164 
‘¢ When I first commenced this inquiry some years ago, 1 
was under the impression that the Transactions of this society 
were still in existence, and would one day or another be dis- 
covered, and acknowledged by some of the public libraries or 
private collections in these kingdoms. I have since, however, 
convinced myself of the contrary being the fact, and feel as- 
sured that no manuscript volume of the Transactions of the 
Dublin Philosophical Society is, or perhaps ever was, in 
being. 
‘* The Minute Book of this Society, from 1683 to No- 
vember, 1686, with its revival in 1693, and again in 1707, 
is still preserved in the British Museum (Addit. MSS., 
4811). In the Manuscript collection in the Library of Tri- 
nity College we find among some scattered papers lately 
collected by the Rev. Dr. Todd, rough drafts of the minutes 
of the Dublin Philosophical Society, in the handwriting of 
William Molyneaux, from January the 28th to June the 9th, 
1684, all of which accord with the notices of this body still 
existing in the papers of the Royal Society. On the first of 
these dates we find the officers for that year were appointed, 
and the ‘obligation subscribed.’ At that time there was 
no President (as already stated in the Molyneaux correspond- 
ence); Dr. Willoughby was appointed Director, and William 
Molyneaux Secretary and Treasurer. ‘The members present 
were Dr. Narcissus Marsh, Sir William Petty, and Messrs. 
Bulkeley, Cuff, Foley, Baynard, Ash, Mullen, Follet, Bag- 
got, and Mr. Keogh, who was represented by proxy. At 
this meeting Sir William Petty read a paper on Concentric 
Circles. 
‘¢ On the 18th of February the Minutes closed with this 
notice :—* Nicholas Hudson, our operator, attended on us.’ 
(MS., T.C.D., Cl. I. Tab. 4, No. 18, p. 11). 
* The unpublished Letter Books of the Royal Society, and 
Birch’s History of that body, likewise contain the Minutes of 
the Dublin Philosophical Society from its first meeting on the 
