416 
In 1830, £50 and the gold medal were offered for an approved essay 
‘On the Round Towers of Ireland, in which it is expected that the cha- 
racteristic architectural peculiarities belonging to all those ancient 
buildings now existing shall be noticed, and the uncertainty in which 
their origin and uses are involved be satisfactorily removed.” 
The prize essay on this subject was that of Mr. George Petrie, which 
forms vol. xx. of the Transactions, and is probably the most valuable 
contribution ever made to the study of Irish antiquities. A premium 
of £20 was awarded to Mr. Henry O’Brien, for his essay on the same 
subject. 
In 1831, £50 and the gold medal were offered for an approved essay 
on the question—‘‘ Who were the Scoti, and at what period did they 
settle in Ireland?” . This question, having elicited no paper, was repro- 
posed in January, 1833; and the following was added, as a second prize 
question :—‘‘ The military architecture of Ireland, previous to the arrival 
of the English.” One essay on the former subject was sent in, but not 
considered sufficiently appropriate to the question to be regarded as 
competing for the prize. The successful essay on the military archi- 
tecture of Ireland was produced by Mr. George Petrie, who received for 
it a prize of £50 and the gold medal. It is much to be regretted that 
this essay, which on the 14th April, 1834, was ordered to be printed 
in the Transactions, has never since appeared. 
In April, 1834, the Council unanimously resolved that the Cunning- 
ham Medal be presented to Professor (now Sir Wm. R.) Hamilton, as 
the author of the mathematical paper read by him during the last 
session, being the well-known supplement to his essay ‘‘ On Systems of 
Rays,” in which he predicted from theory the phenomenon of conical 
refraction. 
In June, 1834, the following prize questions were proposed, and 
gold medals, of the value of £20 each, offered for the best essays on 
them :— 
1. ‘‘ On the analogies of light and heat.” 
2. ‘On the state of civilization in Ireland, between the fifth and 
twelfth centuries, as compared with the neighbouring nations.’ 
8. “The influence of the Greek and Latin on the modern European 
languages of the Germanic families.” 
On the first of these subjects alone an essay appears to have been 
sent in, which, however, was not judged worthy of the prize. 
New rules respecting the awarding of medals were adopted by the 
Council in April, 1838. It was then resolved that one medal be given 
in each year for the best essay communicated for publication during the 
three preceding years, in the following cycle of subjects :— 
i es Mathematics.” 
2:,¢S Pivsies.: 
3. ‘ Natural history.” 
That one medal be also given in each year for the best essay, com~ 
municated for publication during the three preceding years, in the fol: 
lowing cycle of subjects :— 
7 
