T H E H A K L U Y T S O C I E T Y
(FOUNDED 1846)
ANNUAL REPORT
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 DECEMBER 2023
www.hakluyt.com
Registered Charity Number: 313168
Report of the Trustees of the Hakluyt Society
for the year ended 31 December 2023
The trustees present their annual report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 and confirm they comply with the Charities Act 2011, the trust deed and the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
Reference and Administrative information
Charity Name : The Hakluyt Society Charity Registration Number: 313168
Council and Officers
All Officers and members of Council are legal trustees of the Society, with the exception of those who are ex officio members, whose role is advisory.
PRESIDENT
Dr Gloria Clifton (elected 15 June 2021)
VICE-PRESIDENTS
Captain Michael Barritt RN (past President ex officio 2016) Professor Jim Bennett † (past President ex officio from 2021) Professor Nandini Das (first elected June 2021) Professor Felipe Fernández-Armesto (elected 2017, re-elected 2022) Professor Will Ryan FBA † (past President ex officio 2011) Bruce Hunter (elected 2022) Dr Sarah Tyacke CB (past President ex officio 2002)
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Dr Lubaaba Al-Azami (elected June 2023) Dr Katie Bank (elected 2021) Peter Barber OBE (elected 2019, retired by rotation June 2023) Professor Daniel Carey MRIA (elected 2020) Dr Matthew Day (elected 2022) Dr Natalya Din-Kariuki (elected 2022) Dr Derek L. Elliott (elected 2021) Dr Eva Johanna Holmberg (elected 2019) Professor Claire Jowitt (elected 2019) Lionel Knight MBE (elected 2019) Dr Bertie Mandelblatt (elected 2021)
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Dr Richard Marsh Dr Elaine Murphy Dr Guido van Meersbergen Professor Ladan Niayesh Dr Anthony Payne Professor Joan Pau Rubies Dr Catherine Scheybeler Dr Emily Stevenson
(elected 2022) (elected 2022) (elected 2020) (elected June 2023) (elected 2019, retired by rotation June 2023) (elected, June 2023) (elected 2019, retired by rotation June 2023) (elected 2022)
Royal Geographical Society Dr Sarah Evans Dr Katherine Parker
(permanent member) represented by (appointed 2020), replaced by (June 2023)
HONORARY TREASURER
Alastair Bridges (first elected 2018)
HONORARY JOINT SERIES EDITORS
HONORARY EDITOR (ONLINE PUBLICATIONS)
Professor Janet Hartley Professor Joyce Lorimer Dr Maurice Raraty
Professor Janet Hartley (first elected 2021) Professor Joyce Lorimer (first elected 2007) Dr Maurice Raraty (first elected 2021) Raymond Howgego (first elected 2005)
HONORARY ADMINISTRATIVE EDITOR
Dr Katherine Parker
(first elected 2018)
HONORARY ADVISER (CONTRACTS)
Stephen Edwards (co-opted 2021, elected 2022)
HONORARY ARCHIVIST
Dr Margaret Makepeace (first elected 2003)
CO-OPTED MEMBER
Dr Jack Benson (co-opted 2004)
ADDRESS
The Hakluyt Society, c/o Map Library, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
AUDITORS Knox Cropper LLP 65 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 2AD BANKERS
Barclays Bank Plc, Pall Mall Business Centre, PO Box 15164, London SW1A 1QE
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REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
‘The objects of the Society are to advance education by the publication of records of voyages, travels, naval expeditions and other geographical material and to promote public knowledge of those matters.’ This is the Society's purpose as accepted by the Charity Commission, but in recent years it has emphasized that within this broad aim it seeks to produce accurate and reliable original historical records of travel, exploration and discovery and thereby promote public understanding of the stages by which different parts of the world and their different societies have been brought into contact with one another. In the 175 years since its foundation, the Society has published more than 380 volumes in fulfilment of this aim. The volumes make new material available worldwide to the public benefit of readers wishing to understand and explain historical contacts between civilizations. The Society achieves this benefit in return for a modest subscription or at no cost for those consulting the publications in subscribing libraries.
The Society’s main purpose is to produce edited texts of original records made by a traveller or explorer, which have not previously been published or, if previously issued, it was some years ago and they did not have the benefit of editing by an expert. If they are in a foreign language, they should have not previously been available in English, which is the Society’s language of publication. The records should bring new material to the study of the subject, avoiding duplication with texts already generally available in modern editions. The Society thus offers the possibility of publication to editors able to edit texts and provide authoritative critical commentary in the light of modern scholarship. The Society also supports and publicises its principal activity by issuing a small number of ancillary publications and organising occasional public lectures and symposia. The Society seeks to promote its areas of scholarly interest in ways that may help bring forward future published volumes.
The Society accepts texts with the aim of publishing two volumes a year, subject to completed editions and finance being available. Its Series Editors advise the editors, review the material and supervise production and publication to the Society’s high and established standards. The editors and the Society’s reviewers and officers receive no payment for their work, regarding their involvement as a contribution to knowledge and international understanding.
The Council has referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Society’s aims and objectives and when planning future activities. In particular, Council considers how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives of the Society.
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ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE SOCIETY IN 2023
Publications
This year the Society published and distributed to members one volume in its Third Series: Number 41, An account of the Natives of the Tonga Islands in the South Pacific Ocean, with an Original Grammar and Vocabulary of their Language Compiled and Arranged from the Extensive \Communications of Mr William Mariner, Several Years Resident in those Islands, by John Martin M.D. , edited by Nigel Statham and Ian C. Campbell.
Further publication was delayed by the need to find a new publisher after the expiry of the Society’s contract with Routledge. The Society has now signed a new contract with Boydell and Brewer, and the next volume has been typeset and will be going to them very shortly for printing.
The next volume will be Number 42 in the Third Series: Richard Hakluyt, A Bibliography 1580–1588: with essays on the Suppression of the Voyage to Cadiz in Hakluyt’s Principal Navigations and Hakluyt and the East India Company , edited by Anthony Payne.
Among a number of works in preparation at the end of the year are the following:
Russian Faith, Honour and Courage Displayed in a Faithful Narrative of the Russian Expedition by Sea in the Years 1769 and 1770 by Rear-Admiral John Elphinston , edited by Julia Leikin and Elena Borisovna Smilianskaia.
Journal of John Saris in the Clove , 1611-13 (English East India Company’s 8th voyage) , edited by Richmond Barbour.
William Laird McKinlay’s Journal of the Karluk Voyage , 1913-14 , edited by Janice Cavell.
An Elizabethan Soldier in Safavid Persia: Sir Anthony Sherley's Mission to the Court of Shah ‘Abbas the Great, and the Persian Embassy to Muscovy, the Holy Roman Empire, the Papal States and Habsburg Spain, 15981601 , edited by Kurosh Meshkat, Ladan Niayesh and Alasdair MacDonald.
The Norris Embassy to Mughal India, 16991702 , edited by Guido van Meersbergen, Adam Chulow, Georgia O'Conner and Archisman Chaudhuri.
The Uranie Diary of Joseph-Paul Gaimard, 1817-1819 , edited by John Milsom and Sylvie Brassard.
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Taking Newton on Tour: The Travel Diary of Martin Folkes (1690–1754), Scientist, Antiquary, Connoisseur, edited by Anne-Marie Roos.
Garner in Gabon: Gorillas and Chimpanzees by Richard Lynch Garner , edited by Felipe Fernández-Armesto, Gregory Radick and Jeffery V. Peterson.
The ‘Confessions’ of Richard Norwood (1590–1675), Sailor, Teacher and Surveyor of Bermuda , edited by Eva Johanna Holmberg, Kirsty Rolfe and Sara Norja.
Journal of Archibald Menzies, Surgeon and Botanist 1790–1795 , edited by Sandhya Patel.
The 2023 Annual Lecture by Anthony Payne is being prepared for publication as What do we Know about Richard Hakluyt? It will be distributed to members with the Society’s spring mailing.
Hakluyt Society Studies in the History of Travel
This series will continue to be published by Routledge under a separate contract. Two further volumes are scheduled to appear in 2024, under the supervision of series editors, Professors Daniel Carey and Joan-Pau Rubiés. It is not part of the subscription entitlement but will be available to members at a discount, by following the guidance in the members' section of the website.
Website
The Society’s website (www.hakluyt.com) is updated by Jack Benson. It includes the online Journal of the Hakluyt Society , edited by Ray Howgego. During 2023 further substantial articles were added:
David W. Phillipson: The First Edition of Livingstone’s Missionary Travels , was posted in February 2023. The paper summarises the background to David Livingstone’s career prior to his arrival at Robert Moffat’s Kuruman Mission in 1841, and his subsequent independent. travels further north. It then provides a critical examination of Livingstone’s first major book, Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa , published in London by John Murray in 1857.
Captain M. K. Barritt RN: Early Hydrographic Work of the Royal Navy in the Red Sea , was added in October 2023. This examines the survey carried out by a squadron led by Commodore Sir Home Riggs Popham in 1800–01, together with forgotten work by other Royal Naval personnel during operations in the Red Sea prompted by Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt in 1798 and the arrival of French troops at Suez. These articles can be downloaded from www.hakluyt.com/journal
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Videos
The Society has included several videos on the website, mostly of recent annual lectures. These include the 2023 annual lecture by Anthony Payne.
Essay Prize
The winner of the ninth annual Essay Prize of £1000 for 2023 was Dr Harry Lewis, for his essay ‘St Malo to Callao: Maritime imperial conflict, the Jacobites and the Viceroyalty of Peru 1701–1725’. An Honourable Mention was awarded to Dan Brooks for his essay “Where is my Countryman?” James Fraser’s “Triennial Travels” and the British Diasporas in Europe, 1657–60’. Both winners also received a certificate and a year's membership of the Hakluyt Society, entitling them to the volumes published in 2023.
Newsletters and social media
The usual twice-yearly printed newsletter was distributed to members, supplemented by more frequent e-newsletters. Katie Bank maintained the Hakluyt Society Blog, Bronwen Everill the Twitter account, Bronwen Everill posts on X (formerly Twitter), and our administrator has taken on the Facebook account. Jack Benson maintains the Society’s website and Ray Howgego edits the online journal and arranges for articles to be refereed. The importance of these resources for the work of the Society continues to increase.
Conferences and Symposia
The Hakluyt Society supports conferences in areas related to its aims, both by publicity in newsletters, on its website and social media accounts, and by some financial support.
In April 2023 the Hakluyt Society supported the Conference ‘Routes and Roots’, at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA, in collaboration with The American Friends of the Hakluyt Society. The conference examined the history and literature of travel, exploration, and cultural interaction, from antiquity to modernity. It was attended by several members of the Society, who chaired sessions, including Professor Elizabeth Baker, President of the American Friends. Council members also participated in sessions, with Professor Daniel Carey taking part in a discussion panel on Sir Ralph Lane, and Dr Katherine Parker being interviewed on air by the student radio station about her work.
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Lectures
In March our Council member Dr Bertie Mandelblatt gave a fascinating online lecture in the Warburg Institute’s Maps and Society series on ‘Mapping Revolution, Mapping Slavery: the Vicomte de Rochambeau and Cartographic Dreams of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity in the 1790s Caribbean.’ Dr Mandelblatt is the George S. Parker II '52 Curator of Maps and Prints at the John Carter Brown Library, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
The Annual lecture was given as usual after the AGM in June, when Dr Anthony Payne spoke on the theme ‘What do we know about Richard Hakluyt?’
OBITUARIES
With sadness, the Society has had to report the deaths in 2023 of two former Presidents of the Society and a past Council member and volume editor.
Professor Jim Bennett (1947–2023)
Professor Jim Bennett (or James Arthur, to give his full name, which he rarely used) was President of the Hakluyt Society from 2016 to 2021, after a distinguished career as an academic and as a museum curator and director. He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 2 April 1947. After attending local schools he went to Clare College, Cambridge, where he completed a BA in Natural Sciences. He went on to do a PhD under Michael Hoskin in the Department of the History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge. He spent a year in Aberdeen as a lecturer, then moved to the Royal Astronomical Society in London as Archivist 1974–76, where he sorted and catalogued its huge collection of papers. In 1977 he became a curator of astronomy at the National Maritime Museum, moving two years later to become Curator of the Whipple Museum of the History of Science in Cambridge. Here he combined the creation of new museum displays and catalogues of the collections with research into the material culture of science and inspirational teaching in the History and Philosophy of Science Department.
In 1994 Jim moved to Oxford to become Director of the Museum of the History of Science there. Again he proved an innovator, refurbishing and extending the museum and creating new exhibitions, but also, as Joshua Nall of the Whipple Museum put it, devoted himself to the ‘selfless mentoring of a huge number of younger curators and scholars’. He held many important positions in the world of history of science including being President of the Scientific Instrument Commission of the International Union for the History and Philosophy of Science, 1998–2002, and of the British Society for the History of Science, 2000–02. Alongside all this he also published over 160 books, articles, and catalogues. Among his most notable works were The
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Mathematical Science of Christopher Wren (1982), based on his PhD; The Divided Circle: A History of Instrument for Astronomy,
Navigation and Surveying (1987), which has become the standard work on the subject, and Navigation: A Very Short Introduction (2017). Later in his career he received many honours, notably in 2020 the Sarton Medal of the History of Science Society, the highest honour in the discipline, and the Royal Astronomical Society's Agnes Mary Clerke Medal in 2023, for his important contributions to the history of astronomy.
After his retirement from the Museum at Oxford in 2012 he became Visiting Keeper at the Science Museum in London, involved in the creation of the Science City gallery. He continued to pursue his research and publication in the history of navigation and astronomy and the instruments used in their practice, which fitted well with the work of the Hakluyt Society. He was elected to its Council in 2011 and became President in 2016, skilfully guiding the Society through difficult times, especially the Covid pandemic. His willing adoption of online meetings enabled the Council to continue its work. After his presidency he became vice-president until his death and the Society benefited from his sound advice. Jim also had a self-deprecating sense of humour and was an excellent raconteur. He will be missed by many friends and colleagues, and particularly by his wife Sylvia Sumira and his family, to whom we offer the Society’s deepest sympathy.
– Professor Will Ryan (1937 2023)
William Francis Ryan, usually known as Will, was President of the Hakluyt Society 2008–2011, continuing as one of the vice-presidents until his death on 2 November 2023. But his connection with the Society went back much further as he joined in 1975, became honorary secretary in 1990, and series editor in 1995. In fact the post of honorary secretary had included the supervision of editors of individual volumes, a role which was transferred to the new post of series editor. Will continued as series editor, either alone or jointly, until he became President.
His love of books and appreciation of the value of publishing meticulously edited original historical texts drew Will to the Society and he continued to play an important role in maintaining its standards of scholarship throughout his long association. His main specialism was Russian language, literature, folklore, magic, and history, but he was always interested in travel, exploration and nautical science and technology, arising partly from his naval service. He brought all these interests to bear in his work for the Hakluyt Society. He translated from the original Russian Abbot Daniel’s ‘Pilgrimage’, which was published by the Hakluyt Society in 1988 as part of the volume Jerusalem Pilgrimage, 1099–1185 . His outstanding achievement as series editor, a role which he continued for this particular work while also President, was
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Russian California, 1806-1860: A History in Documents (2014), which was greatly assisted by Will’s own knowledge.
Will was born on 13 April 1937 and went to Bromley Grammar School for Boys, which was where he first learnt Russian. He continued these studies during national service with the Royal Navy and subsequently at Oriel College, Oxford University. He worked for the Clarendon Press on the Oxford Russian-English Dictionary and as assistant curator at the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford, while working for the DPhil he obtained in 1970 on ‘Astronomical and Astrological Terminology in Old Russian Literature’.
From 1968 to 1976 Will was lecturer in Russian Language and Literature at the University of London School of Slavonic and East European Studies (now part of University College London). He then moved to the Warburg Institute as academic librarian and later professor until his retirement in 2002. He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2000 and served as President of the Folklore Society 2005– 2008. His wide interests were reflected in many books and articles. They include the magisterial The Bathhouse at Midnight: An Historical Survey of Magic and Divination in Russia (1999) and, with Moshe Taube, The Secret of Secrets: The East Slavic Version (2019).
Will was a genial friend and always gave encouragement and support to younger scholars. He will leave a gap in many people’s lives, but especially his family’s, and the Society’s profound sympathy goes to his wife Janet, his children Masha, Liza, Ben and Izzy, and grandson Malek.
– Captain Richard Campbell, OBE (1933 2023)
Captain Richard Campbell, former Hakluyt Society Council member and volume editor, died on 29 November 2023. Captain Campbell trained as a hydrographer with the Royal Navy and his work was mainly concerned with making coastal surveys in many different parts of the world. But during the Falklands War of 1982 he was ordered to convert his survey vessel, Hydra , into a hospital ship and sailed to the South Atlantic, under the supervision of the International Red Cross. He ended his naval career at the Navy’s Hydrographic Office in Taunton. For the Hakluyt Society he edited The Discovery of the South Shetland Islands. The Voyage of the Brig – Williams, 1819 1820 and The Journal of Midshipman C.W. Poynter (2000). In 2007 he was one of the editors of Four Travel Journals, his part being ‘The Journal of HMS Beagle in the Strait of Magellan by Pringle Stokes, Commander RN 1827’. His greatest work was editing The Voyage of Captain John Narbrough to the Strait of Magellan and the South Sea in His Majesty’s Ship Sweepstakes, 1669 – 1671 (2018). Captain Campbell served on the Council of the Hakluyt Society 2004–2008. We extend our condolences to his family and many friends.
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Changes in Membership
At the close of 2023, the number of members who had fully paid their subscription in 2023 was 597. These figures include 12 new student members and 31 new ordinary members. However, including the members who paid their 2023 subscriptions before 2023, the total number of fully paid-up members for 2023 was 708. The number lost to the membership by death or resignation was 37. The number of members lost to the membership by non-payment of subscription was 133.
The Society’s Organisation and Decision-making Structure
The Hakluyt Society is a charity registered by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, under charity number 313168, of which the members of the Society’s Council, who are the charity’s trustees, were incorporated on 5 June 2014 by order of the Charity Commission to become a body to be known as The Trustees of the Hakluyt Society. The Rules of the Society were updated by members at the Annual General Meeting on 18 June 2014 and the Council established Regulations for its own conduct by a resolution on the same day. Since then, we have added terms of reference for the officers and committees, which are reviewed annually, and adopted a diversity policy to encourage a broader range of Council members than has existed in the past.
The Council normally meets three times a year and holds an Annual General Meeting in the summer which all members of the Society are entitled to attend. During the Covid-19 pandemic meetings were held online and this year we have had held all meetings both in person and online, which has enabled wider participation.
The members of the Council are elected by the members of the Society in Annual General Meeting from individuals with established reputations in the field of the Society’s activities. They include permanent members, who are past presidents of the Society, and members serving for a term of years and who are either vice-presidents elected annually for a maximum of five consecutive terms, or ordinary members, the three senior among whom must retire for at least a year. The Society elects honorary officers to act as president, treasurer, series editors and to deal with other matters as required by the business of the Society, who are charged together with conducting the day-to-day affairs of the Society and with preparing business for Council. Voting in Council is by a majority of those present and voting, but the Council expects that officers will consult appropriately in advance and give due notice before presenting matters for decision.
The Council may co-opt non-voting members who possess unique skills not otherwise available and also take advice as required from external experts. For example, and in accordance with the Rules of the Society, the Council recommends each year that the
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members of the Society in General Meeting shall appoint a registered auditor to audit the annual accounts of the Society for the ensuing year.
The Council believes that these arrangements are appropriate to enable the Council to discharge its financial duties, one of which is responsibility for preparing the Report of the Council and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Council to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Council is required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
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Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP.
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
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State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The Council is responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable it to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. It is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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Review of the Financial Results for the Year
2023 was a year of relative financial stability and consolidation by the Society, against a backdrop of a number of continuing risks, opportunities and challenges, including inflationary pressures in the wider economy. Much of the year was taken up with negotiating and successfully concluding new contractual arrangements with Boydell and Brewer for publication of the Society’s volumes. Expenditure on volume publication and on other operational activities was as a result relatively low, but the Society has in place a strong contractual basis for its future volume publication plans, on terms that are expected to represent good financial value. The value of the Society’s investments recovered much of the losses sustained in the previous year, reflecting wider market conditions.
The Society continued to face a number of financial risks and challenges, including to levels of membership and sales income, and from inflationary pressure on its costs. These risks have been mitigated as far as possible within the framework of the prudent 2023 budget set by Council at the beginning of the year, including through careful stewardship of our investments, active chasing of unpaid subscriptions and careful management of costs.
The Society’s auditors, Knox Cropper, have issued an unqualified opinion on the accounts, as giving a true and fair view of the Society’s affairs and having been properly prepared in accordance with relevant accounting standards.
Over the year the Society’s total net worth increased by 8% to £2,903,472. The welcome increase mainly results from increases in the value of the Society’s investments, from £2,607,628 to £2,773,175. Within total investments, the value of the H&GS Fund at 31 December 2023 was £2,132,532 compared to £1,970,434 at the end of 2022. The Finance and Business Working Group (FBWG) has continued to monitor the performance of the Fund, including against the Fund’s benchmark measure of comparable investments used by Sarasin. The value of the Society’s other investments, of which the largest share is held in the M&G Charifund, increased by a smaller percentage amount, from £637,153 to £639,712. The FBWG will continue to keep under review the Society’s approach to securing good returns from its full portfolio of investments.
Cash held in bank deposits increased from £129,001 to £150,252. The increase resulted from the relatively low level of operational expenditure, pending finalisation of the new contractual arrangements for publications. The level of cash remained sufficient to meet day-to-day outgoings without difficulty, confirming that the Society remains a going concern and is compliant with its policy on financial reserves.
The Society had an overall surplus for the year of £208,847. Just over half of the surplus arises from the increase in the value of the Society’s investments referenced above, which is recognised in the accounts as unrealised gains.
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Before taking account of investment gains, the Society recorded a surplus for the year of £94,916 including £90,662 dividend income on investments; this amount includes income from the H&GS Fund that was not required to be drawn down to finance matching operational activities and so was retained in the Fund to earn future investment returns. This relatively favourable position shows that the Society is managing its finances effectively in an uncertain environment, and that our investment income makes an important contribution to funding our charitable activities, in addition to membership income.
Over the year there was an operating surplus of around £37k (unaudited figure), representing the difference between expenditure of £65k on our charitable activities and matching income from membership subscriptions, sales, general funds investment income and Sarasin investment income drawn down in the year to match H&GS allocations (in accordance with the Society’s policy on use of investment income). This operating surplus mainly reflects the relatively low level of publication costs referenced above. It represents an amount to be carried forward into the following year to enable publication of further volumes in accordance with the Society’s charitable purpose.
Subscription income for the year was £53,943 (2022: £62,063), taking account of some subscriptions paid in 2023 in respect of future years, which are treated as deferred income. The reduction in the level of membership income presents some financial risk to the Society, which is being actively monitored by the FBWG and mitigated as far as possible, including through active chasing of overdue subscriptions by the Society’s administrator and the availability of automatic renewal payment options. It is to be hoped that the enhanced options for the way in which members receive their volumes under the new contract with Boydell and Brewer will help the Society attract and retain new members.
Income from sales of publications continued at the low level seen in the previous year. However towards the end of the year the Society received income of £3,642 from sales of previous volumes held in Stock by Routledge and offered for sale at a discount to members, as part of the winding down of the contract with Routledge. This figure includes book sales refunds processed in January 2024 totalling £1,507. This income was in addition to the amount assumed in the 2023 budget. Income was also received from royalties, Gift Aid and £4,205 of donations and legacies.
Publication and other operational costs totalled £14,762 (£2022: £92,700). The relatively low level of expenditure reflects the fact that the publication of new volumes awaited finalisation of the new publishing contract. Most of the costs of the one volume published in 2023, including printing costs, were incurred towards the end of 2022.
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The Society undertook a total of £6,649 (unaudited figure) of activities funded from H&GS Fund income (2022: £7,761), including volume enhancements, the essay prize, and research expenses. H&GS-funded expenditure continued to be relatively low, mainly reflecting slower progress than assumed in budgeted allocations for the year on volume-related activity and on academic seminars and other activities.
Support costs have continued to be carefully managed: total support costs were £50,486 (2022: £54,322), with a small year-on-year reduction achieved notwithstanding inflationary pressures.
The Society’s Investment Policy
The Society retains its invested funds in trustee quality investments. The Society’s investment objectives for the H&GS Fund are intended to provide us with some protection against volatility in the financial markets, through a diversified global portfolio, with the overall aim being to preserve and enhance the fund’s capital value over the longer term (defined as a minimum of three years). The Finance and Business Working Group, in support of the Council, will be active in monitoring the performance of the Society’s investment funds, to ensure that the Society’s assets continue to be well managed in challenging global conditions.
The Society’s Policy with regard to its financial reserves
It is the Society’s policy that reserves in its non-designated general funds should be at a level which enables the Society to meet its volume publication commitments, while retaining a prudent level of funds equivalent to around three years’ operating and administration costs. The policy in respect of the H&GS Fund reflects the informal wishes of the Society’s benefactors that income should be used for projects furthering the Society’s objects, while seeking to secure a real return of 4% per annum measured over the long term in the value of the fund.
Management of the risks to which the Society is exposed
The Council has reviewed the major risks to which the Hakluyt Society is exposed in its activities to achieve its objects and has established systems to mitigate those risks.
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Transactions in which Council Members have an interest
Members of the Council receive no remuneration from the Society. Some Council members may, however, receive reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses, and the amounts so claimed in the current year are disclosed in the accounts. Elected members of the Council do not vote on matters in which they or their companies may have an interest.
The Council enjoys the good fortune to have amongst its members persons, co-opted as non-voting members, who have professional skills or resources to bring to the Society’s business. Two members served in this way in 2023.
In 2023 the Society incurred expenditure of £270 (2022: £270) on hosting fees with Ammonet Infotech of which Jack Benson, a co-opted member of Council, is a director.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Gloria C. Clifton
Gloria Clifton President
Alastair Bridges Honorary Treasurer
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HAKLUYT SOCIETY BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023
| 2023 | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||||
| Investments | 2 | 2,773,175 | 2,607,628 | ||
| Tangible assets | 10 | - | - | ||
| 2,773,175 | 2,607,628 | ||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||
| Debtors and | 11 | ||||
| prepayments | 5,262 | 4,768 | |||
| Cash on bank deposit | 150,252 | 129,001 | |||
| 155,514 | 133,769 | ||||
| LIABILITIES:Creditors | |||||
| falling due within one | |||||
| year | |||||
| Subscriptions received in | 19,671 | 24,317 | |||
| advance | |||||
| Other creditors and | 12 | 5,546 | 22,455 | ||
| accruals | |||||
| 25,217 | 46,772 | ||||
| NET CURRENT | |||||
| ASSETS/(LIABIL- | |||||
| ITIES) | 130,297 | 86,997 | |||
| TOTAL NET ASSETS | |||||
| 2,903,472 | 2,694,625 | ||||
| TOTAL FUNDS OF THE | |||||
| CHARITY | |||||
| Restricted Fund | 13 | - | - | ||
| Designated Fund | 13 | 2,111,697 | 1,945,345 | ||
| General Fund | 13 | 791,775 | 749,280 | ||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 2,903,472 | 2,694,625 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this balance sheet.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by Council on 3 May 2024 and were signed below on its behalf by
Gloria C. Clifton
Gloria Clifton – President
Alastair Bridges – Honorary Treasurer
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HAKLUYT SOCIETY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| General | Designated | Restricted | Total | General | Designated | Restricted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2023 | Funds | Funds | Funds | Total 2022 | ||
| No | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND | |||||||||
| ENDOWMENTS FROM: | |||||||||
| - Donations and legacies | 3 | 959 | 3,246 | - | 4,205 | 309 | - | - | 309 |
| - Charitable activities | 4 | 64,404 | - | - | 64,404 | 73,720 | - | - | 73,720 |
| - Other trading activities | 5 | 298 | - | - | 298 | 346 | - | - | 346 |
| - Investments | 6 | 32,871 | 58,616 | - | 91,487 | 30,691 | 56,716 | - | 87,407 |
| Total | 98,532 | 61,862 | - | 160,394 | 105,066 | 56,716 | - | 161,782 | |
| EXPENDITURE ON: | |||||||||
| - Raising funds |
7 | - | 230 | - | 230 | - | 147 | - | 147 |
| - Charitable activities |
8 | 58,599 | 6,649 | - | 65,248 | 139,261 | 7,761 | - | 147,022 |
| Total | 58,599 | 6,879 | - | 65,478 | 139,261 | 7,908 | - | 147,169 |
|
| Net income before investment | 39,933 | 54,983 | - | 94,916 | (34,195) | 48,808 | - | 14,613 |
|
| gains/(losses) | |||||||||
| Net gains/(losses) on investments | 2 |
2,562 | 111,369 | - | 113,931 | (46,916) | (272,022) | - | (318,938) |
| Net income/(expenditure) | 42,495 | 166,352 | - | 208,847 | (81,111) | (223,214) | - | (304,325) |
|
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |||||||||
| Total funds brought forward | 2,998,950 | ||||||||
| 749,280 | 1,945,345 | - | 2,694,625 | 830,391 | 2,168,559 | - | |||
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED | |||||||||
| FORWARD | 13 | 791,775 | 2,111,697 | - | 2,903,472 | 749,280 | 1,945,345 | - | 2,694,625 |
| The accompanying notes are an | integral | part of these financial statements. |
18
HAKLUYT SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
1 . ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
-
a) Basis of preparing the financial statements
-
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102), Financial Reporting Standard 102’ The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.
The Council Members consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern nor a significant risk that uncertainty over estimates made for the purpose of these financial statements may cause a material adjustment to the carrying value of assets and liabilities.
The functional currency is the £ sterling.
b) Stock
No account is taken of the stock of books held by the publisher due to the uncertainty about future sales.
c) Grants and donations
Grants and donations are taken into account when the society becomes unconditionally entitled to them. Amounts receivable for specific purposes (e.g. to fund publication costs) are accounted for as restricted funds.
- d) Publication Costs
Publication and distribution costs are recognised as they are incurred.
HAKLUYT SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
-
e) Royalties income and Sale of Publications Royalties income and Sale of Publication is taken into accounts when they are received.
-
f) Fixed Asset Investments Investments are included on the balance sheet at their market value at the end of the financial period. Gains and losses on disposals and revaluations are reported in the Statement of Financial Activities and added to the funds to which they relate.
-
g) Depreciation of Tangible Fixed Assets Provision is made for depreciation on tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost or valuation less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life.
Computer equipment -33% reducing balance
- h) Funds structure Designated Funds are those funds which have been earmarked for specific purposes by the Trustees and, together with the General Funds, comprise the Unrestricted Funds.
Restricted Funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donor.
Further details are disclosed in note 13.
£
HAKLUYT SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| 2. INVESTMENTS Market value at 1stJanuary 2023 Additions at cost Disposals proceeds Unrealised gains/(losses) Cash held for investment Harry and Grace Smith Fund Sarasin Endowment Fund Cash balance OTHER INVESTMENTS M & G Charifund COIF Income Units COIF Fixed Interest Income Units Sarasin General Fund Cash balance As at 31 December 2023 |
Harry and Grace Smith Fund Other Investments £ £ 1,920,419 637,153 39,997 - - - 111,372 2,559 |
Total 2023 Total 2022 £ £ 2,557,572 2,829,949 39,997 54,237 - (7,676) 113,931 (318,938) |
|---|---|---|
| 2,071,788 639,712 60,744 931 |
2,711,500 2,557,572 61,675 50,056 |
|
| 2,132,532 640,643 |
2,773,175 2,607,628 |
|
| 2,071,788 1,920,419 60,744 50,015 455,153 466,108 113,682 103,968 39,525 37,412 31,352 29,665 931 41 |
||
| 2,773,175 2,607,628 |
Sarasin Endowment Fund is a UK Unit Trust and registered Charitable Common Investment Fund which is invested in a broadly diversified global portfolio. The fund is managed by Sarasin & Partners.
| 3 DONATIONS AND LEGACIES Donations and legacies 4. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Subscriptions Gift aid - current year Sale of publications Royalties and copyright fees |
2023 2022 £ £ 4,205 309 |
|---|---|
| 4,205 309 |
|
| 53,943 62,063 1,447 1,451 3,642 3,626 5,372 6,580 |
|
| 64,404 73,720 |
HAKLUYT SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| 5. | OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES | OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES | OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||||
| Annual reception | 180 | 146 | |||
| Other income | 118 | 200 | |||
| 298 | 346 | ||||
| 6. | INVESTMENTS | ||||
| UK dividend income | 90,662 | 87,366 | |||
| Bank deposit interest | 836 | 41 | |||
| 91,498 | 87,407 | ||||
| 7. | RAISING FUNDS | ||||
| Investment | manager fees | 230 | 147 | ||
| 230 | 147 | ||||
| 8. | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | ||||
| Undertaken | Support | Total | |||
| directly | costs | 2023 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| Publication | and | 812 | 2,777 | 3,589 | |
| distribution | costs | ||||
| Other publication |
7,040 | 24,077 | 31,117 | ||
| costs | |||||
| Grants, | donations | 5,400 | 18,468 | 23,868 | |
| and prizes | |||||
| Projects | 1,510 | 5,164 | 6,674 | ||
| 14,762 | 50,486 | 65,248 | |||
| Prior year | |||||
| Undertaken | Support | Total | |||
| directly | costs | 2022 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| Publication | and | 73,313 | 42,961 | 116,274 | |
| distribution | costs | ||||
| Other publication |
15,432 | 9,043 | 24,475 | ||
| costs | |||||
| Grants, | donations | 1,162 | 681 | 1,842 | |
| and prizes | |||||
| Projects | 2,794 | 1,636 | 4,430 | ||
| 92,700 | 54,322 | 147,022 |
HAKLUYT SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| 9. SUPPORT COSTS Administration services Events and publication of annual lecture Office expenses Other support costs Governance costs |
2023 2022 £ £ 34,254 32,935 3,115 2,581 7,070 7,585 864 5,553 5,183 5,668 |
|---|---|
| 50,486 54,322 |
| 10. FIXED ASSETS At Cost 1stJanuary 2023 Additions Balance at 31stDecember 2023 Depreciation Brought Forward at 1st January 2023 Charge for the Year Depreciation Carried Forward at 31st December 2023 Net Book Value at 31stDecember 2023 Net Book Value at 31stDecember 2022 11. DEBTORS Debtors and Accrued Income Prepayments VAT |
2023 £ 3,788 1,153 321 |
Computers £ 2,331 - |
|---|---|---|
| 2,331 | ||
| 2,331 - |
||
| 2,331 | ||
| - - 2022 £ 3,435 869 464 4,768 |
||
| 5,262 |
HAKLUYT SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| 12 | CREDITORS AMOUNTS FALLING | CREDITORS AMOUNTS FALLING | CREDITORS AMOUNTS FALLING | DUE WITHIN | ONE | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | |||||||
| £ | £ | ||||||
| Publication and distribution costs | - | 17,550 | |||||
| Accruals | 4,039 | 4,905 | |||||
| Other | creditors | 1,507 | - | ||||
| 5,546 | 22,455 | ||||||
| 13 | FUNDS | ||||||
| As at | Incoming | Outgoing | Gains/Losses | As at 31 | |||
| 1 | January | Resources | resources | on | December | ||
| 2023 | and gains | Investments | 2023 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Restricted | - | ||||||
| Fund | - | ||||||
| Harry and | |||||||
| Grace | 1,945,345 | 61,862 | (6,879) | 111,369 | 2,111,697 | ||
| Smith | |||||||
| Fund | |||||||
| General | 749,280 | 98,532 | (58,599) | 2,562 | 791,775 | ||
| fund | |||||||
| 2,694,625 | 160,394 | (65,478) | 113,931 | 2,903,472 |
The Harry and Grace Smith Fund represents a legacy which the trustees have designated for future publications in accordance with the informal wishes of the legator.
HAKLUYT SOCIETY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
| 13 | FUNDS Prior Year | FUNDS Prior Year | FUNDS Prior Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As at | Incoming | Outgoing | Gains/Losses | As at 31 | ||
| 1 January | Resources | resources | on | December | ||
| 2022 | and gains | Investments | 2022 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Restricted | ||||||
| Fund | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Harry and | ||||||
| Grace | ||||||
| Smith | ||||||
| Fund | 2,168,559 | 56,716 | (7,908) | (272,022) | 1,945,345 | |
| General | ||||||
| fund | 830,391 | 105,066 | (139,261) | (46,916) | 749,280 | |
| 2,998,950 | 161,782 | (147,169) | (318,938) | 2,694,625 |
The Harry and Grace Smith Fund represents a legacy which the trustees have designated for future publications in accordance with the informal wishes of the legator.
14. TRANSACTIONS WITH COUNCIL
No trustee received remuneration from the charity. During the year 5 members of Council claimed reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses totalling £661 (2022: £1,543). A co-opted member of the Council provided services to the charity through Ammonet Infotech and received £270 (2022: £270).
REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of The Hakluyt Society (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
• give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 December 2023 and of its incoming resources and application of resources for the year then ended;
• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland; and
• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
-
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees’ report; or
-
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
-
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
-
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
-
The Charity is required to comply with charity law and, based on our knowledge of its activities, we identified that the legal requirement to comply with the Charity SORP was of key significance.
-
We gained an understanding of how the charity complied with its legal and regulatory framework, including the requirement to comply with the Charity SORP, through discussions with management and a review of the documented policies, procedures and controls.
-
The audit team, which is experienced in the audit of charities, considered the charity’s susceptibility to material misstatement and how fraud may occur. Our considerations included the risk of management override.
-
Our approach was to check that all income was properly identified and accounted for and to ensure that only valid and appropriate expenditure was charged to the charity’s funds. This included reviewing journal adjustments and unusual transactions.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.
This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken, so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report or for the opinions we have formed.
Knox Cropper LLP, Statutory Auditor 65 Leadenhall Street London EC3A 2AD
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2023
Professor Felipe Fernández-Armesto, one of the Vice-Presidents of the Hakluyt Society, welcomed the attendees to the meeting and briefly gave a history of the foundation of the University of Notre Dame by poor priests in 1842.
The President of the Society, Dr Gloria Clifton, was in the Chair and welcomed members to this 177th Annual General Meeting, the second hybrid Annual General Meeting, held in person at the London Global Gateway University of Notre Dame and also via Zoom.
She reminded members that documents for this meeting, the Agenda, biographical details of Council nominees and the 2022 Annual Report, have all been circulated by post and by email and are also available in a Dropbox folder. She explained the conventions to be used throughout the meeting. All members were to have their audio function muted in the first instance. Members were invited to type ‘Q’ in the chat function if they want to raise a point or ask a question. Online polls had been set up to be used to record the opinion of the meeting for any votes taken, if necessary, and there would be a poll for the subscription change.
1. The Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 2023
On the proposal of Captain Michael Barritt RN seconded by Dr Sarah Tyacke, the meeting received the Financial Report of the Council, Balance Sheet and Statement of Financial Activities for 2022, which were approved.
2. Annual Report 2022
The President introduced the Annual Report for 2022 and explained that there were essentially two major components contained in the Report, the discussion of activities of the Society provided by herself and the Balance Sheet and Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2022, provided by the Honorary Treasurer.
The Honorary Treasurer outlined the key points of the annual report. In 2022 the Society’s net worth declined by 10% which was disappointing but due to wider market conditions. The overall deficit of £300,000 represents losses in the value of the Society’s investments. Despite this the Society ahs been living within its means and its main expenditure has been on publishing volumes, and from the Harry and Grace Smith Fund, supporting other expenditure on volumes, and using its cash to meet its commitments as a going concern. Knox Cropper, the Society’s auditors, offered an unqualified opinion and made only two minor recommendations for action to strengthen the Society’s financial processes. The Honorary Treasurer
recorded his thanks to Mrs Vasilescu, the administrator, for her support and management of the Society’s financial position and his appreciation of Knox Cropper’s support.
No questions were raised on this report.
On the proposal of Professor Daniel Cary seconded by Mr Lionel Knight, the meeting approved the Financial Report of Council, Balance Sheet and Statement of Financial Activities for 2022.
3. Increase in Subscription rates
The President proposed an increase in subscription rates from 1 January 2024 in line with the resolution in 2019 to review the rate more regularly than formerly. The increase proposed by Council is:
Ordinary/Institutional member: from £71.50 or US$129 in 2023 to £73 or US$ 131 in 2024
Student member rate from £35.50 or US$66 in 2023 to £36.50 or US$ 67.50 in 2024
No views were expressed by attendees at the meeting and the rates for 2024 were approved nem. con.
3.A. 2023 Hakluyt Society Essay Prize
The President was pleased to note that the winner of the 2023 Hakluyt Society Essay Prize was Dr Harry Lewis for this essay ‘St Malo to Callao: Maritime imperial conflict the Jacobites and the Viceroyalty of Peru 1701–1725’. An Honourable Mention was given to Dan Brooks for his essay ‘‘Where is my Countryman’?’. Unfortunately Dr Lewis was not able to attend in person but the President presented Dan Brooks with his certificate.
The President also recorded her thanks to the Essay Prize judging panel.
4. Election of Officers and Members of Council.
The President recorded thanks for the contributions of the retiring members of Council in 2023, Council members Mr Peter Barber, Dr Anthony Payne and Dr Catherine Scheybeler.
On the proposal of Council the meeting elected Dr Gloria Clifton as President nem. con.
On the proposal of Council, the meeting unanimously elected Professor Nandini Das, Professor Felipe Fernández-Armesto and Mr Bruce Hunter as Vice-Presidents nem. con.
On the proposal of Council, the meeting unanimously elected Mr Alastair Bridges as Honorary Treasurer, and Professor Janet Hartley, Professor Joyce Lorimer and Dr Maurice Raraty as Honorary Joint Series Editors nem. con.
On the proposal of Council, the meeting unanimously elected as officers Dr Katharine Parker, as Honorary Administrative Editor, Mr Raymond Howgego as Honorary Editor (Online Publications), Dr Margaret Makepeace as Honorary Archivist and Mr Stephen Edwards Honorary Adviser (Contracts) nem. con.
On the proposal of Council, the meeting unanimously elected Dr Lubaaba AlAzami, Professor Ladan Niayesh and Professor Joan Pau Rubiés as ordinary members of Council nem. con.
5. Appointment of Auditors
On the proposal of Council, and the advice of the Honorary Treasurer, the meeting unanimously appointed the firm of Knox Cropper as auditors nem con .
6. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
Annual Lecture 2023
The President thanked everyone for attending the online Annual General Meeting and also Professor Felipe Fernández-Armesto for his introduction and for his role in arranging the Indiana conference earlier this year. She also thanked the University of Notre Dame, London Global Gateway, for generously allowing the use of its premises by the Society.
She introduced the Annual Lecture, ‘What do we know about Richard Hakluyt?’, delivered by Dr Anthony Payne. The Zoom recording of the lecture will be made available online as soon possible after the event.
American Friends of the Hakluyt Society
The American Friends of the Hakluyt Society sustained their activities during the year. Dr Elizabeth A. Baker is now the President of the American Friends, and Dr Steven Mentz is secretary. They have upgraded their website, which now includes some blog posts (http://americanfriendshakluyt.com). The website serves as a means of communication both among members and associated organisations and with the Hakluyt Society.
Any member wishing to contact the American Friends of the Hakluyt Society can do so at the following address:
American Friends of the Hakluyt Society 11 South Angell St, Ste. 401 Providence, RI 02906 USA Email: afhakluytsociety@gmail.com
International Representatives of the Hakluyt Society
Australia : Mr John Greig, 18 Kiandra Close, The Gap, Brisbane, QLD 4061, Australia
Canada : Professor Cheryl A. Fury, Department of History and Politics, University of New Brunswick Saint John, PO 5050, Saint John, NB, E2L 4L5
Central America: Dr Stewart D. Redwood, P.O. Box 0832-0757, World Trade Center, Panama, Republic of Panama
China : Professor May Bo Ching, Department of Chinese and History, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
France : Professor Pierre Lurbe, Faculté des Lettres, Sorbonne Université, 1, rue Victor Cousin, 75005 Paris
Germany : Monika Knaden, Lichtenradenstrasse 40, 12049 Berlin
Iceland : Professor Anna Agnarsdóttir, Department of History and Philosophy, University of Iceland, 101 Reykjavík
India : Professor Supriya Chaudhuri, Department of English, Jadavpur University, Kolkata
Ireland : Professor Jim McAdam OBE, Queen’s University of Belfast and Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, c/o 16B Dirnan Road, Cookstown, Co Tyrone BT80 9XL
Japan : Dr Derek Massarella, Faculty of Economics, Chuo University, Higashinakano 742–1, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192–03
Netherlands : Dr Anita van Dissel, Johan Huizingagebouw, Doezensteeg 16, 2311 VL Leiden
New Zealand : Dr John Holmes, PO Box 6307, Dunedin North, Dunedin 9059
Portugal : Dr Manuel Ramos, Av. Elias Garcia 187, 3Dt, 1050 Lisbon
Russia : Professor Alexei V. Postnikov, Institute of the History of Science and Technology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1/5 Staropanskii per., Moscow 103012
South America : Sr Sergio Zagier, Cuenca 4435, 1419 Buenos Aires, Argentina
South-Eastern Europe : Dr Derek L. Elliott, British International School of Ljubljana, Klemenova 166, Ljubljana 1260, Slovenia
Spain : Dámaso de Lario, Calle Los Borja, 3, 3ª, 46003 València
Switzerland : Dr Tanja Bührer, Universität Bern, Historisches Institut, Unitobler, Länggasstrasse 49, 3000 Bern 9
USA : Professor Mary C. Fuller, Literature Section, 14N–405, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139–4207
The Hakluyt Society
Administration
(to which queries and application for membership may be made)
Telephone: (00 44) 7568 468066
Email: office@hkluyt.com
Postal address (only): The Hakluyt Society, c/o the Map Library The British Library, 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB