415 
PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL. 
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING, May 31, 1851. 
Present — The President, Messrs. Dickens, Ernes, Robinson, 
Stockley, Varnell, and Withers, Professors Simonds and 
Morton, and the Secretary. 
W. Field, Esq., the President, in the Chair. 
The Minutes of the previous Meeting were read and con- 
firmed. 
The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Weeks, of Salisbury, 
acknowledging the honour of his election as Vice-President, 
and regretting his inability to attend the Meetings on the 
ground of ill health. Also a letter from Mr. Hales of Os- 
westry, declining the like office on the ground of his great 
distance from London, and consequent inability to attend the 
Meetings of Council. 
Mr. Hales’s resignation was not accepted. 
The Secretary w T as directed to w T rite letters of inquiry to 
Mr. Cherry and Mr. Charles Percivall, from whom no replies 
had been received respecting their election as Vice-Presidents 
at the last Special Meeting of Council. 
The subject of the informality that occurred at the Annual 
Meeting, of not deciding by lot which of the seven gentlemen 
then elected Members of Council, should fill the place of Mr. 
Mayer, resigned, was brought before the Board. 
Professor Morton moved, that Mr. Gowing, the seventh on 
the list, should take the place of Mr. Mayer. 
The Secretary seconded the motion, 
Mr. Times moved as an amendment that the Council should 
decide the matter by lot. 
The motion and the amendment were subsequently with- 
drawn ; it being understood that, without any specific reso- 
lution to that effect, Mr. Gowing should fill the place of Mr. 
Mayer. 
Mr. Gowing took his seat at the Board accordingly. 
The following Committees were then elected, by ballot : — 
Exemption Bill Committee , re-elected, with the substitution 
of Mr. Stockley for Mr. Henderson, deceased. 
Finance Committee , re-elected. 
House Committee , re-elected, with the substitution of Mr. 
Ernes for Mr. Henderson. 
Mr. Gabriel was unanimously re-elected Registrar, and the 
members of the Registration Committee were re-elected. 
Professor Simonds in moving that the allowance to the 
Secretary for the ensuing year be £60, with the privilege of 
