A letter (of which the following is a copy) was received from his Grace the Duke of Somerset, viz.:—
"To the Council of the Astronomical Society of London.
"Gentlemen,—The gratification I derived from the appointment, with which your Society honoured me at its last meeting, & which was then only qualified by the apprehension of my inadequacy as to fulfilling its duties, has since been obliged to yield entirely to a feeling of a different kind, and one which (I am sorry to say) will no longer allow me to hold that high situation. The professions which terminate the Address of your Society, and some great names which are to be found in the list of its members, had given ample ground for trusting that, as nothing was intended inimical, so, nothing could follow prejudicial, to the interests of an old respectable and chartered body. Its President is however of quite a different opinion, and apprehends the ruin of the Royal Society. To Sir Joseph Banks I have been long & strongly attached, not only by the ties of public regard, but those of private friendship; and my remaining in a post, which he considers as a hostile position, might be liable to unfavourable comments, & would certainly be very painful to my own feelings. I trust therefore you will not wonder that, under the influence of these impressions, I feel myself obliged to resign the flattering hope of connecting my name with the labours of the Astronomical Society, & that I am under the necessity of withdrawing from the list of its members: & that I am indeed to hope that you will receive this my immediate & sudden resignation & recession with that indulgence which I can only claim on account of the motive which I profess.—I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your much obliged & obedient serv.
A letter was also received from John Fuller, Esq., stating that he did not mean to belong to the Astronomical Society, because it did not meet with the approbation of Sir Joseph Banks.
The Treasurer reported that A. Baily, Esq.; F. Baily, Esq.; Capt. Colby; D. Moore, Esq.; J. South, Esq.; and himself and Mr. Troughton had each paid the sum of Twenty guineas, as a composition for their future annual contributions.
Resolved unanimously—
That the several compositions for the annual contributions which have been, and may hereafter be, received by the Society, shall be, from time to time, invested in the Navy 5 p. cents., in the joint names of the Trustees of this Society for the time being; as a separate fund.
Resolved unanimously—
That the Capital Stock, created by such investment, shall remain as a permanent fund, the interest only of which shall, if necessary, be appropriated to the current expences of the Society.
