Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Peterslurgh. 185 

 sider the question in any point of view that might appear 

 the best calculated to elucidate the access to a question so 

 difficult. The academy has received, within the prescribed 

 time, six tracts on the question, each having a note sealed, 

 and a motto ; viz. 



No. 1. In the Russian language with the motto, '' A phi- 

 losopher who has leurn'd to doubt, knows more than all the 

 learned " &c. 



No. 2. In the Russian language, " Time is the earliest 

 thing in nature," &c. 



No. 3. In Latin, " E<;t -?te color proprius verum, luclsne 

 repvhus tludinit aciem f" 



No. 4. In French, *■' Nox aliit, nee tamen orla dlesl" 

 No. 3. Jn German, " Ut rioscas spletidore novo res sem- 

 per egerc, et primum jactum," ^ c. 



No. G. In German, '■^ La physique ne sera verltablemenl 

 nne science, que lorsque tous let e^ffels naturels se deduiront 

 clairemtnt d' un seulet menu principe euidemment dcmontrc." 

 The three first tracts, (No. 1. 2. 3.) beside the commoa 

 fault of wantir.g new experiments, a complete and instruc- 

 tive series of which was required by the academical noiice, 

 contained hypotheses and propositions, either well known, 

 erroneous, or ill expressed, and advanced without demonstra- 

 tion : for these reasons, the acaden.y did not thmk these 

 tracts could aspire to the prize. 



The tract No. 4. is not without merit : the author enters 

 Upon several interesting questions concerning the nature of 

 light, in a manner that readily convinces us heisnota 

 stranger to the subject ; but the deficiency of connexion 

 and systematic arrangement, which is perceived in the tract, 

 and above all the absolute want of new experiments, which 

 mie,ht lead to new results, or serve as a support to a number 

 of hypotheses advanced by the author, and destitute of 

 every species of demonstration, would not permit the aca- 

 demy to adjudge the prize to the memoir, even had there 

 been none of Jireater merit. 



As to the last pieces, (No. 5. and No. 6.) the academy has 

 found them worthy of particular attention, from the report 

 of the committee appointed lo declare the best qualified pcr- 



. fonuantc. 



