Life and writings of Count Uiimford. 



xr 



ain; founded in 1800, owes its existence to the influence and exer- 

 tions of Count Rumford. The original charter was granted for the 

 purpose of forming a "public institution for diffusing the knowledge 

 and facilitating the general introduction of useful mechanical inven- 

 tions and improvements ; and for teaching by philosophical lee- 

 tures and experiments the application of science to the common 

 purposes of life/' — Such was the origin of a school of philosophy 

 which has been destined to attain the highest celebrity, and to 

 diffuse the most important light upon various departments of 



science. 



In the year I796 Count Rumford had placed in \ 

 funds one thousand pouuds sterling, the interest of w 

 be awarded in premiums by the Royal Society of G 



English 



most useful discovery on light and 



A 



* 



ne purpose by the American 

 The following letter to the 



similar donation was placed in the American funds, the proceeds 



to be adjudged in prizes for the sa 



Academy of Arts and Sciences. 



president of the Academy accompanied the donation. 



"SiK, 



"Desirous of contributing efficaciously to the advancement of 



attention, and which ap- 



which has long employed my a 



be of the highest irapoi 



me to 



to 



kind 



d 



pears to 



wishing at the same time to leave a lasting testimony of my res- 

 pect for the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, I take the 

 liberty to request that the Academy would do me the honour to 

 accept of five thousand dollars three per cent, stock in 

 of the United States of North America, which stock I 



funds 



ally purchased, and which I b 



transfer to the fell 



of the Academy to the end, that the interest of the 



^ 



may be 



