158 A HISTORY OF 



the drawing schools, and ^800 were expended on the 

 additional buildings. When Dr. Kirwan had com- 

 pleted his examination and arrangement of the museum, 

 a medal of Irish gold, with a suitable inscription, was 

 presented to him. In 1802, he was asked to sit to 

 Hugh D. Hamilton for his portrait, which was to be 

 hung in the museum, in acknowledgment of " his 

 eminent services and indefatigable labours in chemistry, 

 mineralogy, &c." Fourteen years after, 120 guineas 

 were paid to Miss Harriet Hamilton for finishing the 

 portrait commenced by her father, who only com- 

 pleted the painting of the head. This portrait now 

 hangs in the reception room in Leinster House. The 

 Royal Irish Academy is in possession of another and 

 much better portrait. Richard Kirwan, chemist and 

 natural philosopher, was born in 1733, son of Martin 

 Kirwan of Cregg, co. Galway. He was a Fellow of the 

 Royal Society, and corresponded with all the savants of 

 Europe. His Elements of Mineralogy was the first 

 systematic treatise on the subject published in the king- 

 dom, and his papers on Chemical ^Affinity obtained for 

 him the Copley Medal of the Royal Society. Kirwan 

 became a Doctor of Laws of Dublin University in 

 1794, and was elected President of the Royal Irish 

 Academy in 1799, a post which he held until his 

 death, which took place on the 1st of January 18 12. 

 He was buried in St. George's, Temple street. The 

 Society purchased for ^10 Kirwan's "burning glass," 

 which is still in its possession. The glass is illustrated 

 on the opposite page. 



Between 1795 an< ^ 1800, a sum of almost ^2500 was 

 expended on different buildings and works at the re- 

 pository, and when in the latter year the museum was 

 opened, many persons sent donations of shells, specimens 

 preserved in spirits, beetles, &c. The Royal Irish 



