7 
or otherwise dispose of, specimens in the possession of 
the shareholders, in such way as they may consider 
most conducive to the interests of the Museum,” 
Mr. Taytor then read a letter which’ he had just 
received from the Secretary of the Royal Irish Academy, 
dated Dublin, 14th June, 1869. It ran as follows :— 
“Royal Irish Academy, 19, Dawson Street, 
Dublin, June 14, 1869, 
‘«Srr,—I am directed by the council of the Royal 
Trish Academy to request that you will bring the fol- 
lowing statement under the notice of the Natural 
History Society. The Academy receives an annual 
Parliamentary grant of £200, to be expended in afford- 
ing aid to gentlemen engaged in the prosecution of 
scientific researches which involve outlay on instru- 
ments, material, &c. It is not necessary that persons 
obtaining aid from this fund should be members of the 
Academy ; and if any gentleman connected with your 
society, who is now pursuing, or is about to undertake, 
a scientific inquiry of the above nature, will forward an 
application to the Council of the Academy, stating the 
nature of the inquiry and the amount of aid desired, it 
will receive the most attentive consideration. It will 
be understood that the results of any researches thus 
aided are to be communicated to the Royal Irish 
Academy, and published in its transactions or proceed- 
ings. Applications should be sent in at as early a date 
as possible,—I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
“ Joun K. Ingram, Secretary of Council. 
“‘The Secretary of the Natural History Society, 
Belfast.” 
The Secretary was requested to give publicity to the 
foregoing letter by having it inserted in a report of to- 
day’s proceedings in the daily newspapers. 
The business of the shareholders then terminated, 
and the meeting closed by the Council of Manage- 
ment electing from their body the following gentlemen 
to serve as office-bearers for 1869-70 :—President—Dr, 
Wyville Thomson; vice-presidents — Dr. Andrews, 
Professor James Thomson, Mr. Joseph John Murphy, 
Rev, Mr. Steeu ; treasurer—Mr. M‘Adam; secretaries 
—Mr, Taylor and Dr, H. Burden, 
The following is a list of donations to the Museum 
and to the library during the past session :— 
