278 Imperial Academy of Sciences at Petcrshirgh. 



the affinities it may appear to have with other bodies either 

 organic or non-organic; and on the modifications and phae- 

 nomena manifested in these substances in virtue of the com- 

 binations into which the matter of Hght has cniered with 

 them." 



Without entering into a history of the objections formed 

 acainst this hypothesis, or of tlie researches made to unveil, 

 in ditlVrcnt modifications of bodies and of natural phieno- 

 mena, the traces of the action of the chemical afiinities of 

 light, the academv obseives, that tliese researches might 

 perhaps be extended, and not without iilihty, to the Gal- 

 vanic fire, the dazziing t^plenJour of which, in large Voltaic 

 piles and on carbonaccrus substances, imitates in some mea- 

 sure that of the solar lisht. In a word, the academy is sa- 

 tisfied with announcing generally the subject of the prize, 

 in order that the learned who wish to employ thcuiselvcs in 

 it mav not in anv manner be fettered in the points of view 

 under which they may be led to consider and treat a matter 

 so difficult, which has scarcely yet been touched, and which, 

 however, deserves so much to be examined for the benefit 

 of science. 



The academy requests the learned of all nations, without 

 excluding its honorary members and correspondents, to 

 labour on this subject. It thinks it its dutv to exclude 

 none but the menjbers who are to discharge the funciion 

 of judges. 



The learned who intend to be candidates for the prize 

 must not put their names to the essays, but only a motto 

 or device, adding a sealed note having on the outside the 

 same device, and in the inside the name, quality, and resi- 

 dence of the author. None of the notes but that belong- 

 ing to the paper which gains the prize will be opened. The 

 rest will be burned. 



The essays, written in a legible hand, either in Russian, 

 French, English, Germon, or Latin, must be addressed to 

 the perpetual secretary of the academv, who will deliver to 

 the person commissioned by the author a receipt marked 

 with the device and motto accompanying the essay. 



The essays will be received till the 1st of May I8OG ex- 

 clusively ; and the author of that which in the opjnion of 

 the academy is entitled to the prize will be announced in 

 the public meeting held ui the month of July the same year. 

 The successful essav is the projierty of the academy, and 

 the author cannot cause it to be printed without special per- 

 mission. 'J'he other essays may be demanded from the se- 

 cretary, who will cause them to be delivered at Petersburgh 

 to those deputed for that purpose by the authors. 



lA- In- 



