EARLY PREMIUMS. 1 29 



On 26th June 1786, the Society awarded a gold medal, 

 of the value of five guineas, to Alexander Macleod of 

 Harris, for an account of the operations and improvements 

 carried on by him on his Estate of Harris, particularly in 

 the building of a harbour or quay, promoting the fisheries, 

 erecting storehouses, and the settling of coopers and other 

 manufacturers on his estate, with many useful observations 

 connected with the Society's objects. It was also resolved 

 that the paper should be published for the benefit of the 

 public. On 5th January 1787, the Society voted a gold 

 medal, value ten guineas, to John Knox, author of a report 

 on the fisheries, ' as a mark of the Society's approbation of 

 his patriotic exertions and meritorious conduct.' 



On 13th January 1789, a vote of special interest was 

 passed. It was a gold medal, of the value of ten guineas, 

 to John Clark, younger of Eldin, for designing the device 

 and inscription of the Society's seal. It was considered by 

 the Committee that the miost proper seal would be ' a 

 Highlander in his proper dress and arms presenting himself 

 before the genius of Scotland, represented by a female 

 figure with the propei; attributes and emblems, and pointing 

 out to her his flocks and herds, his fishing vessels and 

 implements of husbandry, and that the motto supposed to 

 be his address to her should be " Sempe?" annis mmc et 

 Industrial' expressing that the Highlanders who have long 

 been useful to their countr}' by their valour and military 

 talents, are now desirous of cultivating also the arts of 

 peace, and of benefiting it also by their industry.' The 

 device also served for medals, the reverse being left for the 

 inscription. 



Two votes, granted on ist August 1789, and on 31st 

 March 1790, show that the Society was even at that date 

 alive to the value of mineralogical research. On each 

 occasion £2^ were voted to ]\Ir Raspe, a native of German}', 

 who was sent by the Duke of Argyll, the Earl of Breadal- 

 bane, and others to make a mineralogical survey of the 

 Highlands. 



On 6th March 1790, a gold medal of the value of five 

 guineas was voted to John Robertson, Rothesay, for sug- 



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