292 A HISTORY OF 



the transfer to the State of most of the Society's lands 

 and collections, and the surrender by the Society of 

 control over its Science and Art institutions and library. 

 The Government proposed to introduce in Parliament 

 a bill to effect the necessary changes. 



A deputation consisting of J. F. Waller, LL.D., vice- 

 president, Sir Arthur Guinness, bart., M.P., Samuel 

 Frederick Adair and Charles Uniacke Townshend, pro- 

 ceeded to London and had interviews with Lord 

 Sandon and other members of the Government with 

 the view of arranging details. The interchange of 

 views which took place was followed by correspondence 

 and further deputations to London, and eventually a 

 " Memorandum of Provisions supplementary to those 

 contained in Lord Sandon's letter " was agreed to on 

 March the 5th, 1877. 



This document may be summarised as follows : 



1. The Society was to have sufficient accommoda- 

 tion in Leinster House for its functions in science and 

 agriculture. 



2. A sum of ; 1 0,000 was granted as compensation 

 for rights, &c., and this sum was to be invested. 



3. The librarian of the British Museum was to 

 be asked to give his opinion as to any books not 

 necessary for the National Library, and such were 

 to be re-transferred to the Society. 



4. The Society was to provide its own staff and 

 printing. 



5. The lecture hall, laboratory, &c., were to be 

 reserved to the Society. 



6. The passage through Leinster lawn and the 

 courtyard was to be reserved to members. 



7. The collections in the Botanic Garden and 

 Natural History Museum were to be available for the 

 illustration of papers. 



