THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 89 



common, for preventing labourers from imposing on 

 their employers, into which method a committee was 

 appointed to enquire. Special oilcloth and stair-carpet- 

 ing were ordered for the new house, and a map of 

 Ireland was to be hung in the Board-room. The 

 Society was already in possession of an escritoire, as a 

 minute of the 15th of February 1753, ordered that 

 one to be used for keeping books and papers should 

 be purchased ; and the words " This belongs to the 

 Dublin Society " were to be inlaid in large letters in 

 front. This venerable piece of furniture, which must 

 have disappeared a great number of years ago, was 

 recovered some time since, being purchased by the 

 Society for a sum of £ 1 1 from a LifFey street dealer ; 

 and it is now placed in the Council room. The date 

 " 1753 " appears after the words ordered to be inlaid. 

 For the first time, on the 25th of January 1759, the 

 minutes of the previous meeting were signed by the 

 chairman, Humphrey, 1st Earl of Lanesborough, a 

 zealous supporter of the Society, and one of the most 

 regular attendants at its meetings. 



By the year 176 1, the Society's house in Shaw's 

 court was found to be inconvenient, and, as the tenure 

 by which it was held was unsatisfactory, it was resolved 

 to look for more suitable premises or for building 

 ground. Sir William Yorke's house in William street 

 was favourably reported on, but the Bishop of Derry 

 stepped in and purchased it before the Society could 

 take steps in the matter. Sir Capel Molyneux's man- 

 sion in Peter street, Lord Antrim's house in Dawson 

 street, and ground on which the old Theatre in 

 Aungier street stood, were inspected. Finally, a plot 

 of ground on the west side of Grafton street, adjoin- 

 ing the house of the Navigation Board, was decided on 

 as suitable, and on the 23rd of January 1766, Mr. 



