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standards. If, now, the theory be true, the new colour-equations 

 which we should obtain from the former by mere algebraical elimi- 

 nation, ought to agree with the results of direct observation on the 

 matches indicated thereby. Professor Maxwell has subjected the 

 theory to this verification, and thereby raised the composition of 

 colours to the rank of a branch of mathematical physics. 



Not the least remarkable part of these researches consists in their 

 application to the case of colour-blindness. All the phenomena of 

 colour-matches, as seen by the colour-blind, can be represented quanti- 

 tatively as well as qualitatively, as Professor Maxwell has shown, by 

 supposing that, as seen by such persons, all colours may be expressed 

 in a linear manner by means of two chosen at pleasure. The results, 

 as he has pointed out, would seem to indicate that the normal-eyed 

 have (as Young supposed) three primary colour-sensations, and the 

 colour-blind but two. 



These researches Professor Maxwell has recently completed, by a 

 paper published in the first part of the * Philosophical Transactions ' 

 for the present year. 



The researches for which the Rumford Medal is awarded, lead to 

 the remarkable result that, to a very near degree of approximation, 

 all the colours of the spectrum, and therefore all colours in nature 

 which are only mixtures of these, can be perfectly imitated by mix- 

 tures of three actually attainable colours, which are the red, green, 

 and blue, belonging respectively to three particular points of the 

 spectrum. 



MR. PROFESSOR MAXWELL, 



In presenting you with this Medal, I may express the pleasure 

 with which the Council, and I may add, I am sure, the Fellows of 

 the Society generally, have seen your recent removal to London ; 

 and their hope that tlje f Transactions ' may be frequently enriched by 

 contributions from one who already, in this early part of his career, 

 has attained so much distinction. 



The Statutes relating to the election of Council and Officers having 

 been read, and Mr. Glaisher and Mr. Smee having been, with the 

 consent of the Society, nominated Scrutators, the votes of the Fellows 

 present were collected. 



