THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 355 



CHAPTER XIX 



SURVEY OF THE SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE 

 SOCIETY 



(Contributed by Mr. R. J. Moss, Registrar) 



THE ground acquired in 1733 was intended "to 

 be employed by the Society as a nursery for raising 

 several sorts of trees, plants, roots, &c., which do 

 not at present grow in this kingdom, but are imported 

 from abroad, and when raised in such nursery may be 

 dispersed to be propagated in this country." At that 

 time botany as a science was only beginning to take 

 form ; Linnaeus had not yet published his Systema 

 Nature. It was not until 1790 that the Society took 

 steps to establish a regular Botanic Garden, and in 

 1796 it commenced its educational work in science 

 by appointing Dr. Wade " professor and lecturer in 

 Botany." The foundation of the Natural History 

 Museum was laid in 1792 by the purchase of the 

 Leskean collection of minerals. In 1795 Mr. William 

 Higgins was placed in charge of this collection, and 

 it was ordered : " that from Mr. Higgins' extensive 

 skill in chymistry, he be directed from time to time to 

 make such experiments on dyeing materials and other 

 articles, wherein chymistry may assist the arts, as may 

 occur ; and that, for that purpose, a small chymical 

 apparatus should be procured and erected in the 



