Inaugural Address of the President^ Sir W. R. Hamilton. 369 



your decision, a voice as potent as esteem. An Irishman, and at- 

 tached from boyhood to this Academy of Ireland, I see with plea- 

 sure in your choice a mark of aiFection returned. But knowing that 

 the elective act partakes of a judicial character, and that the exer- 

 cise of friendship has its limits, I must suppose that the same long 

 attachment to your body, which had won for me your personal 

 regard, appeared also to you a pledge, more strong than promises 

 could be, that if any exertions of mine could prevent the interests 

 of the Academy from suffering through your generous confidence, 

 those exertions should not be withheld ; and that you thought they 

 might not be entirely unavailing. After every deduction for kind- 

 ness, there remains a manifestation of esteem, than which I can 

 desire no higher honour, and for which I hope that my conduct will 

 thank you better than my words. 



And yet. Gentlemen, it is to me a painful thought, that the 

 opportunity for your so soon bestowing this mark of confidence 

 and esteem has arisen out of the deaths, too rapidly succeeding 

 each other, of the two last Presidents of our body, who, while they 

 are on public grounds deplored, and for their private worth were 

 honoured and beloved by all of us, must ever be remembered by 

 me with peculiar love and honour ; — Brinkley, who introduced me to 

 your notice, by laying on your table long ago my first mathematical 

 paper; and Lloyd, whose works, addressed to the University of 

 Dublin, first opened to me that new world of mind, the application 

 of algebra to geometry. But of these personal feelings, the occa- 

 sion has betrayed me into speaking perhaps too much already. Into 

 that fault, I trust, I shall not often fall again. I pass to the expo- 

 sition c5 views respecting the objects and prospects of our Society. 

 The Royal Irish Academy was incorporated (as you know) in 

 1786, having been founded a short time before, for the promotion 

 generally, but particularly in Ireland, of Science, Polite Literature, 

 and Antiquities. Its objects were to be the True, the Beautiful, 

 and the Old : with which ideas, of the True and Beautiful, is inti- 

 mately connected the coordinate (and perhaps diviner) idea of the 

 Good. So comprehensive, therefore, was the original plan of this 

 Academy, that it was designed to include nearly every object of 

 human contemplation, and might almost be said to adapt itself to 

 all conceivable varieties of study ; insomuch that scarce any medi- 

 tation or inquiry is directly and necessarily excluded from a place 

 among our pleasant labours; and precedents may accordingly be 

 found, among our records, for almost every kind of contribution. 

 If only a diligence and patient zeal be shown, such as befit the high 

 aims of our body ; and if due care be taken, that the spirit of love 

 be not violated, nor brother offend brother in anything ; no strict 

 nor narrow rules prevent us from receiving whatever may be offered 

 to our notice, with an indulgent and joyful welcome. And though 

 we meet only as studious, meditative men, and abstain from in- 

 cluding among our objects any measures of immediate, outward, 

 practical utility, such as improvements in agriculture, or other use- 

 ful arts, — a field which had been occupied, in this metropolis, by 

 PhiU Mag, S, 3. Vol. 12. No. 75. Jprit 1838, 2 h 



