417 
1. ‘‘ Polite literature.” 
2. “* Antiquities.” 
3. “ Polite literature, or antiquities.” 
And, as a first application of the new rules, it was resolved, 
That two medals be given, one for the best essay in mathematics, 
and the other for the best essay in polite literature, read during the 
three years preceding the 1st January, 1837: 
That two medals be given, one for the best essay in physics, and 
the other for the best essay in antiquities, read during the three years 
preceding the 1st January, 1838: 
That two medals be given, one for the best essay in natural history, 
and the other for the best essay in polite literature or antiquities, read 
during the three years preceding 1st January, 1839. 
The first of the medals given under this system of rotation was 
awarded to Professor M‘Cullagh, for his beautiful memoir ‘‘On the Laws 
of Crystalline Reflexion and Refraction.” 
The first medal in physics was awarded (January 21, 1839,) to Dr. 
Apjohn, for his paper ‘On a New Method of investigating the Specific 
Heats of Gases.” 
A medal was awarded, June 3rd, 1839, to Dr. Petrie, for his paper 
‘On the History and Antiquities of Tara Hill.” These three valuable 
memoirs are all printed in vol. xvii. of the Transactions. 
In the case submitted to Counsel respecting the Cunningham 
Medals in May, 1848, the following passage occurs, which seems parti- 
cularly deserving of attention :—‘ The Academy have not given any 
premium since 1838. [This statement, however, does not appear to 
be strictly correct.] The essays worthy of prizes having generally 
been found to be written by members of the Council, has caused remiss- 
ness in that body, with whom the prize questions originate, in continuing 
a system which operates in a great measure for their own benefit, and 
which is calculated to expose them to much odium in their decisions.” 
Notwithstanding the existence of the difficulty here expressed, the dis- 
tribution of medals on the principle of triennial cycles was resumed in 
the following month, June, 1843. The medal in physics for 1838, 39, 
40, was awarded to Dr. (now Sir Robert) Kane, for his paper “‘ On the 
Nature and Constitution of the Compounds of Ammonia,’ printed in 
vol. xix. of the Transactions. 
No medals appear to have been awarded between this period and 
the year 1848. 
In March of that year the following new regulations respecting the 
awarding of medals were adopted by the Council, on the recommendation 
of a Committee which had been appointed to consider the subject :— 
“1, That medals given under the Cunnmgham Bequest be open to 
the authors of all works or essays in the departments of Science, Polite 
Literature, or Antiquities, which shall be printed and published in Ire- 
land, or which shall relate to Irish subjects. 
R. I, A. PROC.—VOL. VII. 3N 
