6 
the Society in one of the class rooms. This was granted in the 
kindest manner ; and for twelve months, the meetings were ac- 
cordingly held in that place. During that time, however, many 
donations of specimens had been received, suitable to a Mu- 
seum, and the number of Members belonging to the Society 
had considerably increased. Accordingly, on the 12th Nov. 
1823, they removed once more, and rented, as a Museum and 
a Meeting-room, two small apartmentsin the Commercial Build- 
ings. Here their progress was in every respect most gratifying ; 
but, at length, they began to experience inconvenience, both from 
the smallness of their Meeting-room and the over-crowded state 
of their Museum. The inconvenience increased as the collection 
of their specimens was augmented, until they were obliged to 
look around them for larger and more commodious apartments. 
They were unable to meet such as in every respect they wished 
to have, and at length they came to the resolution of erecting a 
“building, on a moderate scale, for themselves. It was at this 
period that the idea of extending their plan was suggested, and 
that they were recommended, by some of their Members and 
scientific friends, to attempt the erection of such a building, as 
would be creditable to the taste of the town, and useful asa 
public institution to this part of the country. A circular, stat- 
ing the objects of the Society, was published ; in which the 
importance of public Museums was pointed out, and a plan 
for raising a sufficient fund for the purpose of erecting this 
building developed. In this the Members of the Society dis- 
claimed any individual right of property in their collections. 
They were anxious to diffuse, as widely as circumstances would 
permit, the benefits it was caleulated to confer; and they un- 
dertook to maintain the Museum at their expence. Subscrip- 
tion lists were now opened, a spirit which had until then lain 
dormant was roused, and above £1,000 was in a short time sub- 
scribed. A Committee to carry the plan into effect was appoint. 
ed; adesign of the building was agreed on; and the edifice 
in which we now assemble was commenced; the foundation 
stone having been laid on the 5th of May, 1830, by the Marquis 
of Donegall, who, by this act, by a liberal subscription to the 
