409 
many of the foreign academies. I have no doubt buta fund would soon 
be created, if the plan were adopted and its purposes announced. To 
make a beginning, I here enclose a Bank note for £100, which you will 
please to deliver to the President or Vice-President at the next meeting 
of the Academy : 
“Fifty pounds for the best system of National Education, which 
shall include the children of the labouring poor, and the means of 
establishing it ; 
“Fifty pounds for the best treatise on the means of providing em- 
ployment for the people: 
“‘To be adjudged by the Academy.” 
These prizes were accordingly announced to the publie. 
The premium on the first subject was awarded to Dr. Stephen 
Dickson, for his essay, printed in vol. iv. of the Transactions; and a 
sum of £20 from the Cunningham Fund was voted to Mr. George Hey 
Treanor, for his essay on the same subject. 
The premium for the best essay on the employment of the people 
was awarded to Samuel Crumpe, M.D. His essay, published as a 
separate work in 1793, has always borne a high reputation. 
In June, 1792, the Academy offered a prize of £50 from the Cun- 
ningham Fund for the best essay in answer to the question—‘‘ What 
are the manures most advantageously applicable to the several sorts of 
soil, and the causes of their beneficial effects in each particular in- 
stance ?”’ 
Gold medals were at the same time offered for the best essay on 
each of the following subjects :— 
1. ‘‘On style in writing, considered with respect to thoughts and 
sentiments, as well as words; and as indicating the writer’s peculiar 
and characteristic disposition, habits, and powers of mind.” 
And, 2. “An historical inquiry into the ancient and present state 
of the Irish language, with the causes and remedies of the obscurity of 
ancient Irish manuscripts.” 
It was announced that essays on any of these subjects would be 
received in either the English, French, Italian, or Latin languages. 
The author of the successful essay on Manures was the celebrated 
Richard Kirwan. It is printed in vol. v. of the ‘‘ Transactions.” 
An essay on the subject of Style, by the Rev. Robert Burrowes, 
D. D., appears in the ‘“‘ Transactions,” vol. v., but it does not appear to 
have been sent in to compete for the prize. « 
In December, 1795, a premium of £50 from the Cunningham 
Fund was offered for the best essay on the following subject :—‘‘ To 
what manufactures are the natural advantages of Ireland best suited, 
and what are the best modes of improving such manufactures ?” 
Gold medals were at the same time offered for the best essays on 
each of the following subjects :— 
“On the variation of English prose composition from the Revolu- 
tion to the present time ;” 
PROC. B, I, A.—VOL, VII. 3M 
