Hume in his letter to Ramsay
speaks of L100 being already in hand, and of several large
subscriptions besides being promised from various noblemen, whom he
names; and accordingly an advertisement was published in the
newspapers on the 10th of April 1755, offering the following prizes:--

I. Honorary premiums, being gold medals with suitable
devices and inscriptions:--

1. For the best discovery in science.

2. For the best essay on taste.

3. For the best dissertation on vegetation and the
principles of agriculture.

II. Honorary premiums, being silver medals with proper
devices and inscriptions:--

4. For the best printed and most correct book of at least 10
sheets.

5. For the best printed cotton or linen cloth, not under 28
yards.

6. For the best imitation of English blankets, not under
six.

7. For the next best ditto, not under six.

8. For the best hogshead of strong ale.

9. For the best hogshead of porter.

III. Lucrative premiums:--

10. For the most useful invention in arts, L21.

11. For the best carpet as to work, pattern, and colours, of
at least 48 yards,.L5:5s.

12. For the next best ditto, also 48 yards, L4:4s.

13. For the best drawings of fruits, flowers, and foliages
by boys or girls under sixteen years of age, L5:5s.

14. For the second best, L3:3s.

15. For the third best, L2:2s.

16. For the best imitation of Dresden work in a pair of
man's ruffles, L5:5s.

17. For the best bone lace, not under 20 yards, L5:5s.

18. For the greatest quantity of white linen rags, L1:10s.

19. For the second ditto, L1:5s.

20. For the third ditto, L1.

21. For the fourth ditto, 15s.

22. For the fifth ditto, 10s.

The articles were asked to be delivered to Mr. Walter Goodall (David
Hume's assistant in the work of librarian), at the Advocates' Library,
before the first Monday of December.[87] On the 19th of August the
following additional prizes were offered:--

23. To the farmer who plants the greatest number (not under
1000) of timber trees, oak, beech, ash, or elm, in hedgerows
before December 1756, L10.

24. Second ditto (not under 500), L5.

25. To the farmer who shall raise the greatest number (not
under 2000) of young thorn plants before December 1758, L6.

26. Secon