Count Rujnford'^s Donation, 141 



to iucli difcoveries as fliall, in the opinion of the Academy, 

 tend mofl to promote the good of mankind. 



With regard to the formalities to be obferved by the Acad- 



4 



emy in their decifions upon the comparative merits of thofe 

 difcoveries, which, in the opinion of the Academy, may en- 

 title their authors to be considered as competitors for this 

 biennial premium, the Academy vtdll be pleafed to adopt fuch 

 regulations, as they in their wifdom may judge to be proper 

 and necefTary. But in regard to the form in which this pre- 

 mium is conferred, I take the liberty to requeft that it may 

 always be given in two medals, flruck in the fame dye, the 

 one of gold, and the other of filver, and of fuch dimenfions, 

 that both of them together may be juil equal in intrinfic 

 value, to the amount of the intereft ofthe aforefaid five thou- 

 fand dollars ftock, during two years ; that is to fay, that they 

 may together be of the value of three hundred dollars. 



The Academy will be pleafed to order fuch device or in- 

 fcription to be engraved on the dye they fliall caufe to be pre- 

 pared for ftriking thefe medals, as they may judge proper. 



If during any term of two years, reckoning from the last ad- 

 judication, or from the laft period for the adjudication of this 

 premium by the Academy, no new difcovery or im.provement 

 fhould be made, in any part of America, relative to either of 

 the fubjecfls in queflion, (heat, or light,) which in the opin- 

 ion of the Academy, fliall be of fufiicient importance to deferve 



this premium 5 in that cafe, it is my defire that the premium 



may 



