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How many and great difcoveries have been made in the walks 

 and operations of nature, which previoufly were not even dreamed 

 of, or, if they were conceived, were deemed vifionary and im- 

 poffible ! Should we, therefore, be difcOuraged in one branch of 

 natural knowledge, not perhaps fo intricate and forbidding as fome 

 which have been fatisfadorily explored ? But what method might 

 be taken to cultivate this branch in Ireland ? Might it not come 

 within the province of the Dublin Society to commence and carry 

 on an undertaking of this defcription, by attaching to their in- 

 ftitulion a profefforfliip of meteorology, on the fame wife and en- 

 larged principle that they have eftablifhed one of botany and ano- 

 ther of chemiftry and mineralogy. And is it not reafonable to 

 prefume, that the legiilature would make provifion for the fmall 

 expenfe it would require, when the advantages to be derived from 

 it might be fo extenfive and important? 



' The neceflity of fome public eftablifhment for meteorological 

 inquiries,' was feveral years ago pronounced by an authority, 

 which no friend to this country and to fcience will think of dif- 

 puting. In a general view, fqch a foundation evidently might be 

 rendered produdive of much additional knowledge ; and in a par- 

 ticular inftance, namely, the medical department, many new and 

 interefting materials might be furnilhed, paths yet untrodden might 

 be. explored, and great advances might be made, in a fhort time, 



toward 



