132 



Record of the Royal Society. 



THE BUCHANAN MEDAL (p. 131). 



In addition to the medals included in the above Trusts, two medals 

 are annually presented by Her Majesty the Queen, the award of 

 which is entrusted to the Society : 



ROYAL MEDALS. 



The Royal Medals were founded by H.M. King George IV, the pro- 

 posal to found them being conveyed in a letter from Sir Robert Peel to 

 Sir Humphry Davy, in a letter dated December 3, 1825. They were 

 at first awarded for the most important discoveries completed and 

 made known to the Royal Society in " the year preceding the day of 

 their award," but soon after the foundation this was changed to 

 "within five years preceding the day of such award." H.M. King 

 William IV continued, the foundation under the condition that the 



