[ "i ] 



confiderable degree weakened, and peculiar circumflances 

 have now given to Ireland an importance in the political 

 fcale, which habits of well-dire£ted induftry alone can 

 eftablifh and maintain. Whatever therefore tends, by 

 the cultivation of ufeful arts and fciences, to improve 

 and facilitate its manufadures ; whatever tends, by the 

 elegance of polite literature, to civilize the manners and 

 refine the tafte of its people ; whatever tends to awaken 

 a fpirit of literary ambition, by keeping alive the me- 

 mory of its antient reputation for learning, cannot but 

 prove of the greatefl national advantage. To a wilh to 

 promote in thefe important refpe£ts the advancement of 

 knowledge in this kingdom, the Royal Irlfh Academy 

 for Science, Polite Literature, and Antiquities, owes its 

 eftablifh ment ; and though the members who compofe 

 it are not entirely without hopes that their efforts may 

 hereafter become perhaps extenlively ufeful and refpe<5led, 

 yet the original intent of their inftitution muft be con- 

 fidered as confining their views for the prefent more 

 immediately to Ireland. If their endeavours fhall but 

 ferve to excite in their countrymen fome fenfe of the dig- 

 nity of mental exertion, if their exhortation and example 

 fhall be fo far fuccefsful as to become the means of turn- 

 ing vacant thoughts to fcience and to utility, their labours 

 are abundantly fecompenied. 



If it be faid that in focieties of this fort too much 



attention is frequently beftowed on fubje6ls barren and 



B z fpeculative, 



