Charles De Groote; was the "shorthand writer" who volunteered to record the meetings.

“ The object of our meeting then, Gentlemen, is to agree upon a uniform mode of making nautical and meteorological observations on board vessels of war. I am already indebted to the kindness of one of the members present, Lieutenant Jansen, of the Dutch navy, for the extract of a log kept on board a Dutch ship of war, and which may be quoted, as an example of what may be expected from skilful and carefully conducted observations. In order to regulate the distribution of the charts, which the American Government offers gratuitously to captains. ”

“ You will not fail to observe, Gentlemen, that the observations made on board of merchant vessels, with instruments frequently inexact, are not to be relied upon in the same degree as those made where the instruments are more numerous and more delicate, and the observers more in the habit of observing. ”

“ Lieutenant Maury having stated that his instructions from his Government were to propose a form of meteorological register for the use of vessels of war only. Captain Beechey stated that he had understood Mr. Maury to say at the meeting of the ship owners in London and Liverpool, that his object was to endeavor to induce the merchant service, to engage in this undertaking as well as the Royal navy, and that this idea was, he thought confirmed by the offer that had been made of a set of charts to the masters of such merchant vessels as would fill up certain columns of the register. ”

“ The directions for filling up the columns and for making certain observations, it will be seen by the minutes, were limited to such only as seemed necessary to the Conference to ensure uniformity of observation. This subject received the benefit of much discussion before the meeting, and it was considered most advisable to confine the matter to hints; which it is hoped will be found sufficient, when embodied in the instructions which each nation will probably issue with the forms, to ensure that most desirable end, uniformity. ”

“ With regard to thermometers, the Conference does not hesitate to say that observations made with those instruments the errors of which are not known, are of little value, and it is therefore recommended, as a matter well worth the attention of cooperators in this system of research, whether some plan may not be adopted in different countries, for supplying navigators, as well in merchant-men as in men-of-war, with thermometers, the errors of which have been accurately determined. ”

“ In pursuance of instructions issued by the Governments respectively named above, the officers whose names are hereunto annexed assembled at Brussels, for the purpose of holding a Conference on the subject of establishing a uniform system of meteorological observation at sea, and of concurring in a general plan of observation on the winds and currents of the Ocean; with a view to the improvement of navigation and to the acquirement of a more correct knowledge of the laws which govern those elements. ”

“ The imperfection of instruments in use at sea is notorious. The barometer having hitherto been used principally as a monitor to the mariner, to warn him by its fluctuations of the changes in prospect, its absolute indication of pressure has been but little regarded; and makers seldom if ever determined the real errors of these instruments, or, if known, still more rarely ever furnish the corrections with instruments themselves. ”

“ But could that happy event be brought about: — could the observations be as extensive as desired, and receive that full discussion to which they were entitled; the navigator would learn with certainty how to count upon the winds and currents in his track, and to turn to the best advantage the experience of his predecessors.
Meteorological observations to a certain extent had long been made at sea, and Lieutenant Maury had turned to useful account such as had from time to time fallen into his hands (1) ”

“ And moreover, as it is desirable to enlist the voluntary cooperation of the commercial marine, as well as that of the military of all nations, in this system of research, it becomes not only proper, but politic, that the forms of the abstract log to be used, the description of the instruments to be employed, the things to be observed, with the manipulation of the instruments, and the methods and modes of observation should be the joint work of the principal parties concerned. ”

“ To-day, on the contrary, we see assembled the delegates of almost every maritime nation, for the noble purpose of serving humanity by seeking to render navigation more and more secure. I think, Gentlemen, we may congratulate ourselves with pride upon the opening of this new era.
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Upon the motion of the president, the meeting proceeded to nominate a sub-committee, instructed to prepare for the next sitting a model of a log to be kept on board ships of war.
The members appointed to form this sub-committee are MM. Maury, Jansen and Gorkovenko. ”

“ An improvement of the ordinary sea-route between distant countries had long engaged the attention of commercial men, and both individuals and nations had profited by the advances which this science had made through a more correct knowledge of the prevailing winds and currents of the Ocean. ”

“ Column n° 13. is adopted, and a new column is added under n° 13’ for the thermometer attached to the barometer.
Column n° 14. — THERMOMETER FOR THE AIR. — On the proposition of Captain Beechey the term of thermometer with the dry bulb is substituted. — The column is unanimously adopted.
Column n° 15. — THERMOMETER WITH THE WET BULB. — Mr. Delamarche opposed the introduction of this column as he believed it to be impossible to obtain satisfactory results with this instrument on board of ships. ”

“ Column n° 9. — PART OF THE SKY NOT OBSCURED. — Captain Beechey proposed that they should use the expression part of the sky covered; this question was referred to the sub-committee. The expression serenity of sky being the contrary to amount of clouds, a choice is to be made between these two. — The column was adopted.
Column n° 10. — QUANITY OF RAIN. — Mr. Delamarche proposed that all observations upon rain be inserted in the column or remarks, as it is very difficult on board ship to ascertain correctly the quantity of rain that falls ”