THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 161 



furnished a general syllabus of the subjects on which 

 he lectured. The museum was open, and Mr. William 

 Higgins, who had been appointed professor and lec- 

 turer in mineralogy, conducted his lectures in that 

 department. 



Between May 1800 and March 1804, tne Society 

 expended no less a sum than ^17,841 on buildings at 

 the repository. In 1800, the committee of chemistry 

 and mineralogy offered a premium of £200 for the 

 best geological and mineralogical survey of the county 

 of Dublin. 



The Society was of opinion that it might be ad- 

 vantageous to bring over from England distinguished 

 lecturers, and in 18 10, the Royal Society was asked 

 to allow Professor Humphry Davy to deliver a course 

 of lectures on electro-chemical subjects, which he 

 did; 500 guineas were paid to him, and 337 persons 

 attended his first lecture. Next year, he gave another 

 set of lectures on chemical philosophy, and repeated 

 the course in geological science that he had read before 

 the Royal Institution. Professor Davy was also asked 

 to superintend the construction of a voltaic battery 

 of large plates. At the conclusion of the lectures, the 

 committee of chemistry reported that the total amount 

 received for admission tickets was ^1101, 15/. id., 

 all expenses amounting to ^327, 15/. id., which 

 left a credit balance of £773, 6s. nd. Out of this, a 

 sum of ^750 was sent to Davy, with thanks for having 

 " materially increased the spirit of philosophical research 

 in Ireland." In a reply, dated the 9th of December 

 1 8 1 1 , Davy said that he was proud of the Society's 

 opinion that his lectures would be useful to the Irish 

 public ; and added that as long as he lived, he would 

 remember with gratitude the attention, candour, and 

 indulgence of his audience. 



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