XXII. ADDRESS DELIVERED AT A MEETING OF THE 

 ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY, HELD JUNE 26iH, 1848, ON THE 

 OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE MEDALS 

 AWARDED BY THE COUNCIL. 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 1848. 



GENTLEMEN, We have this night reached the close of a Ses- 

 sion of more than usual activity ; and I might, therefore, naturally 

 have desired, before leaving this chair and adjourning the Aca- 

 demy to another winter, to trespass for a short time upon your 

 attention, and to lay before you a brief summary of the results of 

 our toil.. On the present occasion, however, my duty is narrowed 

 and defined ; and the recent award of the Cunningham Medals by 

 the Council renders it imperative on me to submit to the Academy 

 the grounds of their decision. In doing this, it will be necessary 

 for me to present a brief analysis of the results of those labours 

 whose value your Council have thus honourably recognised ; and 

 in the execution of this task I must request the indulgence of the 

 Academy, and still more that of the gentlemen of whose discove- 

 ries I am to speak, if, in my imperfect acquaintance with them, I 

 should fail to do justice to their merits. 



You are aware that, during the past Session, the laws respect- 

 ing the award of medals have occupied the attention of the Council ; 

 and that certain new regulations relating to it were, upon their 

 suggestion, adopted by the Academy. It is unnecessary for me 

 to recapitulate these regulations, or to state the grounds for the 

 changes therein made, as this has been fully done by the Council in 

 their last Annual Eeport. It will be sufficient for me on the pre- 



