XVIII. Account of the Establishment of a Scientific Prize by the 

 late Alexander Keith, Esq. of Dunottar. In a 

 Letter from the Trustees to Sir Walter Scott, Bart. 

 P. R. S. E. 



(Read December 18. 1820. ) 



Gentlemen, 



AT is no doubt already known to you, that the late Alexan- 

 der Keith, Esq. of Dunottar, bequeathed the sum of L. 1000 

 for the purpose of promoting the interests of Science in Scot- 

 land. Having been appointed Trustees for the Management 

 of this Fund, we have endeavoured to appropriate it in the 

 most advantageous manner for the advancement of Science ; 

 and we have the satisfaction of stating, that the plan which has 

 been adopted met with the special approbation of Mr Keith 

 himself, to whom it was communicated previous to his death. 



As the Royal Society of Edinburgh is the principal Scienti- 

 fic Establishment in Scotland, we hereby offer to its President 

 and Council the sum of L. 600 ; the principal of which shall 

 on no account be encroached upon, while the interest shall 

 form a Biennial Prize for the most important discoveries in 

 Science, made in any part of the World, but communicated by 

 their Author-to the Royal Society, and published for the first 

 time in their Transactions. 



vol. ix. p. i. k k With 



