4 THE RUMFORD FUND 



it is my desire that the Premium may not be given, but that the 

 value of it may be reserved, and by laying out in the purchase of 

 additional stock in the American funds may be applied to augment 

 the capital of this Premium ; and that the interest of the sums by 

 which the capital may, from time to time, be so augmented, may reg- 

 ularly be given in money with the two medals, and as an addition to 

 the original Premium at each succeeding adjudication of it. And 

 it is further my particular request that those additions to the 

 value of the Premium arising from its occasional non-adjudication 

 may be suffered to increase without limitation. 



With the highest respect for the American Academy of Arts 

 and Sciences, and the most earnest wishes for their success in their 

 labours for the good of mankind, 



I have the honour to be, with much Esteem and Regard, Sir, 

 Your most Obedient, Humble Servant, 



RUMFORD. 



The gift was accepted by the Academy, but for many 

 years no award of the premium was made, as no claimant 

 appeared whose merit was such in its opinion as to justify 

 this. Meanwhile the fund had accumulated to the 

 amount of $20,000, and in view of the fact that there was 

 no possibility of expending the income in the pre- 

 cise manner contemplated by Count Rumford, applica- 

 tion was made in 1831 to the Supreme Court of the 

 Commonwealth of Massachusetts for relief, if such 

 should be possible. 



The Court issued a decree which modified the pos- 

 sible disposition of the income of the fund in such a 

 manner as to increase its usefulness while keeping 

 entirely within the spirit of the original gift, saying in 

 part as follows : - 



