[Inclosure in No.
329.—Translation.]
The King to the Minister of the Interior.
[From the Moniteur of December 15,
1874.]
My Dear Minister: Desiring to contribute as
much as is in my power to intellectual works in Belgium, I have the
intention to establish, during my reign, an annual prize of twenty-five
thousand francs, destined to encourage intellectual researches.
The establishment of this prize, as I regard it, must possess a double
character: in the first place, its object will be to stimulate
intellectual labor in our own country; and secondly, it will attract the
attention of foreign countries to the Belgian questions of interest, and
associate Belgium with the progress that science, literature, and art
are accomplishing in other countries.
Consequently, the prize which I now found will be awarded in the
following manner:
During three consecutive years it will be given for the best work
published in Belgium, by a Belgian, upon a subject which will be
announced previously, and in such a manner that the competition will not
take place until five years after the announcement of the subject.
The fourth year foreigners may compete, and the prize will be given for
the best work published, either by a Belgian or foreigner, upon a
subject pertaining to Belgian interests, which will also be announced
beforehand. In this manner, every four years Belgium will derive benefit
from the progress and intelligence of other countries. The fifth, sixth,
and seventh years the competition will be again exclusively Belgian. The
eighth year foreigners may again compete.
A jury of seven members will be appointed by the minister of the
interior, in conjunction with me, to judge the works presented.
As the subject of the competition must be changed each year, the jury
must likewise be modified yearly. The year when competition is open to
foreigners, the jury will be composed of three Belgian members and four
foreigners, of different nationalities. The president of the commission
must be a Belgian. I flatter myself with the hope that in the countries
friendly to us “savants” will be found, willing to accede to my request
to form part of the Brussels jury.
Not wishing to postpone for five years the execution of my plans, I
desire that the first award of the prize shall take place during the
September fêtes of 1878. For the first four years
the prize will be awarded: In 1878, (when the competition will be
exclusively Belgian,) for the best work upon national history. In 1879,
(Belgian competition,) for the best work upon architecture. In 1880,
(Belgian competition,) for the best work upon “the development of the
commercial relations of Belgium.” In 1881, (competition for Belgians and
foreigners,) for the best work upon “the means of ameliorating the ports
established upon low and sandy coasts, like our own.”
Next year the subject for competition in 1882 will be published, and so
on, giving each year the subject for the fifth year after. I pray you,
my dear minister, to take the necessary steps for the execution of the
plan, whose details I have just traced, and to accept the expression of
my affectionate sentiments.
