Fk ie es eee 
iPHC 
lll 
“The Council decided that the proposal was not suffi- 
ciently explicit, and ‘Resolved, that Mr. Petrie be allowed 
to substitute the following : 
“© 29th June, 1840. 
“*«T propose to publish, at my own expense, my Essay on 
the Round Towers, as the twentieth volume of the Transac- 
tions, on condition that the Academy take from me 450 
copies, at the rate of thirty shillings per copy ; the expense 
already incurred by the Academy for engravings to be de- 
ducted from the £675 to be paid for the 450 copies. It is, 
of course, understood, that the blocks for woodcuts are my 
rty. 
i * « Signed, GerorceE Perris.’ 
‘ Resolved, that the proposal in the latter form be adopted.’ 
* From this it appears, that the Council, in 1840, had 
alienated to Mr. Petrie the copyright of the Essay for which 
£50 had been paid, and a Gold Medal adjudged, in 1832! 
And further, had allowed that gentleman to print the work 
for his own benefit, virtually at the expense of the Academy ; 
for by the acceptance of the proposal of 29th June, 1840, 
the Council agreed to pay thirty shillings a copy for 450 
copies of the volume, that being the selling price of the vo- 
lumes of the Transactions, which amounts to £675, and in- 
cludes the bookseller’s profit, which may be estimated at least 
at thirty-five per cent., thus making Mr. Petrie a present of 
£234 13s. 4d. of the Academy’s money, which would pay 
for a considerable edition for his own benefit, and which 
they might have saved, by printing the work themselves. 
It should here be observed, first, that it is contrary to the 
laws of the Academy to return the manuscripts even of un- 
successful competitors for prizes and medals, while they 
claim as property all Essays read at their ordinary meetings, 
and ordered to be printed ; and secondly, that the Council 
have no power to expend more than twenty pounds, without 
the consent of the Academy at large. 
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