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353 
It is, however, to the resources of the Nation that we must look, 
to aid us in accomplishing what is truly a national object. As it was 
long ago pronounced to be a symptom of the health of a State, and 
an element in its well-being, that all should interest themselves in 
the weal of each, and that if one member suffer, the whole body 
should suffer with it; in order that thus whatever injury was 
offered to a part might be repelled by the energy of the whole, and 
that every limb might be animated by one pervading vigour: so too 
it is another fruit and sign of the dignity and happiness of brother- 
hood, another opposite and contrast to the misery of savage isola- 
tion, when not the present only of a nation’s life, but the past and 
future also are regarded with a vivid interest ; and, caring for poste- 
rity, men care for their ancestors likewise. Each people owes it to 
the human race, to do what in it lies for preserving its own separate 
history, and guarding its own annals from decay: and each, accord- 
ing to its power, should cheer and help the rest in their exertions to 
accomplish this, which is an object common to all. Ireland is rich 
in records of an ancient civilization ; and looks with a just hope to 
Britain for assistance towards rescuing those records from obli- 
vion, and from the risk of perishing obscurely. Though this Aca- 
demy possesses many manuscripts, and although many are contained 
in the Library of our national University, enough has not been done 
until they have been placed beyond all danger of destruction, and 
made accessible to students every where, by printing and by publish- 
ing them, with notes and with translations, such as can be sup- 
plied by some of the few persons who are now versed in the ancient 
Irish Language. For doing all this well, opportunities can now be 
had, which the lapse of a generation may almost remove, which the 
casualties of each year may diminish. 
We have had more occasions than one to hear, this evening, of the 
assistance recently and wisely given by Government to Science. Nor 
ought (I think) the presence of the representative of our Sovereign 
and Patron, to restrain me from avowing the hope, in which you all 
will join, that our desire, long since expressed, for the publication of 
our Irish Records, may after no long time be granted ; and that the 
State may soon resolve to undertake, or to assist in undertaking, a 
task for which the materials and the labourers are ready, but of which 
ee eee, ot te, Dee ee, ee 
