THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 127 



jewellers, fancy workers, damask, carpet, and silk 

 weavers, stucco men, cabinetmakers, upholsterers, and 

 carpenters. The training of boys and girls in the 

 arts connected with industry was a chief object of the 

 Society, which took a leading part in promoting 

 technical education. 



In the architectural school, from 30 to 35 pupils 

 attended each year. During the time of Mr. Henry 

 A. Baker, who had served as master for a period of 

 thirty-three years, there was not a working tradesman or 

 mechanic in the building line in Dublin and the chief 

 towns in Ireland, who, during his apprenticeship, had 

 not received instruction in it. Even the rapid improve- 

 ment noticeable in shop fronts and the ornamental parts 

 of private houses during the period were attributed to 

 the skill acquired by artisans educated in the school. 



From 1813 to 1819, pupils to the number of 139 

 were admitted to the modelling school, which had 

 already produced Behnes, 1 the sculptor, of London. 



From June 1817 to November 1819, 3982 persons 

 visited the casts from the Elgin Marbles, which had 

 been purchased in 1816 for 210. 



Mr. Thomas Pleasants, a warm friend of the 

 Society, who died on the ist of March 1818, be- 

 queathed to the Society a number of valuable paint- 

 ings (see p. 236). 



In February 1823, a plan was devised for altering 

 the stable and coachhouses at Leinster House, which, 

 at a cost of ^1500, would have given a new bust 

 gallery and drawing schools. In addition, ^500 would 

 have been necessary so as to adapt the new premises 



1 William Behnes, sculptor, was a member of a Hanoverian family 

 that settled in Dublin for a time ; he distinguished himself in the schools 

 here, and, between 1820 and 1840, his reputation stood very high. 

 He executed busts of celebrities, among them, Lyndhurst, Clarkson, 

 and Macready, and his statuette of Lady Godiva was much admired. 



