V 



1894- ADDRESS TO THE MUSEUMS' ASSOCIATION. 35 



Pembroke estate to the proposition, then current, to erect the build- 

 ings for the new Museum on Leinster Lawn. Various deputations 

 from the Society to the Lords of the Committee of Council on 

 Education, for the purpose of discussing the terms of Lord Sandon's 

 letter, took place at this time. 



A proposition which was made, for the amalgamation of the Royal 

 Irish Academy with the Royal Dublin Society was put forward 

 during the year, in the hope that it would facilitate the settlement of 

 the pending question as to the new Museum, but it did not meet 

 with acceptance. 



The Proceedings contain several references to the bequest by the 

 late Mr. J. H. Foley, R.A., the eminent sculptor, of his models of 

 statues, busts, etc., to the Royal Dublin Society. 



On November the i8th a letter was received from Mr. W. H. 

 Smith, Secretary of the Treasury, stating that it was intended to 

 obtain an Act of Parliament " to vest all the buildings and land now 

 held by the Royal Dublin Society in the Government " in order " to 

 afford the State the requisite control over property and buildings upon 

 which a large amount of public money is to be expended." 



A resolution was thereupon passed by the Society to the effect 

 that it was desirable to facilitate the acquisition by Government 

 of the sites necessary for the several institutions, provided that " the 

 rights of existing members be preserved undiminished." 



The volume of Proceedings of the early part of the year 1877 

 contains frequent references to the negotiations which were carried 

 on between the Society and the Government in reference to the 

 establishment of the Science and Art Museum. 



An agreement supplemental to the provisions of Lord Sandon's 

 letter was entered into between the Government and the delegates 

 appointed by the Society, by which several important concessions 

 were made in consideration of the property and rights hitherto pos- 

 sessed by the Society, but which were now relinquished ; and accom- 

 modation for the Society in Leinster House was secured to it on 

 the same terms as govern the occupation in Burlington House by 

 learned societies. 



By a letter of the Science and Art Department, dated 9th 

 August, Dr. Steele was appointed to carry on the administration 

 of the Natural History Museum, School of Art, Library and 

 Botanic Gardens, as soon as the Bill should receive the Royal 

 Assent. He was to have the same authority of administration as 

 had been exercised by the Council of the Royal Dublin Society, 

 except as regards the appointment of superior officers ; and the funds 

 for carrying on the work were to be those provided in the current 

 estimates. 



The total of the grants which had been entrusted to the Society 

 for administration on behalf of the public, inclusive of Public Works 

 vote, amounted, from 1801 to 1877, to £^2'],o^^ ; the regular income 



D 2 



