93 



will be recognised with interest by the learned world, and add to 

 the reputation already so justly earned by the authors of the papers 

 referred to. 



The Proceedings have been published during the past year with 

 great regularity, and an inspection of them will show that there has 

 been no lack of valuable communications, on various branches of 

 Science and Antiquities, at the meetings of the Academy during 

 that period. 



The most important subject which has occupied the attention of 

 the Council during the past year, is one upon which their delibera- 

 tions have only just closed, and they have now to make known the 

 result to the Academy for the first time. 



The regulations for awarding Medals and prizes from the Cun- 

 ingham bequest, have long been felt to be unsatisfactory, and have 

 not been found to work well. The Council accordingly have given 

 the subject much consideration, and have resolved to adopt a mo- 

 dification of the former rules which it is hoped will have a bene- 

 ficial operation. 



Hitherto the Medals, as the Academy are aware, were given only 

 to the authors of papers published in the Transactions ; it is now 

 resolved to include, in the list of eligible candidates for this dis- 

 tinction, the authors of all works of merit printed and published in 

 Ireland, or relating to Irish subjects. It has been thought right 

 to make this limit, because it is obvious that a limitation of some 

 kind is necessary, and this appeared to be directly pointed out by 

 the intention of the Cunningham bequest, which was manifestly 

 designed to encourage the pursuit of learning in this country. 



Another very important alteration in the former rules is this : — 

 It has been resolved to ofier prizes in money for Reports or Essays 

 on given subjects, in theoretical and practical Science, Antiquities, 

 and other departments of Literature. This, it is hoped, will be 

 found to open up a new field for a most useful application of the 

 fund. It will enable the Academy to obtain from the persons best 

 qualified an account of the progress and actual state of our know- 

 ledge, with statistical details, if necessary, of a practical and useful 

 character. An important machinery will thus be within our reach 

 for directing public attention to scientific or antiquarian subjects, 



