THE TRUSTS OF THE SOCIETY 175 



that instead of the annual experiment, *a medal or other honorary j 

 mid be bestowed on the person whose experiment hould be beat appr 

 >y which means he apprehended a laudable emulation might be excited am 

 m of genius to try their invention, who, in ull probability, may nevei 

 loved for the sake of lucre.' Eventually, in 1736, it was resolv.d that 

 medal of the value of .3, to bear the arms of the Society, should I* 

 iwarded to the author of the most important scientific discovery or eontnhu 

 ion to science by experiment or otherwise. The weight of the medal wan 

 ted at 1 oz. 2 dwts. of fine gold. In 1831 it was resolved that tin- Copl.-y 

 Medal shall be awarded to the living author of such philosophical research, 

 either published or communicated to the Society, as may appear to tin- 

 Council to be deserving of that honour. The particulars of the subject of 

 the research are to be specified in the award, and there is to be no limitation 

 as to the period when the research was made, or the country to which the 

 author may belong. 



Owing to the payments for the lecture and the medal being somewhat 1( -^ 

 than the dividends received, a balance gradually accumulated in favour of the 

 fund, amounting to over ^100. In the year 1881, Sir Joseph Copley, Bart., 

 transferred to the Society a sum of ^1,666 13*. 4d. 3 per cent. Consols, 

 ' to provide in perpetuity a yearly bonus of oQ, to be given to the recipient 

 of the Copley Medal.' So long as the interest was at 3 per cent., the income 

 was produced, but now that it is reduced to 2| per cent, it is 

 insufficient for the gift of a larger sum. While there was a balance in hand 

 in favour of the fund, the Council thought well to fulfil Sir Joseph Copley's 

 liberal intention. This balance has now, however, been exhausted, and the 

 amount of the gift, after providing for the cost of the medal, is about ^40. 



The list of the recipients of this and the other medals in the gift of 

 the Royal Society will be found in Chapter VII. 



No. 2. THE BRADY LIBRARY FUND. 



The late Mr. Henry Bowman Brady, F.R.S., bequeathed to the Society in 

 1891 all his books and papers relating to the Protozoa, and also a sum of 

 ,300, the interest of which, or the principal, or both, are from time to time 

 to be applied in the purchase of works on the same or kindred subjects to 

 be added to the collection. The fund now consists of ,330 2 per cent. 

 Consolidated Stock. 



No. 3. THE BUCHANAN MEDAL FUND. 



This fund dates from February, 1894, when a sum of ^276 12*. and the 

 dies for a medal were offered to the Society by the Committee of the fund 

 raised in honour of Sir George Buchanan, F.R.S., a distinguished physician, 

 who died in 1895. The amount has been invested in the purchase of 



