r； but when they found out the purpose to which the Astronomer Royal applied them； they ought immediately to have ordered nearly the whole impression； in order to prevent this destruction of public property。 If； on the other hand； the above order is revoked； and we really have no right to more than sixty copies； then； on discovering the Observations in their progress towards pasteboard； it was the duty of the Council of the Royal Society； as visitors of the Royal Observatory； immediately to have represented to Government the evil of the arrangement； and to have suggested； that if the Astronomer Royal have the right； it would be expedient to commute it for a liberal compensation。
Whichever be the true view of the case； they have taken no steps on the subject； and I cannot help expressing my belief； that the President and Council were induced to be thus negligent of the interests of science； from the fear of interfering with the perquisites of the Astronomer Royal。
It is； however； but justice to observe； that the injury already done to science； by the conversion of these Observations into pasteboard； is not so great as the public might have feared。 Mr。 Pond； than whom no one can be supposed better acquainted with their value； and whose right to judge no man can question； has shown his own opinion to be； that his reputation will be best consulted by diminishing the extent of their circulation。
Before I quit the subject of the Royal Observatory； on which much might be said； I will just refer to the report by a Committee of the Royal Society that was made relative to it； some years since； and which； it is imagined； is a subject by no means grateful to the memory of any of the parties concerned in it。 My object is to ascertain； whether any amendments have taken place in consequence。 To one fact of considerable importance； I was myself a witness； when I was present officially at a visitation。 At that time； no original observations made at the transit instrument were ever preserved。 Had I not been an eye witness of the process of an observation； I should not have credited the fact。
SECTION 7。
OF THE ROYAL MEDALS。
At a period when the attention of Government to science had not undergone any marked change； a most unexpected occurrence took place。 His Majesty intimated to the Royal Society； through his Secretary of State； his intention to found two gold medals； of the value of fifty guineas each； to be awarded annually by the Council of the Royal Society； according to the rules they were desired to frame for that purpose。
The following is the copy of Mr。 Peel's letter：
WHITEHALL； December 3d； 1825。
SIR；
I am commanded by the King to acquaint you； that His Majesty proposes to found two gold medals； of the value of fifty guineas each； to be awarded as honorary premiums； under the direction of the President and Council of the Royal Society； in such a manner as shall； by the excitement of competition among men of science； seem best calculated to promote the object for which the Royal Society was instituted。
His Majesty desires to receive from the President and Council of the Royal Society their opinion upon the subject generally of the regulations which it may be convenient to establish with regard to the appropriation of the medals； and I have； therefore； to request that you will make the necessary communication to the Council of the Royal Society； in order that His Majesty's wishes may be carried into effect。
I have the honour to be； &c。 &c。 （Signed） R。 PEEL。
Nothing could be more important for the interests of science； than this gracious manifestation of His Majesty's concern for its advancement。 It was hailed by all who were made acquainted with it； as the commencement of a new era； and the energies which it might have awakened were immense。 The unfettered nature of the gift excited admiration； whilst the confidence reposed in the Council was calculated to have insured the wavering faith of any less…gifted body。 Even those who； either from knowing the MANAGEMENT of the Society； or from other grounds； doubted the policy of establishing medals； saw much to admire in the tone and spirit in which they were offered。
The Council immediately came to the resolution of gratefully accepting them： and it appears that the President communicated that resolution； on the 26th； to Mr。 Peel； in a letter； which is found on the minutes of the Council…book of the 26th of January。
At the same Council； the rules for the award of the Royal medals were decided upon； they were as follow：
26th January； 1826。
RESOLVED；
That it is the opinion of the Council； that the medals be awarded for the most important discoveries or series of investigations； completed and made known to the Royal Society in the year preceding the day of their award。
That it is the opinion of the Council； that the presentation of the medals should not be limited to British subjects。 And they propose； if it should be His Majesty's pleasure； that his effigy should form the obverse of the medal。
That two medals from the same die should be struck upon each foundation； one in gold； one in silver。
If these rules are not the wisest which might have been formed； yet they are tolerably explicit； and it might have been imagined that even a councillor of the Royal Society； prepared for office by the education of a pleader； could not have mystified his brethren so completely； as to have made them doubt on the point of time。 The rules fixed precisely； that the discoveries or experiments rewarded； must be completed and made known to the Royal Society； within the YEAR PRECEDING THE DAY of the award。
Perhaps it might have been a proper mark of respect to this communication； to have convened a special general meeting of the Society； to have made known to the whole body the munificent endowment of their Patron： and when his approbation of the laws which were to govern the distribution of these medals had been intimated to the Council； such a course would have been in complete accordance with the wish expressed in Mr。 Peel's letter； 〃TO EXCITE COMPETITION AMONGST MEN OF SCIENCE〃 by making them generally known。
Let us now examine the first award of these medals： it is recorded in the following words：
November 16； 1826。
ONE of the medals of His Majesty's donation for the present year was awarded to John Dalton； Esq。 President of the Philosophical and Literary Society； Manchester； for his development of the Atomic Theory； and his other important labours and discoveries in physical science。
The other medal for the present year was awarded to James Ivory； Esq。 for his paper on Astronomical Refractions； published in the Philosophical Transactions for the year 1823； and his other valuable papers on mathematical subjects。
The Copley medal was awarded to James South； Esq。 for his observations of double stars； and his paper on the discordances between the sun's observed and computed right ascensions； published in the Transactions。
It is difficult to believe that the same Council； which； in January； formed the laws for the distribution of these medals； should meet together in November； and in direct violation of these laws； award them to two philosophers； one of whom had made； and fully established； his great discovery almost twenty years before； and the other of whom （to stultify themselves still more effectually） they expressly rewarded for a paper made known to them three years before。
Were the rules for the award of these medals read previous to their decision？ Or were the obedient Council only used to register the edict of their President？ Or were they mocked； as they have been in other instances； with the semblance of a free discussion？
Has it never occurred to gentlemen who have been thus situated； that although they have in truth had no part in the decision； yet the Society and the public will justly attribute a portion of the merit or demerit of their award； to those to whom that trust was confided？
Did no one member of the Council venture； with the most submissive deference； to suggest to the President； that the public eye would watch with interest this first decision on the Royal medals； and that it might perhaps be more discreet to adjudge them； for the first time； in accordance with the laws which had been made for their distribution？ Or was public opinion then held in supreme contempt？ Was it scouted； as I have myself heard it scouted； in the councils of the Royal Society？
Or was the President exempt； on this occasion； from the responsibility of dictating an award in direct violation of the faith which had been pledged to the Society and to the public？ and； did the Council； intent on exercising a power so rarely committed to them； and； perhaps； urged by the near approach of their hour of dinner； dispense with the formality of reading the laws on which they were about to act？
Whatever may have been the cause； the result was most calamitous to the Society。 Its decision was attacked on other grounds； for； with a strange neglect； the Council had taken no pains to make known； either to the Society； or to the public； the rules they had made for the adjudication of these medals。
The evils resulting from this decision were many。 In the first place； it was most indecorous and ungrateful to treat with such neglect the rules which had been approved by our Royal Patron。 In the next place； the medals themselves became almost worthless from this original taint： and they ceased to excite 〃competition amongst men of science；〃 because no man could feel the least security that he should get them； even though his discoveries should fulfil all the conditions on which they were offered；
The great injury which accrued to science from this proceeding； induced me； in the succeeding session； when I found myself on the Council of the Royal Society； to endeavour to remove the stigma which rested on our character。 Whether I took the best means to remedy the evil is now a matter of comparatively little consequence： had I found any serious disposition to set it right； I should readily have aided in any plans for doing that which I felt myself bound to attempt； even though I should stand alone； as I had the misfortune of d