15 



ptovcd of are published in the Transactions. The Royal Dublin Society takes «. 

 3ifferent range, and is a much older body. The charter for its incorporation was 

 granted nearly a century ago ; and the Society had existed for many years before, 

 as a private body. As it possibly may not be altogether uninteresting to the mem- 

 bers of your Institution to be made acquainted with the establishroenls of the 

 Royal Dublin Society, I shall endeavor to give a succinct vipw of them. 



I. A Botanic Garden, founded about the year 1790, containing twenty-seven 

 English acres, with extensive ranges of Conservatories, all maintained in very 

 beautiful and efficient order. Besides the main compartments, for the exposition 

 of theLinnean system of plants, others are devoted to the experimental cultivation 

 of useful plants in relation to agriculture, &c. A Professor, Dr. S. Litton, resides 

 at the Garden, who delivers lectures there, in the season, at an early hour of the 

 morning, which are most numerously attended ; and other lectures at the Society's 

 theatre in Dublin. All the lectures and all the public instruction delivered under 

 the auspices of the Society are free to the public, without any charge whatsoever; 

 but the Professors are permitted to receive fees from private pupils, when they 



offer. . 



II. An extensive Chemical Laboratory and dependencies, well provided with 

 apparatus, under the superintendence of Professor Davy, a cousin of Sir Hum- 

 phrey, who delivers lectures. 



III. Department of Mineralogy and Geology, under Professor D. Scouler. 

 About the year 1790, the Society purchased, at an expense of about £1,500, the 

 celebrated Cabinet of Minerals formed by Leske, a favorite pupil of Werner, con- 

 sisting of upwards of 7,000 specimens, each of which is elaborately described in 

 a printed catalogue for the benefit of students. The arrangement of this Cabinet 

 has been allowed to remain in its original state ; but other series of minerals have 

 been arranged on later and improved systems, and detailed catalogues have been 

 printed, for explanation and study. 



IV. A general Museum, also under the care of Dr. Scouler. With the annual 

 augmentations of subjects, more room has become necessary, and the foundation 

 has already been laid of a new edifice for the express purpose. The Museum is 

 open to the public on certain days in the week, and is usually visited by from 

 20,000 to 30,000 visiters in the course of the year. 



V. Department of Natural Philosophy and Mechanics, provided with valuable 

 instruiients and models, under Professor Kane, M. D. who delivers lectures. 



VI. Four Schools of Design. 1. For the study of the human figure. 2. For 

 the study of general ornament. 3. For the study of architecture and plain draw- 

 ing. 4. For the study of modelling in clay. 



There is a different master for each school, and each school is open, in rotation, 

 for three hours, on three alternate days in the week, 9 to 12, and 12 to 3. These 

 schools have been established for fourscore years, and since their first opening have 

 never failed to send forth young men who have become distinguished in the British 

 school of arts. At the present day may be enumerated Sir Martin Archer Shee, 

 Preiident of the Royal Academy of Painting in London ; Mr. Behner, the cele- 



