ROYAL MEDALS. 



HIS MAJESTY KING WILLIAM THE FOURTH, in restoring the 

 Foundation of the Royal Medals, graciously Commanded a Letter, of 

 which the following is an extract, to be addressed to the Royal Society, 

 through His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, K.G., President : 



" Windsor Castle, March 25, 1833. 



" It is His Majesty's wish, — 



" First, That the Two Gold Medals, value of Fifty Guineas each, shall 

 " henceforth be awarded on the day of the Anniversary Meeting of the 

 " Royal Society, on each ensuing year, for the most important discoveries 

 " in any one principal subject or branch of knowledge. 



" Secondly, That the subject matter of inquiry shall be previously settled 

 " and propounded by the Council of the Royal Society, three years pre- 

 " ceding the day of such award. 



" Thirdly, That Literary Men of all nations shall be invited to afford the 

 " aid of their talents and research : and, 



" Fourthly, That for the ensuing three successive years, the said Two 

 " Medals shall be awarded to such important discoveries, or series of in- 

 " vestigations, as shall be sufficiently established, or completed to the 

 " satisfaction of the Council, within the last five years of the days of award, 

 " for the years 1834 and 1835, including the present year, and for which 

 " the Author shall not have previously received an honorary reward. 



(Signed) " H. Taylor." 



The Council propose to give one of the Royal Medals in the year 1836, to the most 

 important unpublished paper in Astronomy, communicated to the Royal Society for 



