266 Life of Coimt Rumford. 



attached to a trust fund when circumstances prevent 

 the strict fulfilment of the terms set by the donor, and 

 which admit of a re-direction of the proceeds of the 

 fund in a way to approximate towards the ends he had 

 in view. The matter was then referred to a Master 

 in Chancery " to report a scheme for carrying into effect 

 the general charitable intent and purpose of the donor 

 conformably to the prayer of the plaintiffs' bill." His 

 scheme having been submitted, it was, 



"By the court ordered, adjudged, and decreed, for the 

 reasons set forth in the bill, that the plaintiffs be, and they are 

 by the authority of this court, empowered to make from the 

 income of said fund, as it now exists, at any annual meeting of 

 the Academy, instead of biennially, as directed by said Benja- 

 min Count Rumford, award of a gold and silver medal, being 

 together of the intrinsic value of three hundred dollars, as a 

 premium to the author of any important discovery or useful 

 improvement on heat or on light which shall have been made 

 and published by printing, or in any way made known to the 

 public, in any part of the Continent of America, or any of the 

 American Islands, preference being always given to such dis- 

 coveries as shall in the opinion of the Academy, tend most to 

 promote the good of mankind ; and to add to such medals as a 

 further reward and premium for such discovery or improvement, 

 if the plaintiffs see fit so to do, a sum of money not exceeding 

 three hundred dollars. 



" And it is further ordered, adjudged, and decreed, that the 

 plaintiffs may appropriate from time to time, as the same can 

 advantageously be done, the residue of the income of said fund 

 hereafter to be received, and not so as aforesaid awarded in 

 premiums, to the purchase of such books and papers and philo- 

 sophical apparatus (to be the property of said Academy), and in 

 making such publications or procuring such lectures, experi- 

 ments, or investigations, as shall in their opinion best facilitate 

 and encourage the making of discoveries and improvements 

 which may merit the premiums so as aforesaid to be by them 



