662 PROCEEDINGS OF STATUTOEY GENERAL MEETINGS, 



" 1. That Mr Russell's letter of resignation be recorded in the Minutes." 



This motion was unanimously agreed to, and the letter follows : — 



Sir, — I have now held the office of Treasurer of the Royal Society for eighteen years, and in the 

 course of next month I shall enter on the 78th year of my age. It seems to me, therefore, full time 

 that the duties of that office should be devolved on some younger and more active Fellow of the Society. 

 I therefore now beg to resign that office, and request you will lay this letter of resignation before the 

 next Meeting of Council. — I am, &c. (Signed) John Russell. 



" 2. That the following resolution, conveying the thanks of the Society to Mr Russell, be re- 

 corded in the Minutes." 



This was carried unanimously, and the resolution follows : — 



Resolved, That this Meeting do record their deep sense of the zealous and important services 

 rendered to the Royal Society by its late Treasurer, Mr Russell. During the long period of eighteen 

 years for which he has held that office, the funds of the Society have been in a steadily prosperous con- 

 dition. The benefit of Mr Russell's cordial and effective assistance has been felt not only in this, but 

 in every department of the Society's affairs, and that assistance the Meeting hope may still long con- 

 tinue, notwithstanding Mr Russell's withdrawal from the responsibility of his official position. 



" 3. That Mr James Gibson-Craig be elected Treasurer, in room of Mr Russell resigned." 



This motion was carried unanimously. 



Memorandum. — March 2, 1857. — At the Ordinary Meeting of this date, Mr D. 

 Smith made the following motion, which was seconded by Mr Nasmyth, and unanimously 

 adopted : — 



" That the Council be requested to consider the propriety of recording in a fitting and permanent 

 manner the feelings of the Society towards their late Treasurer, Mr Russell, for the benefit which the 

 Society has received from his attention and exertions during the time he has acted as Treasurer, and to 

 report their opinion and the manner in which they think such a record should be most appropriately made." 



Memorandum. — April 20, 1857. — At the Ordinary Meeting of this date, Dr Fleming 



moved, and Mr Syme seconded, the following resolutions, of which notice had been given 



at the previous Ordinary Meeting : — 



" 1. That the Council has exceeded its powers in reference to the Neill Prize, by determining and 

 announcing the conditions of appropriation before submitting the case for the approval of the Society. 



" 2. That the conditions announced by the Council are framed with the view of enhancing the 

 importance and promoting the interest of the Society, rather than the recognition of merit, contem- 

 plated in a liberal spirit, and so unequivocally indicated by the terms of the bequest. 



" 3. That the subject be remitted to the Council for reconsideration, with an injunction that the 

 results be laid before the Society for approval, previous to publication." 



The Rev Dr Grant moved, and Mr D. Smith seconded, the following amendment : — 



" That the Society sees no ground for disturbing the arrangements for the appropriation of the 

 Neill Bequest, as announced by the Council, and expresses its approval of said arrangements." 



On the vote being taken, 32 voted for the amendment, and 18 for the motion. 

 The Chairman declared the amendment to be carried. 



Memorandum. — April 20, 1857. — At the Ordinary Meeting of this date, it was pro- 

 posed on the part of the Council (in consequence of a remit to them from the Society on the 

 2d March), that a sum not exceeding Fifty Guineas, should be set apart from the funds of the 

 Society for the purchase of a piece of Plate to be presented to Mr Russell, the late Trea- 

 surer, in the name of the Society, and in acknowledgment of his long-continued and valuable 

 services ; a notice to this effect having been made at last Ordinary Meeting. 



This motion was carried by acclamation. 



