392 STATUTES OF THE 



of two- thirds of the members present, and at least eighteen 

 affirmative votes. 



2. Standing Votes may be passed, amended, or rescinded, 

 at any stated meeting, by a majority of two-thirds of the 

 members present. They may be suspended by a unanimous 

 vote. 



CHAPTER XI. 



OF LITERARY PERFORMANCES. 



1. The Academy will not express its judgment on literary 

 or scientific memoirs or performances submitted to it, or 

 included in its publications. 



RUMFORD PREMIUM. 



In conformity with the terms of the gift of Benjamin Count 

 Rumford, granting a certain fund to the American Academy of 

 Arts and Sciences, and with a decree of the Supreme Judicial 

 Court for carrying into effect the general charitable intent and 

 purpose of Count Rumford, as expressed in his letter of gift, 

 the Academy is empowered to make from the income of said 

 fund, as it now exists,. at any annual meeting, an award of a 

 gold and silver medal, being together of the intrinsic value of 

 three hundred dollars, as a premium, to the author of any 

 important discovery or useful improvement in light or in 

 heat, which shall have been made and published by printing, 

 or in any way made known to the public, in any part of the 

 continent of America, or any of the American islands ; pref- 

 erence being always given to such discoveries as shall, in the 

 opinion of the Academy, tend most to promote the good of 

 mankind ; and to add to such medals, as a further premium 

 for such discovery and improvement, if the Academy see fit 

 so to do, a sum of money not exceeding three hundred 

 dollars. 



