THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 173 



application was refused, on the ground that sending 

 the documents beyond sea would be inconsistent with 

 the trust reposed in the Society by the House of 

 Commons, which had enabled it to purchase them. 

 These manuscripts were transferred to the National 

 Library of Ireland, when the Society's library was 

 taken over by the Government. 



In March 1780, 36, i^s. \\d. were paid for fifty- 

 five volumes of the Encyclopedie, and Albert Von 

 Haller's Bibliotheca Botanic a (1771), purchased for 

 the library at Dr. MacBride's auction. From about 

 the year 1780, the library received a good deal of 

 attention. A number of valuable books were pur- 

 chased, both on the continent and at home, and 

 several members, qualified by their literary tastes and 

 attainments, helped by their experience and advice in 

 forming a remarkable collection of works. In May, 

 1781, a sum of 238, i is. 6d. was paid to Payne, of 

 Pall Mall, for the purchase of books acquired at the 

 sale of the late Mr. Beauclerk's collection in London. 

 An additional sum was required for the completion 

 of the set of the Flora Danica* and of the Encyclo- 

 -pedie. A little later, Mr. Conyngham, who has 

 previously been mentioned as taking a deep interest 

 in the library, when in Portugal, was requested to 

 purchase some scarce volumes to the amount of 

 ^200. Four guineas were paid for two volumes of 

 Iconology, or a Collection of Emblematical Figures, 

 " a scarce and valuable work," published in London. 



Dublin, where he consulted manuscripts in Trinity College, Marsh's 

 Library, and the Record Tower, Dublin Castle. Warner's History 

 of the Rebellion, and Civil War in Ireland, which appeared in 1767, 

 is a very accurate work. 



1 This magnificent work Icones Plantarum Flora Danica, by 

 George Christian Oeder, and others was issued from time to time 

 between 1761 and 1883. 



