356 A HISTORY OF 



repository, under the direction of Mr. Higgins." 

 Thus was established the Society's chemical labora- 

 tory, probably the first of the kind in the United 

 Kingdom. That practical instruction in chemistry 

 was given in the laboratory is evident from advertise- 

 ments which appear in Saunders's News Letter, and 

 in the Hibernian Journal of 1797 and later years. 

 Systematic courses of lectures in chemistry and natural 

 philosophy were instituted in the year 1800, and 

 soon became an important feature in the Society's 

 work in Dublin, and in the provinces, to which 

 they ultimately extended. For many years these 

 lectures, delivered by the Society's professional staff 

 and others appointed to assist them, were the only 

 means open to the Irish public of obtaining instruction 

 in science. 



In 1845 tne Government decided to create in 

 Ireland an institution similar to the Museum of 

 Practical Geology, London ; the institution eventually 

 took the form of the " Museum of Irish Industry 

 and Government School of Science applied to Mining 

 and the Arts," with premises in St. Stephen's Green. 

 To avoid duplication of professorships, some of the 

 lectures were delivered in the Society's theatre, Kildare 

 street, and some in the Museum of Irish Industry, 

 St. Stephen's Green ; while the regular class lectures 

 were delivered at the latter institution only. Eventu- 

 ally the scope of the Museum of Irish Industry was 

 enlarged, and it became the Royal College of Science 

 for Ireland. Thus the systematic teaching of science 

 gradually passed out of the Society's hands, though its 

 lectures still survive in a popular form in the courses 

 of afternoon lectures and in the Christmas lectures for 

 juveniles which are delivered every session. 



The services of the scientific staff had not been 



