1898. j Rev. Samuel Haughton. 3 



devoted to the duties of that office, he enabled the Society to 

 tide over difficulties and crises which but for him might have 

 proved disastrous — another illustration, by the way, of the 

 varied character of his powers. He was not only a very 

 eminent man of science, but an unusually efficient man of 

 affairs. We may here refer to the useful part played by him 

 in the building up of the School of Engineering, and in the 

 reconstruction of the School of Physic in the University of 

 Dublin, and in the improvement of the management of Sir 

 Patrick Dun's Hospital connected with that School. He was, 

 for thirty-years, an active member of the Council of the Royal 

 Irish Academy, and President thereof from 1886 to 1891 ; in 

 its Transactio7is and Proceedings most of his principal scientific 

 papers were published. Though absolutely devoid of any selfish 

 desire of ruling, he was a leading spirit in any undertaking in 

 the management of which he was concerned. He always 

 showed great sympathy with Ireland and with Irish causes ; 

 doubtless it was this, together with the general interest in 

 literature which he possessed, which prompted him to acquire 

 a knowledge of the Irish language. 



His brightness, humour, and remarkable individuality en- 

 deared him to a wide circle of acquaintance who were but 

 little cognizant of his life-work. It has become perhaps too 

 much of a fashion of speech to sa}^ of one of the departed, 

 that they who were most familiar and intimate with him 

 esteemed him most j but never was the saying more strictly 

 true than in his case. 



DubHn. M. H. ClOSB. 



A 1 



