Metiorotogical Ohservatiofis, 463 



trlginai members, anxious to cooperate with other institu- 

 tions in promoting the cultivation of natural sciences, de- 

 termined at the commencement to confine their attention 

 to those objects exclusively, and to interfere as little as 

 possible with the more extended views of those already 

 established in Ireland. They resolved also to enroll them- 

 selves under the name of some philosopher who had di- 

 stinguished himself in those branches of knowledge which, 

 they intended to profess. They naturally therefore turned 

 their attention to the late celebrated and venerable Kirwant 

 they were anxious to do honour to the name without 

 obliging themselves to the adoption of peculiar opinions. 

 [Here the Chevalier took a retrospect of the progress 

 and labours of the Kirwanian Society ; but as we have ior- 

 nierlv given abstracts of their proceedings, they need not ia 

 this place be repeated.] 



It is unnecessary to enlarge upon the invaluable benefits 

 resulting Iro.n the introduction of academies : the period 

 of their establishment may indeed well be called the golden 

 age of literature. At that happy period a brilliant con- 

 stellation of superior minds rose together, which illuminated 

 the horizon of Europe with its lustre. France, England, 

 Sweden, Germany and Ireland, may be proud of their li- 

 terary career during the last century : much has been done 

 for the benefit of society, and it ought to be the ambition 

 of the new century before us to do as tnuch for posterity 

 as our ancestors have done for us. The ambition of that 

 man, observes Lord Bacon, who attempts to establish or 

 enlarge the dominion of the human species over the uni- 

 versality of things, is unquestionably more excellent and 

 more exalted than any other: because the empire of man 

 over things, has for its only base the sciences and arts, and 

 it is only by obeying nature that we can learn to com- 

 mand her. 



LXX. Ifitelligence. 



Meteorological Observations made at Cambridge, from 

 May 12 to 29, 1813. 



May 12. — v_/LOUDY morning; warm day, with a h.ird 

 shower in the evening J after which mountainous cvmulo- 

 strati with cirrostrali transfixing their summit, dense sheets 

 spread in a higher region, and a loose kind of cirrocumuli, 

 were followed by a clear night. Thermometer midday 69'. 

 Midnight 52". 



May 13. — Warm day; fine moruinjj, with sun and low 

 Gg3 niouuuinoua 



