128 Record of the Royal Society. 



No. 8. THE DAVY MEDAL FUND. 



By the will of Dr. John Davy, F.R.S., the service of plate pre- 

 sented to Sir Humphry Davy for the invention of the safety lamp, 

 was bequeathed to the Society, to be melted down and sold, in order 

 to found a medal to be given annually for the most important dis- 

 covery in chemistry. The amount received in 1869 was invested in 

 the purchase of 660 Madras Railway Stock, producing about 33 

 per annum. Some little time elapsed before the dies couJd be pre- 

 pared, and the first medal actually awarded was given, in duplicate, 

 to Bunsen and Kirchhoff in 1877. It was also given in duplicate in 

 1878 : 1882, 1883, and 1893. 



No. 9. THE GASSIOT TRUST. 



In the year 1871 the late Mr. John Peter Gassiot conveyed to the 

 Society 10,000 Italian Irrigation Bonds, for the purpose of assisting 

 in carrying on and continuing magnetical and meteorological obser- 

 vations with self-recording instruments, and any other physical 

 investigations that may from time to time be practicable and desir- 

 able in the Kew Observatoiy, in the Old Deer Park, Richmond, 

 Surrey. (See "Description of Kew Observatory," p. 138.) 



The proceeds are paid over to the Kew Committee appointed in 

 accordance with the trust deed. From time to time some of the 

 Irrigation Bonds are drawn, and a profit has been made on reinvest- 

 ment. These accumulated profits are now represented by a sum of 

 500 2f per cent. Consols, which forms a kind of reserve or insur- 

 ance fund. 



No. 10. THE HANDLEY FUND. 



By the will of Mr. E. H. Handley, dated 1840, the reversion of his 

 property was bequeathed to the Society after the death of his sister, 

 the income to be applied as a reward for important inventions in art 

 or discoveries in science, physical and metaphysical, or for assistance 

 in the prosecution of any such invention or discovery, but with power 

 to the President and Council to apply the income as they may deem 

 best for the advancement of science. 



Owing to the Statute of Mortmain, a considerable portion of the 

 property did not pass by this will, but eventually, in 1876, the sum 

 of 6378 19s. was received, which, after paying Legacy Duty at the 

 rate of 10 per cent, and legal expenses, left sufficient to purchase 

 6047 7s. 9d. Reduced 3 per cents. When the rate of interest was 

 threatened a few years ago, this was converted into 4798 Lancashire 

 and Yorkshire Railway 4 per cent. Guaranteed Stock, producing 

 about 192 per annum. Of iate years this has been applied towards 

 the cost of preparing the Catalogue of Scientific Papers. 



