244 Life of Count Rumford. 



In accepting the munificent endowment of the Count, 

 the Society, through the Council, requested the Presi- 

 dent to return their sincere thanks to the donor; and 

 at the same time, as some range of uncertainty was 

 left in the interpretation of terms, and questions 

 might arise as to restriction or comprehension of sub- 

 jects to be recognized in the award, he was instructed 

 to inquire how far improvements or discoveries in 

 optics and chemistry might come under the Count's 

 views. 



This request drew from Rumford the following com- 

 munication he having in the interval returned to Ba- 

 varia : 



"MUNICH, April 26, 1797. 



" MY DEAR SIR, In your last letter, you expressed a wish 

 that I would write to inform you how far, in my opinion, dis- 

 coveries in Optics, and improvements in Chemistry by the 

 agency of fire, ought to be considered as being so connected 

 with light or heat as to be taken into consideration in the 

 adjudication of the premium I have founded for encouraging the 

 investigation of those branches of philosophical enquiry, and 

 improving the useful arts which depend on them. Though I 

 am quite willing to leave this question to the decision of the 

 Royal Society, and shall certainly be perfectly satisfied with 

 whatever they may determine respecting it, either as a general 

 regulation, or in any particular case which may occur; yet, as 

 you have done me the honour to call on me for my opinion, I 

 think it my duty to comply with your request by communi- 

 cating to you my ideas on the subject. 



" I think that the premium should be limited to new dis- 

 coveries tending to improve the theories of Fire, of Heat, of 

 Light, and of Colours, and to new inventions and contrivances 

 by which the generation and preservation and management of 

 heat and of light may be facilitated. In as far, therefore, as 

 chemical discoveries: or improvements in optics answer any of 



