THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 369 



to each volume a meteorological journal, which in- 

 cludes the barometric and thermometric readings, the 

 rainfall and other meteorological records taken at the 

 Society's Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, every day from 

 January the 1st, 1856, to December the 31st, 1876. 

 The Science and Art Museum Act of 1877 profoundly 

 influenced the Society's scientific work. 



It was fortunate that at this time the Council 

 included men who had themselves been actively en- 

 gaged in research, and who quite realised the manner 

 in which the interests of science might best be pro- 

 moted by such a complex body as the Royal Dublin 

 Society. The new charter placed the Society in a 

 better position for promoting science than it had 

 previously occupied. For a few years after the 

 passing of the Act the scientific work was carried on 

 in two sections, one for physical and experimental 

 science, and one for natural science. The second 

 supplemental charter of 1888 gave each of the three 

 branches of the Society's work, science, art, and agricul- 

 ture, equal representation on the governing body, and 

 the by-laws under this charter provided for three corre- 

 sponding standing committees. There was thus a single 

 committee dealing with science in all its branches. 



In accordance with the agreement made with the 

 Government, the cost of printing the Society's scientific 

 publications was defrayed by the Government for five 

 years from the date of the passing of the Act. Since 

 that time the cost of printing has been borne by the 

 Society's private funds, and the income arising out of 

 the sum of £10,000, the first payment to the Society 

 under the Act, has always been regarded as specially 

 allocated to this branch of work. 



The new series of scientific publications commenced 

 in 1877, and consisted of Scientific Transactions, in quarto 



2 A 



