56 A HISTORY OF 



methods, any persons who are well skilled in such arts 

 and manufactures, and will carry them on in the best 

 and most skilful manner. To carry on this design, 

 they desire that gentlemen and others who are con- 

 versant with husbandry, trade or manufactures, and 

 wish well to their country, will favour them with their 

 company and advice, that they may be better enabled 

 to judge what improvements are proper to be en- 

 couraged, what encouragements are convenient, and in 

 what manner they may be best applied for the benefit 

 of the public. A Committee for that purpose will 

 attend at the Parliament House every Thursday at one 

 o'clock." May 29, 1740 Ordered that an advertise- 

 ment be printed proposing rewards to be given to 

 such persons who shall produce in Dublin next winter, 

 the best hops, flax-seed, flax, cider, earthenware, thread, 

 malt liquor, lace, in their several kinds, according as 

 they are set down in a paper agreed to. June I9th 

 Ordered : that the advertisements to be printed, for 

 giving rewards, be revised and altered by Dean Maturin, 

 Mr. Ross, Mr. Prior, and when the same is prepared 

 that it be printed, taking notice therein of many other 

 articles which the Society design to give rewards for 

 the next year. Nov. 20 Ordered : that Dean 

 Maturin, Mr. Ross, Mr. Prior, Dr. Weld, Dr. Wynne, 

 be a Committee to take into consideration the collect- 

 ing of the subscriptions to Dr. Madden's scheme, and 

 the premiums that may be proper to be given this year, 

 and that they meet on Wednesday next at Mr. Prior's 

 house, at 3 o'clock. Ordered : that the several schemes 

 of such as expect encouragement, for their improve- 

 ments or inventions, be laid before them." 



At a meeting held on the I5th of January 1741, 

 claimants attended, and exhibited specimens of their 

 handiwork, which were the earliest the Society had to 



