Ajlronomical Notices, 1S5 



the feelings of the Society, than the head of its firft founder, 

 by whom it was approved and confirmed ; and therefore I 

 confider it proper that it mould be retained as a memorial to 

 pofterity, and even for the honour of the inftitution. 



I remain your well wiflier, 

 « April Mt h, iSot. ALEXANDER." 



The Society, after this letter was read, voted their mod 

 refpectful thanks, to be communicated in writing, to his im- 

 perial majefty, for his having been gracioufly pleafed to affire 

 them of his protection, and for the annual fum promifed to 

 enable them to profecnte their labours; that a complete col- 

 lection of their tranfactions ihould be presented to his ma- 

 jefty, and that thefe resolutions ihould be publifhed. 



The Society has propofed the following 

 Prize Quejlion : 



A great many experiments have been already made on the 

 preparation of fugar from white beets both in Ruffia and 

 in other countries; and a variety of opinions and facts in re- 

 gard to this fubject, which however are, in part, contradic- 

 tory, have been publimed. As this fubject is considered to 

 be of great importance, the Society require a difTertation, in 

 which (hall be mown : 



What has been hitherto difcovered with certainty in re- 

 gard to the preparation of fugar from the beet-root : what, 

 on the other hand, is doubtful; and, in particular, what is 

 properly the kind of beet which ought chiefly to be chofen 

 for that purpoie : in what foil, and in what manner, it can 

 be beft cultivated : how fugar can be obtained from it with 

 moft advantage : and, whether there is reafon to expect that 

 the fugar procured from it can be iold in any of the provinces 

 at a cheaper rate than the common fugar ? 



The prize for the beft paper on thisTubject is a gold medal 

 of the value of 30 ducats. The paper> muft be tranimitted 

 to the Society, with the ufual forms, before the month of 

 March 1802; and may be written in the Ruffian, German, 

 or French languages. 



XXIX. Intelligence and Mifcellaneous Articles. July 1S01. 



ASTRONOMICAL NOTICES. 



Ii V_>. CATGNE, notary, Rue de la Harpe, No. 237, is 

 commi (honed to pay the fum of 600 francs to the firft ailro- 

 nomer, French or foreign, who {hall difcover a comet betweea 



this 



