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researches, connected with some of the most obscure and difficult 

 problems of Archaeology. Allow me to add, that the merit of those 

 researches, high as it is in itself, is enhanced in your case by the 

 circumstance, that they have been pursued in the seclusion of retire- 

 ment, and without any of those aids derived from the intercourse 

 with others engaged in similar pursuits, which are usually so effec- 

 tive in impelling to and suggesting inquiry. 



The President, presenting the Medal to Mr. O'Donovan, 

 addressed him thus : 



Mr. O' Donovan, — Accept this Medal as a testimony of the high 

 value which the Council of the Koyal Irish Academy set upon your 

 labours connected with Irish philology, and Irish history'and anti- 

 quities. This is the first occasion on which the Council, acting on 

 the laws recently enacted by the Academy, have conferred the ho- 

 nour of the Cunningham Medal for works not published in the 

 Transactions of the Academy. They therefore hope that you (and 

 through you the literary public) will receive this award, not only as 

 a just tribute to the value of your own researches, but also as a 

 token of their sympathy with all who are engaged in the common 

 pursuit of truth. 



Mr. Robert Ball, Treasurer, presented an ancient silver 

 pin of a very peculiar form, on behalf of John Mac Donnell, 

 M. D. He also exhibited a large collection of easts of fos- 

 sils, lately presented to the Museum of Trinity College by 

 the East India Company. 



The following communication on the dynamic effect of a 

 turbine, as shown by the application of Prony's brake, was 

 received from the Rev. T, R. Robinson, D. D. 



This wheel was constructed for William Kirk, Esq., by 

 the Messrs. Gardner, of Armagh. These gentlemen had been 

 strongly impressed with the advantages of this wheel, by read- 

 ing the account of it given by Sir Robert Kane, in the " In- 

 dustrial Resources of Ireland;" and one of them actually 



