262 -THE EAELY HISTOEY OF [CHAP. V. 



chemical discoveries do him every day more and more 

 credit. We shall not now, I trust, go astray, as I think 

 we have not one attending member who is at all addicted 

 to politics. 



All our subordinate societies also seem to prosper, and 

 labour diligently in their respective departments ; we have 

 newly formed one for the improvement of horticulture, 

 which promises to become very numerous. I send you a 

 book on the subject of heat, &c. (Leslie), which certainly 

 contains many interesting experiments and much bad reason- 

 ing. Upon the whole, however, it appears to me that he 

 will not be an unlikely candidate for your medal of the next 

 year. Pray let me have your opinion of the subject ; and, 

 if you disapprove of him, who do you think a more success- 

 ful promoter of the science you wish to encourage ? 



I send your medals by Mr. . This is the first 



opportunity I have had, or you would sooner have received 

 them. [These were the first Rumford medals, awarded to 

 Rumford himself.] 



SIR JOSEPH BANKS TO COUNT RUMFORD. 



Soho Square, June 6, 1804. 



As it does not prove convenient to Mr. Livingstone to 

 take with him the Society's transactions or the observations 

 of the Royal Observatory, which I wished to have sent, I 

 am obliged to confine myself to the sending the enclosed 

 books * Leslie on Heat ' for your acceptance, the ' Nautical 

 Almanac' for M. Delambre and the medals which the 

 Royal Society decreed to you a year and a half ago. 



On the subject of the first T much wish for your opinion 

 whether the author may be considered a proper person to 

 receive your medal next year; and, if not, who you think a 

 more deserving candidate? 



Be so good as to deliver the * Nautical Almanac ' to 

 M. Delambre with my best regards, and to assure the 

 Institute that I shall never forget the various favours I 



