574 



one of its illustrious Presidents, the celebrated Mr. Kirwan; 

 and their antiquities, of a few uncared-for remains, lying on the 

 dusty floor of the room in which these books were kept. It 

 was these scanty materials that formed the nucleus of the 

 library now so rich in its stores of manuscript Irish literature, 

 and of its museum, of which it is not, perhaps, saying too much 

 that, in its way, though only in its infancy, as I conceive, it 

 is unequalled by any collection in Europe. 



" It is not to be supposed that in a body constituted as 

 this Academy is, for the advancement of studies and interests, 

 which many would be likely to conceive to be not only dis- 

 tinct but even hostile to each other, it is not, I say, to be sup- 

 posed that the objects on which my mind was bent could be 

 carried out without a strugle and a contest. That struggle 

 was in truth a hard one, and though I had the generous sup- 

 port of many of the most distinguished men in the Academy, 

 and of these I feel it my duty to acknowledge my obligations 

 to Sir William Betham, as one of my most zealous and eflScient 

 aiders, it is due to the memory of Dr. M'Cullagh to state, 

 that, but for the sustainment which in the furtherance of these 

 objects I received from his great influence, intelligence, and 

 energy, they could never have been eff'ected to any considera- 

 ble extent. It was expressly to forward these objects in the 

 Academy, by a splendid example of liberality and zeal, that 

 Dr. M'Cullagh had this cross purchased and presented it to 

 the Academy. Having some years previously, during a tour 

 in Connaught, had an opportunity of seeing this beautiful 

 remain, I communicated to my friend my opinion as to its great 

 historical interest and value ; and, without having ever seen it 

 himself, or having received any further information relative to 

 it than that which I had communicated to him, he, who could 

 not be called a rich man, determined, if possible, to become 

 the purchaser, and this without any regard to its cost, even 

 though it might have been five times the amount of that con- 

 siderable sum for which it was obtained. 



