152 A HISTORY OF 



enjoyed a larger share of popular regard than generally 

 falls to the lot of chief secretaries. Among other 

 things, Blaquiere was in favour of a tax on absentee 

 landlords. He died at Bray in 1812. 



On the 1 2th of June 1777, Messrs. Taylor and 

 Skinner asked the Society to grant them 200 guineas 

 towards publishing a large map which was to be con- 

 structed by connecting the several roads appearing in 

 the work l published by them, into a continuous map, 

 on a scale of three miles to an inch. After some 

 consideration, their request was acceded to. Messrs. 

 Robert Pool and John C. Cash, who had both been 

 educated in the Society's drawing schools, laid before 

 it their plans of public buildings in Dublin, when it 

 was decided that they had great merit, and deserved 

 patronage. They subsequently sent in a memorial 

 praying for assistance in their projected work, Eblana 

 Depicta, afterwards published as " Views of the most 

 remarkable buildings in Dublin," 1780. 



For some years, Mr. Morgan Crofton had been 

 frequently employed on committees, and appears to have 

 been much engaged in the Society's work. Mr. Abraham 

 Wilkinson 2 was another member whose name is con- 

 stantly met with in the Proceedings, and who was also 

 very active in carrying out the Society's objects. The 

 vice-presidents, too, especially Mr. John Leigh and 

 Mr. Sydenham Singleton, were most regular in their 

 attendance. 



At the close of the year 1779, it was found that 

 arrears to the amount of ^4615, 19/. 6d., were due 

 by the members up to the previous year. A by-law 

 was passed in November 1780 that the collector was to 



1 Maps of the Roads of Ireland Surveyed, 1777. 



2 Of Bushy Park, co. Dublin. His daughter and heiress, Maria 

 Wilkinson, married Sir Robert Shaw, 1st bart. 



