ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL ASSOCIATION. 1 1 



on the sea-shore, and such' (as the natural philosopher called them) 

 ' useless and slovenly operations.' But Dr. Ball worked on; he did not 

 depend on sympathy for his encouragement, and the only help he sought 

 for was aid in determining a species, or establishing a habitat, or an 

 animal's habit. This kind of inquiry in a country town, thirty miles 

 from a very moderately supplied natural history library, had its diffi- 

 culties and its disappointments. Dr. Ball, though he left us in the very 

 vigour of his life, began his natural history progress at a time when a 

 literature fitted to help him did not exist in the extent which may now 

 be easily commanded. Descriptions were carelessly and obscurely given; 

 writers often contradicted each other, and put the inquirer into confu- 

 sion; any of the less common objects were scarcely known, and 'Shaw's 

 Miscellany of Natural History, in twenty -four duodecimos,' was consi- 

 dered the cyclopaedia of marvels, where everything beyond the most 

 every-day objects in natural history was to be found. There were other 

 books in great metropolitan libraries, but when postage was high, when 

 railroads were unknown, and when travelling after knowledge was rare, 

 the resources of a provincial investigator were rather limited. I record 

 these facts because they may indicate to young men how much of our 

 progressive power is our own. No doubt every facility should be 

 prized and taken advantage of; but when we find zeal and perseverance 

 thus making a noble triumph over most discouraging wants, it is ob- 

 vious that earnestness is the first power leading to success, and that, 

 without it, no abundance of materials can make any man a really 

 well-informed and useful naturalist." 



At all periods of his life Dr. Ball devoted much of his energy to 

 institutions having reference to the well-being of others. Accordingly, 

 as ho approached the age of twenty-one, we find him taking part in 

 the management of the Loan Fund in Youghal, the Savings Bank, the 

 Fever Hospital, and the Library and Reading Room. 



Great distress unhappily prevailed about this time among the starving 

 poor, and large collections made for their relief were confided to him. 

 For his prudent conduct as Secretary and Treasurer to this fund, he 

 afterwards received the marked thanks of his fellow-townsmen. 



In the year 1824, a few months after coming of age, he was ap- 

 pointed a local magistrate, and, in the active discharge of his duties as 

 such, encountered the risk of assassination, from which he more than 

 once narrowly escaped. 



