xi 
score of economy, transferred the printing of its Transac- 
tions to another printer, their succeeding volume was such 
as to render it impossible for me, having a due regard to the 
appearance of works so extensively illustrated, to put any of 
my Essays into the volume of Transactions which followed. 
* It is also true that I received the prize and Gold Medal 
of the Academy, for an Essay on Irish Military Architec- 
ture, in March, 1834; and I believe it true that I, a member 
of the Council myself, was the proposer of this question, as 
well as that on the origin of the Round Towers, as Sir 
William Betham states with an obvious object. As ques- 
tions for prize essays must originate with the Council, I had 
as much right to suggest them for approbation as another, 
and, in point of fact, I did, at the request of the Council, 
draw up a list of themes for dissertations on Irish History 
and Antiquities, from which they might select, similar to 
those relative to the history of Scotland, suggested to the 
learned of that country by the celebrated John Pinkerton, 
who remarks, that ‘ Scotland is certainly that country in 
Europe, if we except Ireland, in which national history and 
antiquities are most neglected.’ But amongst those questions 
there were many indeed, which I should never have thought 
of treating of,—as, for instance, the question, ‘ who were the 
Scoti?’ which Sir William Betham induced the Council to 
propose, and in competition for the prize for which Sir 
William Betham sent in his printed volume, entitled, ‘ the 
~ Gael and Cimbri.’ 
**T may also remark, that though I may have suggested 
to the Council the question on ‘ Irish Military Architecture,’ 
I never seriously contemplated competing for the prize 
offered, my time being occupied on the Ordnance Survey, 
till one week precisely before the day appointed for deliver- 
ing in the papers, when, at the earnest solicitation of my 
friend, Captain Larcom, R. E., I was induced to write an 
Essay, as that gentleman will, I have no doubt, be ready to 
