311 



4. James Thompson, Esq., LL. D., of Glasgow, died on the 12th 

 of January last. He has been a Member of this Academy since the 

 year 1841, but is well known from the many valuable elementary 

 books of instruction in the mathematical sciences which he has 

 published during the last thirty years. Dr. Thompson was con- 

 nected with the Belfast Institution as Professor of Mathematics in 

 the College department, as well as Master of the Mathematical and 

 Mercantile School, since the opening of that institution in 1814. In 

 1832 he removed to Glasgow, having been elected Professor of Ma- 

 thematics to that University at the close of the preceding year. He 

 died in the sixty-third year of his age, of a disease which appeared 

 at first to have many of the symptoms of the cholera then pre- 

 valent at Glasgow. 



During the academic year which is just closed. Medals have 

 been awarded by the Council to the following gentlemen, for their 

 valuable contributions to literature and science : 



Sir William E. Hamilton, LL. D. ; 



The Rev. Samuel Haughton, F. T. C. D. ; 



The Rev. Edward Hincks, D. D. ; and 



John O'Donovan, Esq. 



The President's Address on the delivery of the Medals to these 

 distinguished Members of the Academy having been printed in the 

 Proceedings of the Academy, it is unnecessary for the Council, in 

 this brief summary of the events of the year, to recapitulate the 

 grounds upon which this well-merited honour was conferred. 



The Museum has received some important additions, of which 

 a list will be given as an Appendix to this volume ; among these 

 may be noticed the following : — The Academy are indebted to the 

 Shannon Commissioners for another donation of great interest. 

 A collection of Ogham stones, from Dingle, presented by Mr. Hitch- 

 cock, is also a donation of much value. Some swords and other 

 weapons, believed to be Danish, which were found at Island Bridge, 

 have also been presented by Mr. Richard Young. 



But the most interesting addition made to the Museum has been 

 that which was received from the King of Denmark and the Society 

 of Northern Antiquaries of Copenhagen. This collection consists of 

 some articles of great interest, and of particular importance from the 



