304 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



In their last Annual Report, the Rumford Committee recommended 

 that the Rumford Medals for this year should be awarded to Lewis M. 

 Rutherfurd, of New York, for his improvements in the processes and 

 methods of Astronomical Photography. This recommendation was 

 made after long and cautious deliberation, and after a full examina- 

 tion of Mr. Rutherfurd's work by the sub-committee to whom this 

 duty was intrusted. Moreover, the recommendation was made by 

 unanimous vote, and confirmed by a second vote at a subsequent 

 meeting, according to the custom of the Committee. At the last 

 Annual Meeting of the Academy, the recommendation of the Com- 

 mittee received its formal sanction, and the medals were awarded. 

 The Committee have accordingly caused to be struck, at the United 

 States Mint at Philadelphia, from the Rumford dies, a medal of gold, 

 duplicated by one in silver, according to the express direction of Count 

 Rumford ; and, as Chairman of the Committee, I have now, Mr. Presi- 

 dent, the honor to deliver these medals to you, that they may be for- 

 mally presented to our distinguished Associate, who has done so much 

 to advance astronomy, by applying the beautiful processes of photog- 

 raphy to record celestial phenomena. 



In presenting the medals, the President said : — 



More than three-fourths of a century has passed away since one of 

 the most original characters ever formed upon the soil of Massachu- 

 setts established the trust in this Academy, out of which I am this day 

 called to dispense a reward of honor. 



Benjamin Thompson was essentially the architect of his own for- 

 tunes. His peculiar talents fixed u^jon him the attention of one of the 

 Princes of Bavaria, and secui'ed his support. In acknowledgment of 

 the high services rendered, Thompson was honored with rank, and re- 

 ceived a title as Count Rumford. But such a dignity would never have 

 saved him from oblivion, if he had not fortified it by more memorable 

 devotion to science. Not particularly fitted for political or even social 

 experiments, his nature propelled him to aim at objects not less elevated, 

 though in a diff"erent sphere. He addressed his mind to the study and 

 observation of those great phenomena in the universe which are per- 

 petually affording to those who diligently watch them new methods of 

 advancing the progress of mankind. Of these, he selected more par- 

 ticularly the marvellous principles of light and heat, which vivify the 

 creation. He thought, and justly thought, that, old as it was, a great 

 deal more was to be learned of its motive powers, and of their applica- 

 tion to practical ends on this globe, than was known down to his time. 



