CHAPTER XLV. 



PRIZE ESSAYS AND TRANSACTIONS. 



So early as 1793, the Directors of the Society, on the 

 motion of Dr Gregory Grant, took into consideration the 

 propriety of pubHshing such of the prize essays and reports 

 as were deemed worthy of being communicated to the 

 public, but various circumstances occurred to retard the 

 execution of the design. A committee, consisting of 

 gentlemen of much information and learning, was after- 

 wards entrusted with this branch of the Society's business ; 

 and after much deliberation, they resolved on employing a 

 man of letters and science, conversant in most of the sub- 

 jects of which the reports treated, to revise the papers and 

 superintend the publication. Several of the earlier papers 

 were sent by persons not in the habit of writing ; but when 

 the matter appeared useful, the Directors did not scruple, 

 on the report of their committee, to award premiums to the 

 authors. In publishing these, directions were given to the 

 editor to re-write the papers entirely, but with careful 

 attention to preserve the substance of the authors' ideas 

 entire. 



First Series, i'jgg-1824.. 



The first series was commenced in 1799. It was pub- 

 lished at intervals, and six volumes (containing 128 reports, 

 besides a number of official documents) were brought out 

 between that date and 1824. As the first series has long 

 been out of print, the following brief statement of the con- 

 tents may be useful : 



First Volume (lygg): Making Kelp; Linen Manufacture; Inclosing; 

 Green Crops ; Working Horses and Oxen ; Irrigation ; Planting ; Crops best 

 adapted for the Highlands ; Heath Burning ; the Fisheries ; Peat Fuel ; 

 Substitute for Coal ; Gaelic Pronunciation ; Canal between Inverness and 

 Fort William. 



