Minutes of Proceedings. 3 



'' The Council is advised that this state of facts gives a legitimate 

 grouiid to apply for relief under the cy pres jurisdiction of the Court 

 of Chancery. 



" The history of the Pund and of the endeavours of the Council, 

 from time to time, down to 1861, to apply it to the particular pur- 

 pose described, will be found at page 406 of the 7th vol. of the Pro- 

 ceedings of the Academy, herewith sent. Attention is requested to 

 the statement, at page 417, respecting the disinclination of Members 

 of Council to be themselves competitors, and its consequences. 



" Since then, a few medals only have been awarded; and, although 

 subjects for Prize Essays, to the amount of £100, have, within the last 

 three years, been proposed and largely advertised, the Council have not 

 received any Papers to which they could conscientiously award the 

 prize. 



" The result is, that the Pund now consists of the principal sum 

 of £1600, in the Report mentioned, with accumulations of interest, 

 amounting together to £2560 95, bd. of iN'ew Three per Cent. Stock. 



" The Council are much pressed for funds to defray the necessary 

 ■charges of printing their Transactions and Proceedings, which, 

 though not coming directly within the language of the trust, are me- 

 ritorious works, the publication of which tends to the promotion of the 

 general objects of the Testator. 



" Tou will, therefore, be pleased to take the necessary steps for 

 obtaining the authority of the Court of Chancery that the Council, 

 after providing for such premiums as may, from time to time, appear 

 well merited and calculated to promote the particular objects of Tes- 

 tator, may apply the interest of the Cunningham bequest generally in 

 aid of the objects of the Academy, viz., in promoting the study 

 of Science, Polite Literature, and Antiquities, or otherwise as to the 

 Court shall appear proper. 



"It occurs to us that the proceedings should be under Lord 

 Ptomilly's Act, and that the petition need not go into much detail. 

 "We are. Sir, 



" Tour obedient servants, 



" ALEXAin)EE GrEOEGE ElCHET {per S.P.) 

 " SAinJEL PEEGIJSOJf, V. P. 



" AsTmiE Baeiow, Esq., Solicitor, 



^^ North Great George' s-street, DiMin?'' 



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