416 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



terms on which the Rumford Premium, thus instituted, might be awarded 

 should be published in the newspapers of the Capitals of the different 

 vStates and of some of the American Islands. At the annual meeting 

 of 1801 it was voted, that the Academy, at their meeting in May next, 

 and afterwards biennially, will decide on the discovery or improvement 

 which may appear to be entitled to the premium contemplated by 

 Count Rumford, according to the terms of his letter of July 12, 1796. 

 In 1802, a committee of the Academy reported that no discovery or 

 improvement worthy of the premium, and fulfilling the required con- 

 ditions, had come to their knowledge. In 1804, a claim was presented 

 which did not receive the approval of the Academy. In 1805, it was 

 voted tliat the terms on which the premium might be awaided should 

 be published annually. In 1806, two more unsuccessful claims were 

 presented. In 1809, a committee consisting of Judge John Davis, the 

 Hon. John Quincy Adams, with the Recording Secretary, was appointed 

 to consider generally tlie question of the Rumford Premium. In 1811, 

 it was voted that the Secretary should publish a description of the Rum- 

 ford Trust. In 1816, it was again voted that the conditions attached 

 to the premium should be published annually. Another vote to the 

 same effect was passed in 1820. In 1824, several applications were 

 referred to a committee, and were probably included in the five appli- 

 cations rejected in 1830. 



"It thus appears that the failure of the Academy to make any 

 award, during this long period, cannot be charged to any lack of inter- 

 est or attention on the part of our predecessors. It was partly due to 

 the low state of some branches of physical science at that time ; but 

 also, in part, to some of the conditions under which the trust liad been 

 given and received. In consequence of a long report upon the subject 

 mafle to the Academy in 1829, by a distinguished committee, consisting 

 of Nathaniel Bowditch, Josiah Quincy, and Francis C. Gray, relief in 

 the matter of the Rumford Fund was sought in 1831, and obtained 

 ill 1832, from the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. Witli the greater 

 freedom of administration thus acquired, the Academy has been able 

 to award the Rumford Premium nine times, eight of which have 

 occurred since 18G1, as follows: — 



" 1. To Robert Hare, for the Compound Blowpipe. 

 " 2. To John B. Ericsson, for Improvements in the Caloric Engine. 

 "3. To Daniel Treadwell, for Improvements in the Construction of 

 Cannon. 



" 4. To Alvan Clark, for Improvements in Achromatic Telescopes. 



