38 DUBLIN UNIVERSITY 



Members. Dr. Ball afterwards became an Ordinary Member, and as 

 such was placed on the Council. He does not appear, however, to have 

 read papers or taken any active part in the management, and his name 

 was afterwards removed. In the session of 1841-42 Mr. Andrews was 

 elected one of the Secretaries in the room of Mr. Clarke, who retired on 

 his ordination. Mr. Andrews was desirous of introducing certain changes 

 tending to elevate the character of the Society, and he was also anxious 

 that the names of Dr. Scouler and Dr. Ball should be placed on the 

 Council. Both were rejected. Prom that time Dr. Ball never interested 

 himself in the proceedings of the Society. 



The Statistical Society was established in 1 847 : Dr. Ball was one 

 of its Council from that period until his death ; but did not read any 

 papers, nor take any active part in its proceedings. 



Of our own Association he was emphatically the founder, and 

 by every means in his power endeavoured to aid its advancement. 

 It was originally restricted to Zoology, but afterwards extended its 

 range, and became known as the Dublin University Zoological and Bo- 

 tanical Association. In his Address as President (November 16, 1855) 

 he states that the Association was founded in January, 1853, with the 

 gracious approval of the Provost and Board of Trinity College. In that 

 Address, after lamenting the death of several fellow-workers, he directs 

 the attention of the members to branches of inquiry with which he had 

 to some extent been occupied. Among them are local and Irish names 

 of species, and remains of extinct mammalia found in bogs ; dredging * 

 excursions ; observations of periodical phenomena ; collection and pre- 

 servation of specimens ; uses of museums ; comparative anatomy ; rea- 

 sons for studying zoology, and the practical applications of zoological 

 knowledge. 



When a President can speak from his own knowledge and experience 

 on topics such as these, and addresses a society of young and energetic 

 spirits, satisfactory results are sure to follow. The seed falls on good 

 soil, and will bring forth fruit abundantly. Such is the respect in which 

 he was held by the students who then gathered around him, such the 

 influence of his example, that it may with truth be said, that he yet con- 

 tinues to teach, and that our meeting-rooms, in No. 5, Trinity College, are 

 still redolent of his presence. 



Through the kindness of Edward Clibborn, Esq., of the Royal Irish 

 Academy, I am enabled to give the following particulars : — 



