'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎2] (21/458)

to their ready reference and due preservation ; and that you will be duly Informed when they
are ready for conveyance to their destination.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
A. B. Becher, Commander, R. N.
Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, 24th July, 1850.
A letter from Commander Jenkins was produced, stating that it would be impossible for
him to be present at the meeting, in consequence of a Court Martial on board the Hastings
requesting that the motion on the notice list in reference to the Ross Testimonial should
be deferred, and complaining that the substance of a part of Captain Becher’s letter must
have been divulged, as it had appeared in one of the daily papors, with some remarks on
it by the Editor. He, Commander Jenkins, was a member of the Committee on the Ross
Testimonial, and had not so much as seen the letter up to the present date.
It was explained, that Commander Jenkins on the first point was under a misapprehen
sion-—*there was no motion, or notice of a motion, on the notice list, on the subject of the
Ross Testimonial; on the second, that the letters, when sent for publication in circular,
were equally at the disposal of all the members; so soon as the circular was issued, they
were in substance published.
Dr, Buist said—we shall probably hear by next mail from Captain Becher as to the
amount of balance in his hands. I have not written in reply to his letter until the Socie
ty’s views on the matter be expressed: it would probably be best to place the balance in
the hands of the London partners of our treasurers Messrs Remington and Co., to be drawn
on, if required here, should exchange remittances from home improve. The money was
remitted at par, and if necessary might be applied to the payment of the Society’s accounts
at home, a like amount being transferred from its ordinary funds here to that of the Ross
Testimonial. There is a balance of Rs. 600 still unapplied in the hands of the Society :
this, together with the other balance, will probably amount to say Rs. 1000, a sum sufficient
to meet the preparation for publication of the Wind and Current Charts prepared by Mr.
Macfarlane, which the subscribers to these are ready to place at our disposal as a contribu
tion to the Ross Testimonial, provided we are willing to undertake for their publication-
otherwise they are intended to be sent home.—The Secretary was ’directed to write to
Captain Becher acknowledging his letter, and stating that he would be instructed how to
dispose of the balance of the funds in his hands so soon as the amount became known. The
suggestions of the Secretary were desired to lie over for consideration, as it did not appear
requisite that any step should on the present occasion be taken in the matter.
The following is from Mr. Adie, our instrument maker
Dear Sir,— We are favoured with yours of the 1st and 11th May, and have completed
y u order, we hoped to have been able to have informed you by this mail by what ship
they are sent. The barometer No. 10, for which you wish another scale cut, cannot
well be done without our having its present scale for size and length : if by any oppor
tunity you could send it, we would then give another. We have not as yet heard any-
' g o the barometer you mention as having been sent by Mr Dillon. The sympiesometer
( ^ railway ’ from wllcnco we know not, put up in a piece of pasteboard, with a
f. r* ^ 108 aS S0 ° d 1UCk woul(J hav0 a N sa fc> and in perfect order, save want
egulation. We had your copy of the Times with a comparision of the Aneroid
er and mercury . the agreement is certainly very close, but we should fear that
not find it always so, and they will not do at all if taken to any considerable