. 



(3) A further sum of £30 was placed at the disposal of Mr. Broun, Dr. 

 Lloyd, and Mr. Stoney, for the construction of an Induction Dip-Circle, in 

 connexion with the Observatory at Kew. The result of this recommenda- 

 tion is stated in the Report of the Kew Committee. 



(4) The Report of the Parliamentary Committee has been received by the 

 Council for presentation to the General Committee to-day, and is printed for 

 the information of the Members. 



(5) Professor Phillips was requested to complete and print, before the 

 Manchester Meeting, a Classified Index to the Transactions of the Associa- 

 tion from 1831 to 1860 inclusive, and was authorized to employ, during this 

 period, an Assistant ; and the sum of £100 was placed at his disposal for the 

 purpose. 



Professor Phillips reports that he has secured the assistance of Mr. G. 

 Griffith, of Jesus College, Oxford, in carrying on the Index, which had been 

 already much advanced by the help of Mr. Askham, and states that with the 

 aid thus afforded he had hoped to be able to complete the work within the 

 time specified. Though this expectation has not been realized, specimens of 

 the work are laid before the Meeting. 



(6) Professor Phillips requested the attention of the Council to circum- 

 stances regarding his own health and occupations, which are gradually rcrider- 

 ing it necessary for him to prepare to withdraw from the duties of the As- 

 sistant General Secretary, which have been for many years intrusted to him; 

 and suggested that opportunity might be taken of this announcement to con- 

 sider whether the arrangements connected with the Secretariate should remain 

 unchanged, or be modified. 



The Council regret to have received letters from Professor Walker, General 

 Secretary, dated 15th March and 20th April, stating that, on account of in- 

 disposition which required cessation from labour, it would not be in his power 

 to continue his attention to the official business of the Association at the next 

 Meeting. 



Under these circumstances the Council requested Professor Phillips to draw 

 up in writing such statements and suggestions as might appear to him likely 

 to assist the Council in considering the steps to be taken in consequence of 

 these announcements*. 



(7) The communication of Professor Phillips in reference to the appoint- 

 ment of a General Secretary having been considered, the following Resolu- 

 tion was adopted : — 



That the President, and the gentlemen who have formerly acted as General 

 Secretaries, viz. the Rev. W. V. Harcourt, Sir R. I. Murchison, and 



* The statement drawn up by Professor Phillips in consequence of this request was 

 printed in the Minutes of tlae Council, and separate copies were laid before the General 

 Committee. 



