34 DUBLIN UNIVEBSITT 



four on the part of Government, and four on the part of the Royal Dublin 

 Society. The matters which came under its control were of a twofold 

 nature, — first, Lectures common to the Royal Dublin Society and to the 

 Museum of Irish Industry; and, secondly, Provincial Lectures and Ex- 

 aminations throughout Ireland. The subjects were classed under the three 

 general heads of Natural History, Chemistry, and Natural Philosophy, 

 carh of these being divided into departments. Dr. Ball took a warm 

 interest in the success of these lectures, seeing in them a powerful means 

 of diffusing over Ireland some elementary knowledge of several impor- 

 tant branches of physical science. No salary was originally attached to 

 the office of Secretary, for the very sufficient reason that no one could 

 predict what possible amount of duty he might be called to fulfil. On 

 his death, however, his faithful and able services were acknowledged, 

 and some compensation for them transmitted to his widow. 



In 1855 he was employed as Assistant Examiner for Ireland to the 

 Civil Service Commission, and continued up to the period of hi3 death 

 to fulfil, with acknowledged ability and impartiality, the duty confided 

 to him. It involved the necessity of answering great numbers of letters 

 from the several candidates and their friends, and many from gentlemen 

 personally known to himself, who sought to interest him on behalf of 

 some particular candidate in whose success they felt interested. All in- 

 formation that he, as a public man, could give was imparted promptly 

 and courteously. Beyond this he was utterly unapproachable : he feared 

 not frowns, and he sought not favours. 



In his letters to me he mentions from time to time the addition to his 

 income from these several sources. To him the increase brought compara- 

 tive affluence, and this happily at a time when the educational expenses 

 of his children were necessarily on the increase. His habits had never 

 been extravagant ; but, with a wife and youthful family dependent upon 

 him, there existed strong reasons for a consistent and judicious economy. 

 "While those men of science, from the sister country and from the Con- 

 tinent, who called upon him, experienced his unostentatious hospitality 

 and kindness, he was never tempted to pass beyond the limit that pru- 

 dence prescribed. Hence, though he felt for many years that his income 

 was a restricted one, he never experienced the miseries attendant upon 

 debt. There was no man, therefore, whom he feared or felt ashamed to 

 meet ; nor was his self-respect ever impaired by those unworthy sub- 

 terfuges which are resorted to by those who are possessed of less self- 



