ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL ASSOCIATION. 35 



denial. This is a rock on which the man of literature or science too oft 

 makes shipwreck of his freedom of thought and his integrity of action. 

 The avoidance of it seems deserving, therefore, of special mention. 



It was acting in perfect conformity to these principles that, instead 

 of having at his house the entertainments known as evening parties, he 

 had reunions on a larger scale, when the attractions were solely of an 

 intellectual character. At these conversaziones tea and coffee consti- 

 tuted the only refreshment ; and thus, for an outlay utterly insignificant, 

 he would receive an assemblage of perhaps 150 persons of the highest 

 intellectual and social eminence which the learned or fashionable circles 

 of the city could furnish. The arrangements were always excellent, and 

 each conversazione had its own peculiar novelties to furnish food for 

 comment or inquiry. To be invited was considered as an acknowledg- 

 ment of intellectual gifts of some kind or other ; and this circumstance, 

 with the pleasures which the evening afforded, always made the invita- 

 tions not only willingly accepted, but even to some extent desired and 

 sought for. It was a pleasant and cheering spectacle to see him receiv- 

 ing as his guests noblemen and courtiers, the heads of the Church and 

 of the Bar, of the Army and of the Medical Profession, of our Irish Uni- 

 versities, of the principal scientific societies in Dublin, and such 

 strangers of literary eminence as might chance to be then in town. 



He had occasionally an assemblage of a very different kind, which, 

 if less brilliant, was not less animated, — a children's party. His little 

 guests, on entering his rooms, soon felt at their ease, and turned in real 

 earnest to enjoy themselves. But never did the " fun grow fast and 

 furious" until Dr. Bali entered into their pastimes, and took part in all 

 that was going forward ; and so taking was the example, that some of 

 his confreres, who elsewhere have sat as the learned Presidents of Sec- 

 tions, have on such occasions flung gravity aside, and joined heart and 

 good- will in the uproarious merriment of the hour. 



On one of these occasions Professor Edward Forbes, attired in a 

 flowing wig and crimson dressing-gown, delivered a lecture, replete with 

 genuine humour, on a new species of Chimpanzee, represented by Ball 

 in a mask or head- piece and dress of bear-skins, prepared by himself, 

 and adapted to the purpose. At the end, the Chimpanzee, after flinging 

 off his paws and then his hindfeet, leaped among his auditors, and put 

 them to flight, amid uproarious merriment. 



Such things as these bear witness to the kindly and social dispo- 



