48 A HISTORY OF 



annual sum, " to be disposed of by them in such manner 

 and for the like uses and purposes as their own voluntary 

 subscriptions are applied." Lord Chesterfield, in a letter 

 written on the 6th of May 1747, to Mr. Prior, 1 pays 

 the Society the following well-deserved compliment : 

 " They have done more good to Ireland, with regard 

 to arts and industry, than all the laws that could have 

 been formed ; for, unfortunately, there is a perverse- 

 ness in our natures which prompts us to resist autho- 

 rity, though otherwise inclined enough to do the thing, 

 if left to our choice. Invitation, example, and fashion, 

 with some premiums attending them, are, I am con- 

 vinced, the only methods of bringing people in Ireland 

 to do what they ought do; and that is the plan of 

 your Society." 



The Lord Lieutenant's warrant was dated 4th 

 April, 1746, and payment was to commence on the 

 preceding Lady Day. Official fees cost the Society 

 1% 6s. n%d. 



In 1769, as a mark of gratitude to Lord Chester- 

 field, who had been influential in obtaining the Society's 

 charter, and also the grant of ^500 a year, to aid its 

 designs, it was proposed to place his bust in white 

 marble in the meeting room. Van Nost, the sculptor, 

 was entrusted with the commission, and was paid 35 

 guineas for his work. The bust now stands in the 

 reception room in Leinster House. Lord Chesterfield 

 wrote a very handsome acknowledgment of the honour 

 the Society had done him. 



In June 1746, William Telfier of Glasgow produced 

 a machine for measuring the true run of a ship at sea, 

 and a committee recommended that it should be made 

 trial of in the river along the North Wall, at high water 

 on the 25th of June. 1760 yards were measured on the 



1 Chesterfield's Letters, ed. by John Bradshaw, 1892, ii. 817. 



