The Report of the Committee appointed to consider the letter of Mr. Stewart relative to Mr. Babbage's Calculating Machine was received and adopted.

Resolved,—That the thanks of the Council be given to the Committee for the pains they have bestowed upon the subject referred to them, and for their able Report.

Resolved,—That the following answer be sent to Mr. Stewart, viz.

The Council of the Royal Society having taken into consideration Mr. Stewart's letter, dated December, 1828, requesting their opinion, “whether the progress made by Mr. Babbage in the construction of his Machine confirms them in their former opinion, that it will ultimately prove adequate to the important objects which it was intended to attain,” appointed a Committee, consisting of the President and Secretaries, Mr. Herschel, Mr. Warburton, Mr. F. Baily, Mr. Barton, Comptroller of the Mint, Mr. Brunel, F.R.S., civil engineer, Mr. Donkin, civil engineer, Mr. Penn, and Mr. G. Rennie, F.R.S., civil engineer; from the result of whose examination of the drawings, the tools employed, and the work already executed, as detailed in the annexed Report, they have not the slightest hesitation in pronouncing their decided opinion in the affirmative.

The Council of the Royal Society cannot conclude without stating their full concurrence in the Report of their Committee, comprising, as it does, among its members several of the first practical engineers and mechanicians in the country; nor without expressing a hope that while Mr. Babbage's mind is intently occupied on an undertaking likely to do so much honour to his country, he may be relieved, as much as possible, from all other sources of anxiety.