Letter from Placidus Heinrich, professor in experimental physics, Regensburg, to Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society Regarding Count Rumford's testamentary wish to fund with his estate a biennial prize for the best work on light and heat. Heinrich's submitted dissertation is titled 'de Natura et Proprietatibus luminis, Petropoli corporum [On the Nature and Qualities of Light]'. A note references the editor of 'Journal de Chimie et de Physique', Professor Schweigger, who is presenting an extract of Heinrich's work 'Sur la phosphorescence des corps' [On the phosphoresence of the body]. Heinrich makes additional reference to Austrian ambassador Prince Esterházy's support for his correspondence with the Society. 4 March 1816