110 
lay before you the arrangements for its execution which they re- 
commend, you will, I think, be satisfied that it will be completed 
in a manner worthy of its subject and of you, 
I must, however, regret that we cannot point to any similar exer- 
tion of the Committee of Polite Literature. It is true that times are 
much changed since its institution; the periodical press now opens 
a more appropriate course for much that would have belonged to 
its department; and, notwithstanding the practice of some Conti- 
nental societies, there are (I think) few among us who would ven- 
ture before such a meeting as this to recite their own verses. But 
a wide field remains. Ethnology in all its provinces; all that relates 
to history, or philosophy of language; the character, the rise and 
decline of the literature of nations:—in all these can nothing be 
found to interest our friends and increase our honour? One is so 
obvious that I cannot refrain from suggesting it for your considera- 
tion. We have added to our-early store of Irish manuscripts the 
collection of Smith, and now that of Betham; both, I believe, of 
extreme rarity and value. It is certainly much that these precious 
relics have been saved from dispersion, perhaps destruction; but I 
cannot bring myself to feel that this is enough to compensate the 
generous bounty which has enabled us to acquire them, or to an- 
swer the claim which the literary world has a right to urge for a 
knowledge of their contents. To watch over their conservation, to 
arrange them in a manner worthy of their value, to give a cata- 
logue of them,—not a dead, arid list of names, but one which shall 
exhibit the mind and manner of each author as well as his matter, 
such as shall bea clear and satisfactory guide to ulterior research,— 
this, as it would certainly repay the labour bestowed onit, and be in 
the truest harmony with our duty to our country, so it never can 
be executed under happier auspices, and if deferred for a few years 
may be totally impracticable. 
I have thus endeavoured to lay before you the rules by which, 
in my opinion, our conduct should be guided; rules, at least, which 
have ever guided me in relation to the Academy, and ever shall 
guide. If we abide by them I see no reason to doubt the future. 
There still remain with us, in undiminished splendour, most of the 
commanding minds to whose power we owe our present pre-emi- 
