2 4 o A HISTORY OF 



In December 1819, a report was made on the 

 general state of the Society, which will be found in 

 Proceedings (vol. lvi. p. 58). A short resume of it 

 may be useful here, as giving a summary of the 

 Society's activities from its foundation : — 



It is found difficult to collect the annual subscrip- 

 tions. Life subscriptions, which had been increased 

 from ten to thirty guineas, were lately raised to fifty 

 guineas. When the Society first started, attention was 

 devoted to agriculture, first by the publication of 

 papers and tracts, then by premiums for planting, the 

 introduction of proper implements, and importation 

 of cattle ; next by manufacturing implements at a 

 cheaper rate ; and lastly by improved methods of 

 horticulture and the cultivation of trees, plants, and 

 grasses. After this, trial was made of gratuitous in- 

 formation supplied by lectures and schools. Six pro- 

 fessors were appointed, and a theatre capable of accom- 

 modating 500 persons was equipped. The botanic 

 garden, the drawing schools, library, and museum were 

 all in full working order. The Act 19 and 20 George 

 III imposed on the Society the superintendence of 

 the silk manufacture, and the regulation of the opera- 

 tive silk weavers' wages, which imposed a great deal of 

 work on the Society. An exhibition room for works 

 of art was also opened. On the whole, the affairs of 

 the Society might be said to have been conducted with 

 as much skill, propriety, and economy as the nature 

 of the institution would admit. From 1801, the 

 parliamentary grant amounted to ;£ 10,000. The 

 labours imposed on the Society by numerous Acts of 

 the Irish legislature caused its original designs to be 

 extended from husbandry and the useful arts to litera- 

 ture, sciences, fine arts, manufactures, horticulture, 

 trade and commerce. The expenses of the six pro- 



