Valentine Ball, 171 



rocks, and fossil forms. But V. Ball had alwaj's been ambitious 

 to superintend some great museum, where he could have the 

 freest scope to carry out his ideas of order and arrangement ; 

 so the quiet of the academic grove was left for the responsi- 

 bilities and anxieties of prCvSiding over the fortunes of the 

 Dublin Museum of Science and Art, the foundation stone of 

 the new building of which had not as yet been laid. 



The spirit was willing, but the difficulties of reconciling 

 many antagonistic views were great, and the trials to a 

 sensitive mind of having to oppose the wishes of many of 

 those who were brought into semi-ofQcial connection with 

 him were sources of trouble, that often ruffled the even tenor 

 of his life, and it is painful to think may have shortened it. 



For over twelve 3'-ears — even of those parts of them, when 

 from ill health, he was obliged to take some rest— the Science 

 and Art Museum was in his every thought. One cannot but 

 admire the energy and zeal which he brought to bear upon 

 this work ; he could not understand what it was to go slowly, 

 and in very truth, he most generally, even when he went 

 quickly, went well. If possible he would have arranged 

 every article with his ow^n hands. It was on the failure of 

 such attempts, that he realised that no human being could 

 have done so. 



During these years his moments of recreation were vSpent in 

 bringing out a model and charming edition of the travels of 

 Tavernier, and in writing numerous articles on the plants and 

 animals of India. His scientific writings have such merit that 

 he needed not to have left any further record of his life, but 

 yet above all these, the Dublin Museum of Science and Art 

 will still stand as a witness for ever, to be associated with his 

 name. 



Of the high character of the man, of his trueness in friend- 

 ship, time must soften sorrow, ere we could trust ourselves 

 adequately to write. 



E. P. W. 



A 2 



