New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-20
ARHss AND sCIENCE-THE EsUuFORD
MEDAL.

la view Of the improvements called for by our
armies in the field, wo recenty directed the
attention Of the American Academy of Arts aud
Sciences to the trust coufded to them some
si1ty.fyc years since by Benjamin Thompson,
Count Rumford, with a uOdest inquiry as 10 tho
possibility Of dverting some portion OF bis nc.
cumulated bequest from tle uses Of the Academy
to the uses contemplated by the donor. AZ large
bodies move slowy, we could hardly have expected
the Academy to respond TO our inquiry 10 the
Interval that has elapsed since il was Propounded;
but that the war may not Do terminated before
our bint is acted upon. wo recur 10 the subject
for the purpose Of reinforcing our suggestion,
with few considerations that should be brought
home TO the business and boscns" Of the
Academy.
In the article 70 which we have referred We
gave q condensed statement of the pursuits IN
which Count Rumford was most interested, that
it might aid US in the Interpretation OF the trust
committed TO the Academy if any doubt could
arise upon il. We showed that he thought his
time not Unemployed when be devoted il to the
contrivauce of an improved stove, OF stew.pan,
proved lamp, TO save money or oil in the pro.
duction Of light. His mind was eminenty prac.
teal, and rejoced in invention likely to be of
every day utility aud benefit TO malkigd. Hay-
log passed great portion Of hIs own life in
these pursuits, with results most satisfactory TO
himself and TO The world, be desired TO
stimulate others 70 direct Their attention
TO similar objects aud he established IN
his latter days two trusts-the one 20 be I'D.
mic!stered by toe Royal Society OF London, and
the other by tue American Academy Of Arts ard
Sciences, whose headquarters were and continue
70 be in the State OF Massachusetts and the City
of Boston. This was IN the year 1895. The
trust committed 70 the Academy, as it was ex-
pressed in q letter from the founder to the Pres-
dent, was 10 the end that the interest Of -, coo
should be applied, every other year, as pre-.
MUM 10 the author of the most important dis
cUycry or useful improvement which should in
any way be made known 10 the public, in any
part of the Continent of America or in any Of
the American islands during the preceding two
years, on heat or on iigh, always giving tie pre-
ference 70 such discoveries as should tend most
10 proroo;e the good Of mankind. This premium
was to be bestowed il gold aud silver medal,
both together to DO Just equal to the interest Of
the So, 600. The founder thought il not mpos.
sbe that two years might now and then elapse
without producing any improvement calling tor
the meda and be directed that III such All event
the interest should be added to the prime pal.
and that the interest of the surplus thus accru-
ing should be paid in money TO the successful
candidates for the medals.
Now, the intended beneficiary of this trust il
the author of the most important invention or
discovery in the field specified made in any given
two years 1t is not required that the invention
or discovery should DO absolutely important; it 10
sufficient that il should Oc the most important Of the
inventions or discoveries indicated. II only one
discovery Of any Importance or utility is made III
the specified departments of science, that dis.
covery or invention is entitled TO the premium.
1t would not be easy to declare the object o.
trust more distinctly than Count Rumord has de-.
clared 1t, or in language less liable to miscon-
struction than that which he has employed.
IL may not afford much encouragement to sci
entfc or philautbrophlc individuals to leave their
money for public purposes to learn tho history
of Count RumlOrd's bequest Ii will hardly DO
believed, in view Of tbc nature of the trust, and
the high character Of tao trustees, that tue viii