Minutes of Proceedings. 7 



should think proper, for the improvement of natural knowledge and 

 other objects of their Institution, and the said Testator thereby ap- 

 pointed the Eev, Thomas Hnssey sole Executor of his said Will. 



"2. The said Timothy Cunningham died shortly afterwards, and 

 his said Will was duly proved in London on the 16th June, 1789, and 

 Probate thereof granted to the said Rev. Thomas Hussey, the Execu- 

 tor named. 



" 3. The Eoyal Irish Academy was incorporated by Eoyal Charter 

 in the year 1786 for promoting the study of Science, Polite Literature, 

 and Antiquities. 



"4. The legacy of £1,000 was duly paid over to the said Royal 

 Irish Academy. 



"5. Under the Statutes and By-laws of the Academy all medals 

 or other honorary rewards are from time to time to be awarded by the 

 Council of the Academy at their discretion^ 



" 6. Different plans have from time to time been adopted for the 

 purpose of carrying out the intentions of the said Testator. 



"7. The first plan was that of giving prizes for the best essays on 

 subjects proposed by the Academy. 



" 8. This was soon afterwards altered, and ' The Cunningham Grold 

 Medal' was instituted instead of a pecuniary prize. 



"9. These Medals were for some time given for papers published 

 in the Transactions of the Academy, but this plan was objected to, 

 as narrowing too much the field of competition and diminishing in pro- 

 portion the honour of the reward. 



" 10. In the year 1848 a new plan was substituted, which was as 

 follows : — 



"I. All Works or Essays in the departments of Science, Polite 

 Literature, or Antiquities, which should be published in Ireland, 

 whether in the Transactions of the Academy or not, or which 

 should relate to Irish subjects, were to be considered as competing 

 for the Medal. 



"II. The Council of the Academy were to award Medals every 

 third year, and were to take into consideration all papers or works 

 coming under this description which had been published within the 

 six years preceding. 



"III. Money premiums were, from time to time, to be given for 

 Essays or Reports on stated subjects. 



