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Royal Society account books, 1660-2004, falling into two chronological groups; the first series contains the early accounts for the Royal Society, 1660-1768. Much of this material deals with the financial state of the Society during the term of office of James West, and represents the administrative work of the two Library Keepers/Clerks, Francis Hauksbee and Emanuel Mendes da Costa. The second group consists of cash-books and ledgers of the 19th and 20th centuries, 1867-1976. These deal with the Society's general finances, as well as its administration of the Government Grant and various Trust Funds. A third section contains copies of the Royal Society's Annual Accounts - both signed and unsigned.

A series of volumes containing additional papers read before, or collected by the Royal Society and others not entered into the Classified Papers series.

'Libro varissimo del Conte Guido di materia fisiche e mathematiche' A volume of alchemical tracts. Items 7, 9, 18, part of 19 and 23 are all in one hand; items 11 to 15 are in another; the remainder are in various hands. Most of the items appear to date from the early or middle 17th century, to judge by the hands, though the matter is in most cases probably much older.

A volume of various alchemical tracts, by Philippe Rouillach and others. Notebook of Robert Boyle. 17. 'Preservatif apologetique' pour le meme. Folio 381, recto.

Alphabetical Index to the Printed Minutes of the Council of the Royal Society, 1845, in the hand of Dr Roget.

An account of the shipwreck of the 'Johanna', commanded by Captain Robert Brown near the Cape of Good Hope on 29 May 1682, and of the subsequent fate of the crew.

Papers of Thomas Andrews including papers relating to his research which fell into four main fields;

(1) studies of acids and metals in electrolytic experiments; (Papers 6 to 11 and 32)

(2) the calorimetry of chemical reactions, in particular those between acids and bases, and between metals and halogens; (Papers 13 to 16, 18 to 22, 40 and the manuscripts printed as 52 and 53)

(3) the properties and constitution of ozone; (Papers 31, 33 to 35, 37 and 45)

(4) the condensation of gases to liquids at high pressures (Papers 36, 38, 41, 47, 49 and 50)

The eight volumes of manuscripts described as 'Notes of Experiments' at the Royal Society contain the laboratory records on which most of his work is based.

The contents are described as far as possible in Thomas's own words from the title pages of each Book. Where the title page is uninformative then suitable headings have been chosen from the body of the notes. These title pages may have been written much later than the experiments since in 1862 there is the phrase 'critical point' which he probably invented only for his Bakerian Lecture of 1869. Some experiments or paragraph numbers are displayed on the title page of each Book. Those that are not, but are listed only on the pages themselves, are shown at the right-hand end of each line. The numbering of the experiments is again erratic; for example 376 may be followed by 277.

The reading of the notes on the experiments on the liquefaction of gases in Volumes 7 and 8 is helped by comparing them with the analysis by C.G. Knott 'Andrews' measurements of the compression of carbon dioxide and of mixtures of carbon dioxide and nitrogen' (Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 30, 1-22, 290 [1909-1910])

Effect of temperature on the strength of railway axles by Thomas Andrews.

Papers concerning Jean Anisson and his improvements in printing including a memorandum by Anisson on his new press; an extract from the register of the Academie Royale des Sciences and another memorandum by Anisson, 1783.

Notebooks on experiments on worms, frogs and snails (chemical and electrical) 29 December 1858 to 21 July 1859, with an undated fragment of a letter concerning the health of Mrs Petrie.

Scientific papers sent to the Royal Society which remained unpublished at their time of receipt, or which were abstracted in the Society's 'Proceedings' after being read at a meeting of Fellows. Early papers in this sequence are occasionally of interest in being preserved complete with associated correespondence (pre-dating Referees Reports); for example, the Charles Wildbore - Nevil Maskelyne letters 1787-1790 (AP.7.16-34). Mid nineteenth century papers of some significance may exist, in both original and abstracted form, such as HWF Talbot's 'Some account of the art of photogenic drawing' (AP.23.19) The Society's policy now is to return rejected scientific papers to authors, so any current additions to this collection usually take the form of unpublished supplementary data to published papers.

Incip. 'Igitur ex quatuor elementis'
Desin 'Et hoc est qod ostendimus. Explicit'
Folios 1-9 [Mundus] igitur ex quatuor elementis isdemque totis in spere modum globatis.... retrogradari facit.
Part of book 8, 'De astronomia' of Martinus Capella, 'De nuptiis.'

Folios 9 verso - 49 verso (Text) Vnitas est esse rei per se discrecio...omnis numerus minor maioris aut est pars aut partes....medios assignare sit possibile.
(Commentary) Aut enim minor numerat maiorem....et hoc est qod ostenimus. Explicit.

Jordanus Nemorariius, 'De Arithmetica' printed several times but with a different commentary. Printed marginalia eg in folio 24, in a hand which occurs also in MS/28.

Paper read at the Royal Society from 14 Feb to 6 Mar 1788 by John Ash entitled 'Observation and Experiments to investigate by Chemical Analysis the Medicinal Properties of the Mineral Waters of Spa and Aix la Chapelle in Germany and of the Waters and Boue at St Amand in French Flanders'.

Astronomical and magnetic observations at the United States Naval Observatory, Washington DC by Lieutenant S M Gilliss.

Astronomical Observations at Lauenburg and Lyssabel, 1820.

Astronomical observations at Paramatta, New South Wales.

Astronomical Observations at the Radcliffe Observatory Oxford from 1915 to 1938.

Astronomical tracts with observations by Tycho Brahe and others including:

1. Tychonis Brahe observationes cometae AD 1585 (folio 1)

2. Ejusdem observationes cometae AD 1590 (folio 10)

3. Ejusdem observationes cometae AD 1596 (folio 18)

4. Observations astronomiques faites a la ville de Cartagene des Indes par le Colonel Don Juan de Herrara et Sotomayor (accompanied with a letter to Dr Halley, dated Cartgena des Indes 12 July 1723) Several of these observations have since been published in the Memoirs de l'Academie des Sciences de Paris 1729 page 361, 362-363, 367 (Folio 23).

5. Observationes astronomiques pour la longitude de Cartagene des Indies faites avec le premier satellite de Jupiter l'annee 1723 (Folio 41);

6. Eclipses Solis et Lunae observatae...in oppido S S Cosmae et DamIani 1719-1726, a P Bonaventura Suarez S J (Folio 44); 7. Immersiones et Emersiones Satellitum Iovis observatae in oppido S S Cosmae et Damiani 1720-1726, a P Bonaventure Suarez S J (Folio 46).

Copy of 'Memoires of Naturall Remarques in the county of Wilts, to which are annexed observabes of the same kind in the county of Surrey and Flynt-shire', by John Aubrey, FRS. This manuscript is a transcript of Aubrey's original manuscript. It was transcribed by BG Cramer, Clerk to the Royal Society, at the behest of the Society in 1690-1691. At page 67 is inserted a map of a navigable passage from Bristol to London, engraved by Thomas Jenner in 1668, with the arms of the borough. Six leaves of additional matter are inserted at page 276, and four more at page 304.

Audio-visual recordings by or about Fellows of the Royal Society. The bulk of the collection consists of audio material, in particular cassette recordings of the Society's named lectures, which have been preserved in this manner since 1974. The remainder of the series has been acquired as supplementary material to the Personal Records (q.v.), although there are a few items which predate those autobiographies.

A collection of eighteenth century letters and papers of Sir Joseph Banks, his family and other contemporary Fellows.

Letters from the Peruvian Andes, 1921-1922, by Sir Joseph Barcroft.

Collected papers of William Fletcher Barrett including letters to Barrett with supporting documents by Barrett on scientific interests and some photographs.

Apollonii Conica methodo nova illustrata et succincte demonstrata per Isaacum Barrow, continet hoc volumen archetypon integrum editionis Londini 1675, in forma quarta, impressa.

Manuscript of Isaac Barrow containing Archimedes' works on spheres and cylinders, on the dimensions of the circle, on spirals or helices and other topics.

Two treatises and some loose papers of Isaac Barrow including:

1. Appollonii Pergaei Conicorum libri quatuor, juxta viam et methodum Petri Herigonii, per notas reales ac universales demonstrati

2. Archimedis de Sphaera et Cylindro. Per eundem

3. Between these two treatises are a few odd sheets.

Papers of Harry Bateman including three notebooks, two (numbered six and seven) containing notes from the lectures of E T Whittaker at Trinity College Cambridge 1903-1904; one containing formulae connected with the Legendre and Bessel functions, with Trinity examination paper 1880 and printed testimonial by Rutherford.

The papers include laboratory notebooks dealing with Bawden's research on various plant viruses, and in particular his collaborative work with N.W. Pirie and with A.A.P. Kleczkowski. There is also a detailed exchange of correspondence with Pirie on research in progress, 1937-1940. (Pirie moved to Rothamsted as Virus Physiologist in 1940 when Bawden became Head of the Plant Physiology Department.) There is a wide range of correspondence, with individuals and institutions. It deals with scientific research and problems including viral nomenclature, lectures, conferences, publications, Bawden's reports on research projects, grant applications and appointments. The correspondence relating to Bawden's overseas visits as adviser or lecturer is mainly after 1958 and is sometimes accompanied by Bawden's reports.

The papers are extensive, relating to almost every aspect of Blackett's career in science and public life. There is biographical and personal material including large numbers of letters of congratulation received on the occasion of the various scientific and public awards and honours with which Blackett's achievements were recognised. There are records of his work on particle disintegration, cosmic rays, astrophysics and magnetism in the form of laboratory notebooks, working papers, correspondence, lectures, publications and broadcasts. There is documentation of his activities on various defence projects and as a member of government committees before, during and after the Second World War. Blackett's political interests are represented by material relating to the Association of Scientific Workers, Labour Party discussion groups on science and technology policy and the Ministry of Technology instituted after the Party's 1964 electoral victory. There are records of a wide range of science-related interests such as the history of science and technology, science, education and government, and nuclear weapons and disarmament, and of his overseas activities including material relating specifically to India and that concerned with matters more generally affecting developing countries.

A few lacunae in the surviving material have been identified. There are no documents relative to Blackett's service with the National Research and Development Corporation or the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and, of his correspondence during the Second World War, only that for 1942 survives.

The correspondence, papers and diaries of Sir Charles Blagden. Blagden's papers are interesting on several levels, generally for his close contact with European men of learning, and his relationship with Sir Joseph Banks. Blagden's professional researches are represented by medical notes in the boxed sequence. These are grouped with papers on other subject interests, including linguistics, e.g. a draft Tahitian-English dictionary, compiled from conversations with Omai, whom Blagden inoculated after Omai's voyage to England with James Cook. Blagden's interest in antiquities and travel is documented by diary entries, as is his intercourse with fellow scientists, particularly those associated with the founding of the Royal Institution.

Letter from Sir Charles Blagden to Sir Joseph Banks concerning papers published needing correction, 31 August 1790.

Papers relating to Charles Blagden and the Blagden family, comprising assorted letters, including letters from Louis Odier, a series of more than a dozen letters from Daniel de la Roche (a fellow student of medicine at Edinburgh and subsequently editor of the Chirurgie section of the 'Encyclopedie Methodique') letters from Thomas Curtis, including descriptions of visits to the surgeon and antiquary William Barrett, and a note from Joseph Banks.
One section of Blagden's diary is also present here comprising of 45 leaves (90 pages) of loose sheets for 1792-1794. There are brief daily notes on visits paid and people he has seen including Joseph Banks, Mr Boswell, Mr Gibbon, Dr Herschel, the Duchess of Devonshire, Mrs Garrick, and many others.
The letters and papers of John Blagden Hale include notes on Matthew Hale; books and manuscripts in his possession as well as correspondence.

A mathematical dissertation by Boemke written at Berlin, 1827.

Book containing the signatures of Presidents of the Royal Society and members of the Council, making solemn declarations to discharge their duties faithfully. This formality was necessary under the Act 4 and 5 William IV Cap 62.

Mathematical and scientific papers of George Boole.

Reports to the Medical Research Council by W R Boon and W B Hawes on two processes:

1. Methods of separation of blood fractions as developed at Harvard Medical School by Dr Cohn

2. High-vacuum - infra-red drying methods as developed at Samuel Deutsch Serum Center, Chicago, by Dr Sidney O Levinson.

Papers of Alfred Gibbs Bourne including research notes, drawings and water-colour sketches of earthworms.

Two articles by Frank Philip Bowden entitled: 'A study of the physical and chemical phenomena associated with the rubbing and with the impact of solids' and 'A plan for the study of solids'. Both with various manuscript notes and appendicies, and both documents marked 'confidential' . Undated, but post 1944.

Letters and other Papers of the Hon Robert Boyle. The Letters cover Boyle's correspondence; in addition to the letters by scientists such as Hartlib, Beale, Southwell, Wallis and Cole, the series contains letters from members of Boyle's family (Viscountess Ranelagh in particular). There are 37 letters of Boyle's preserved, and substantial blocks of papers from religious figures such as Robert Sharrock. The Papers cover his philosophical, scientific, theological and other interests, and cover most aspects of his life and works.

Commonplace Book of Theology of Robert Boyle.

A catalogue of books of the library of Robert Boyle, in the hand of John Warr junior, executor of Robert Boyle and some theological notes.

Papers, mainly accounts, concerning the British Antarctic expedition (1910-1913).

Letters concerning the British Empire Exhibition Committee covering the period January to December 1925.

Bibliography of the works of L E J Brouwer by Walter P Van Stight.

Notes compiled by Sir William Paton and F C MacIntosh, and drafts and proofs of the biographical memoir of George Lindor Brown.

The correspondence, papers and scientific notebooks of Sir George Lindor Brown. The majority of notebooks relate to the investigations of Brown and his co-workers (notably Feldberg, Harvey and Maycock) at the National Institute for Medical Research, Hampstead, into neuromuscular transmission. The correspondence and remaining papers cover Brown's administrative work in the decades from the 1950's. His relationships with the Royal Society and the Medical Research Council are well represented. The papers include personal files, correspondence with institutions and individuals, working scientific notes and sets of slides.

Letters addressed to William Buckland (DD, FRS, Dean of Westminster and Reader in Mineralogy and Geology in University of Oxford) and other posthumous correspondence relating to his work.

A biographical listing of the Fellows of the Royal Society 1663-1940 in the form of a sheaf catalogue compiled by William Bullock. Also includes other items, included from annotated copies of the 3rd and 4th editions of 'The Record of the Royal Society', from which the Roll derived its arrangement: lists of Medical Fellows, and Fellows who did not sign the Charter Book: and biogrphical accounts of the Auldjo family, with various rough notes by Bulloch. The Roll provides a chronological list of the Fellowship by date of election. It records the Fellow's name as it appeared in 'The Record' and in a corrected form, giving the date of election and positions held in the Society. The Roll also provides a short biography based on entries in standard printed works of reference, (such as 'The Dictionary of National Biography', Cockayne's 'Peerage' and 'Baronetage', 'The Gentleman's Magazine', 'Munks Roll of the Royal College of Physicians', Boase's 'Modern English Biography', and the volumes of 'Who's Who' and 'Who Was Who').

Notes on John Canton's pneumatical experiments, together with some rough minutes of the Canton Committee.

Papers of John Canton, principally comprising correspondence including 12 letters of Benjamin Franklin and letters from Joseph Priestley.