216 
under the direction of Colonel Colby, Mr. Airy, by whom they 
have been ably discussed in a paper recently printed in the Phzloso- 
phical Transactions, observes, that ‘extent of time alone appears 
wanting to render them the most important series of tide-observations 
that has ever been made.’ Among the resulis to which Mr. Airy has 
arrived, is the remarkable one, that in the harbour of Courtown, on the 
coast of Wexford— the only place on the earth in which such a result 
has been distinctly obtained, —the Solar Tide exceeds the Lunar. 
Such a result as this, affords not only encouragement to fresh exertion, 
but also direction as to its application. 
“Another, and most interesting subject of research, which this 
Academy might direct, if not undertake, is that to which attention has 
been recently drawn by Mr. Mallet,—the movements of the Earth’s 
crust, whether convulsive and paroxysmal, or gentle and regular. The 
phenomena of Earthquake shocks in Scotland have been systematically 
observed for the last five years, at the instance of the British Association, 
and yearly reports of the results have been made, and published in its 
Proceedings. Although there appears to be nothing in this country 
analogous to the local movements at Comrie, in Perthshire, still there is 
no doubt that Earthquake shocks have been fée/¢ here; and that more 
refined methods of observation would detect numberless others, which 
wholly escape the cognizance of the unaided senses. 
“‘ These, and many other investigations, connected with the Physical, 
the Physiological, and the Monumental history of Ireland, appear to be 
fitting subjects, if not for the direct labours of this Academy, at least 
for its encouragement. Science has a right to demand such histories of 
local phenomena from the representatives of Science in each portion of 
the civilized globe, and shall this Academy be deaf to the call ? 
“ GENTLEMEN,—I have, at the outset of these remarks, noticed 
the moral, as well as the zntellectual benefits, which result from the 
union of different mental powers, such as this Academy presents, 
combined in the investigation of different portions of Truth. But 
there is a yet higher principle, to which this union may lead us—a yet 
holier temper which it may inculcate; I mean the contemplation of 
Truth itself as essentially ONE, under its many and diversified forms, 
and the habit of tracing all its varied and refracted rays to its One 
