Additional Xofes. 331 



Hiluni to the author of the most important discovery or useful 

 improvement which shall be made known to the pubUc in 

 any part of the continent of America, or in any of the Ame- 

 rican islands, during the preceding two years, on heat or on 

 light.' The academy has voted, that at its meeting in 

 ]Mav next, and afterwards at its meeting in May bi- 

 enniallv, it will decide on the discovery or improvement 

 which shall appear to be entitled to. the premium. Notice 

 will soon be published of this vote. Count Rumford's dona- 

 tion is in three per cent stock. The residue of the fund 

 arises from a donation of 100/. given by Mr. Bowdoin in his 

 will ; the like sum given by Josiah Quincy, esq. ; 44-0 dollars 

 given by the general court in 1787; and an annual assess- 

 ment of two dollars on each member. The sum of five dollars 

 is also paid by each member on his admission. In addition 

 to the pecuniary legacy, governor Bowdoin gave to the aca- 

 demy his library, consisting of about twelve hundred vo- 

 lumes, with liberty to sell any part of it, the proceeds to be 

 vested in books. About six hundred volumes were sold under 

 this permission. The library of the academy now contains 

 about thirteen hundred volumes, among Avhich are many rare 

 and valuable books. Beside Mr. Bowdoin, the principal do- 

 nors are, the present president of the academy. Dr. Franklin, 

 and M. Veron, who was a surgeon in the squadron of M. dc 

 Ternay. The number of the original or statute members was 

 sixty-two. One hundred and sixty-one members have been 

 elected since the commencement of the institution. There 

 are now living, of the whole corps, 170; viz. 



Resident members, by Avhich is meant those 



who belong to the commonwealth 95 



Resident in other states in the union 30 



Foreign members 45 



Making in the whole 170 



" The members meet four times annually ; in January 

 and May at Boston — in August and September at Cambridge. 



