THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 95 



a report of the Committee of Economy, dated nth of 

 August 1803, it appeared that works unfinished in 

 Hawkins Street would cost ^571, is. $d. In the class 

 of works not begun, but estimated for to Parliament, 

 the drawing school estimate amounted to ^1667, and 

 that for the gallery to 1145, ioj. 



The Building Committee advertised in 1813 for 

 tenders for the erection of a library, board-room, &c., 

 and for a proper entrance at the south front of the 

 Hawkins street house. The master of the architectural 

 school prepared a ground plan and elevation, and ^2000 

 were reserved for these works, while in the next year 

 another sum of 2000 was reserved for the same pur- 

 pose. At the same time, a sum of over ,1100 was 

 voted for completing the exhibition room. Soon, 

 however, the Kildare street premises came into the 

 market, and were purchased by the Society, which met 

 in Hawkins street for the last time on the 25th of 

 May 1815. 



The theatre and connected buildings fronting Pool- 

 beg street were at this time held under a renewable 

 lease from Margaret Hawkins, representative of William 

 Hawkins, at a rent of ten guineas a year, and the 

 remainder of the premises under a renewable lease made 

 to the Society by the Wide Street Commissioners, at a 

 rent of ,600 a year, which was then vested in Trinity 

 College. The Society for the Suppression of Mendicity 

 had occupied portion of the premises for a time, for the 

 purposes of that institution, paying ^300 a year rent, 

 and mendicants were accommodated there. In 1819, 

 the Guild of Merchants agreed to purchase the labora- 

 tory lot for ^900, but afterwards declined to carry 

 out its agreement. It was decided that the proceeds 

 of any sale of the Hawkins street premises should be 

 devoted to completing the buildings and necessary 



