I have conversed with some Members of the Philosophical Society, who attended the Meeting on Friday Evening last, respecting the Proceedings of the Society in the affair of Mr. Magellans Annual Premium, and find that they are by no Means satisfied with the Manner in which that Business has been conducted and enter’d on the Minutes. The Committee had reported, that the Design of a Spring-Block to assist a Vessel in Sailing was ingenious and promising of Success, but wish’d the author to ascertain the Effect by actual Experiment before an Award should be given in his Favour. The Members present universally exprest themselves of Opinion with the Committee; and from all appearance and the positive Declaration of some would willingly have adjudg’d the Premium to the author of that Design if, on Trial, it whould be found beneficial to Navigation. But when the previous Question, “Whether any of the Performances under Consideration were worthy of this proposed Premium?, was put, according to the Law, it was urged that the Members could not give a conditional but must give a positive Aye or Nay, and thus they were compell’d to give a Determination contrary to their Judgement and dismiss the Performances before them with a general, unqualified Negative, that none of them were worthy of the proposed Premium, no Part of this Proceeding appears on the Minutes. Only the Report of the Committee recommending it to the Author to make an Experiment with his Spring-Block. But the Report of a Committee is no part of the Proceedings of the Society, unless adopted. So that, according to the minutes, it would seem as if the Society had done nothing this Year in the Business of the Annual Premium.

It appears to me, that if the Society be acted consistently, under the then prevailing Impression, a previous Question should have been put Viz. Whether Determinations in Favour of any proposed Improvement or Theory should be considered as given on Condition that the Author should support his Improvement or Theory by Fact and Testimony. Under the Influence of such a Rule, the members could vote directly Aye or No. Whereas they have now, contrary to their Judgments, been compell’d to pass a full negative on the Device of a Spring-Block, not because they are sure it will not answer; but because they don’t know that it will.

It is said that the Society found themselves under a considerable Embarassment, but as this is an Embarassment which must frequently occur, especially in Cases of mechanical Devices and Improvements; would it not be better that some decisive Arrangement should be formed in the first Commencement of the Business rather than have an equivocal Precedent for a Source of future Confusion and Discontent.

On the Ground that several Members are disatisfied with the Proceedings of last Friday and that the Minutes are manifestly defective, I take the Liberty to request that your Excellency would be so good as to summon a Meeting of the Society any Evening this week to reconsider their Proceedings respecting the Disposition of the Annual Premium, and to revise their Minutes. The Meeting should be this week, or at least in the Month of December, and may be considered as an adjourn’d or Supplemental meeting to that of Friday last.

For my Part I shall be perfectly satisfied if the Piece bearing the underwritten Motto shall depend for its Success on the Event of fact and actual Experiment, or if it shall be entirely thrown out by a Vote of the Society, provided that Vote is the Result of Judgement unembarass’d by collateral Circumstances. I am, dear Sir, with all true Affection and Respect Your most obedient and very humble servant