550 



best evidences of the activity and utility of this Institution are hidden 

 from the public eye, and thus the influence of the Academy, and its 

 claims for public sympathy, are narrowed, and deprived of force. 



The Donations to the Antiquarian Museum during the past 

 year have been few in number, most probably owing to the circum- 

 stances just now described. 



The work of cataloguing the Irish Manuscripts in the library 

 of the Academy is still in progress, but is expected to be terminated 

 in a few weeks. The time occupied in this work, and the extent, 

 three vols, folio, to which the Catalogue has gone, will be understood 

 when it is considered that, not merely the name, but also an abstract 

 of the contents of each MS. are inserted in the Catalogue, which will 

 thus in itself become a very valuable addition to our library. 



About a year ago the Council received a communication from 

 the Booksellers to the Academy, Messrs. Hodges and Smith, regard- 

 ing the purchase of a collection of Irish Manuscripts in their pos- 

 session. A Committee of Council, appointed for the purpose, re- 

 ported that the Manuscripts were of much interest, and worth the 

 price which Messrs. Hodges and Smith had set on them. The funds of 

 the Academy did not, however, admit of the Council taking any direct 

 steps for their purchase, but an appUcation has been made, through 

 his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, for some assistance towards 

 their purchase from the Government. His Excellency has expressed 

 on this, as on all occasions, the greatest anxiety to advance the ob- 

 jects of the Academy, but as yet no final answer has been received 

 from the heads of the Government in England, 



The Library of the Academy has been increased during the 

 past year, by numerous donations of scientific and literary works, for 

 which, at the several meetings, thanks have been voted to the donors. 

 An interchange of Transactions has been kept up with most of the 

 eminent scientific institutions of Europe and America, there having 

 been added during the past year : 



The Academy of Sciences of Metz, the Royal Academy of 

 Amsterdam, with whom we did not previously correspond, and the 

 Museum du Jardin Hes Plantes, at Paris, the correspondence with 

 which had been accidentally interrupted. 



