28 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



no new discovery or improvement should be made, in any part of America, 

 relative to either of the subjects in question (Heat or Light), which in the 

 opinion of the Academy shall be of sufficient importance to deserve this pre- 

 mium, in that case it is my desire that the premium may not be given, but 

 that the value of it may be reserved, and, being laid out in the purchase of 

 additional stock in the American funds, may be employed to augment the 

 capital of this premium ; and that the interest of the sums by which the 

 capital may from time to time be so augmented may regularly be given in 

 money, with the two medals, and as an addition to the original premium, at 

 each succeeding adjudication of it. And it is further my particular request, 

 that those additions to the value of the premium arising from the occasional 

 non-adjudications, may be suffered to increase without limitation. 



" With the highest respect for the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 

 and the most earnest wishes for their success in their labors for the good of 

 mankind, I have the honor to be, with much esteem and reo-ard. 



Sir, 

 Your most obedient, humble servant, 



RUMFORD." 

 ^'■London, July 12, 1796." 



The stocks mentioned in this letter were received by the Academy 

 in 1797. In 1831 a Bill in Equity was brought before the Supreme 

 Judicial Court of Massachusetts, praying relief in the matter of the 

 Rumford Fund ; and thereupon the following decree was made by that 

 Court : — 



Decree. — Supreme Judicial Court, March Term, 1832. 

 In Equity | The American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Complainants, 

 between > The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Defendants. 



" The cause coming to be heard upon the Bill and answer, by agreement 

 of the parties, — the substance of the plaintiff's Bill appeared to be that 



" Benjamin, Count Eumford, in his lifetime, made a donation to the plain- 

 tiffs of five thousand dollars in the three per cent stocks of the United States, 

 as a testimony of his respect for the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 

 and for the purpose of promoting by premiums, to be adjudged biennially by 

 them, for the making of such discoveries relating to light and heat, as should, 

 in the opinion of the plaintiffs, tend most to promote the good of mankind, 

 and which should be made and published in the American continent or isl- 

 ands within the two years next preceding the awarding of such jDremium, 

 and directing the surplus income and accumulation of said fund to be invest- 

 ed In the stock of the United States, and the income thereof added to the 

 said premiums. But it is alleged that the mode of awarding said premiums 

 pointed out by the donor cannot usefully, nor without defeating the general 



