PROVINCIAL OBSERVATORY'. TORONTO. 



[1853 



econoin)- in woikiug lliem; it will render a ver}- important 

 service. 



The Royal Irish Academy of Science will show a very inter- 

 esting collection of Irish Antiquities comprised in its Museum, — 

 alonff with contributions for the purpose from the Board of 

 Works, and from several private individuals. The collection of 

 the Academy is \ei'y curious and itnportant: including many rare 

 ecclesiological antiquities, and a large number of implements, tools, 

 and arms, illustrative of the earl}- Art of the country. Tlie Ban- 

 ner of the O'Donnell famii}- — the Psalms of St. Columb — and 

 some other specimens — ai'e very celebrated in Irish history. The 

 Museum of the Society is liberally opened to all applicants, and 

 the specimens arc admii-ably arranged. To the present time, 

 however, the institution has been without a Catalogue, — which 

 will now be supplied by the Great Exhibition, and which will 

 doubtless, soon give rise to a great extension of the Museum. 

 Included in the Academy's Museum is a collection of Danish 

 and Norwegian antiquities, presented by the King of Denmark 

 and the Directors of the Museum of Copenhagen. 



The Irish Fisheries Commissioners contribute a large collection 

 of apparatus and tackle used in the fisheries; including not only 

 those at present employed, but also specimens of those which 

 have been superseded or improved, — together with models of 

 what are called River fixtures, and other means of capturing the 

 finny tribe. 



In one of the galleries is a collection of 257 specimens of the 

 Birds of Ireland, indigenous and immigratory, together with 

 their eggs. These belong to a private gentleman of Dublin, 

 named Waters, and ai e very well arranged in scientific order. 



There is a very curious collection of work, principally of the 

 coarser descriptions, exhibited by the guardians of the twent_y- 

 seven Poor Law Unions. 



• The general departments of the exhibition in which Ireland 

 makes the greatest show are : — ^linen manufactures — poplins, in- 

 cluding a loom for making a new brocaded variety, which will 

 as we have said, be w'oven in the building — Balbriggan hosiery, 

 — saddlery and leather work — church bells, of which there are 

 some large and fine specimens— carriages — engineerirg and 

 architectural designs — nmsical instruments — lace, embroidery and 

 needle-work of e\'ery description, and most of it in good taste 

 — clothing — fui'niture — agricultural machines and implements — 

 and food, which, after the example of Hyde Park Exhibition, 

 includes tobacco and snufl''; iu wholesale quantities. There are 

 also several samples of beet-root sugar — bacon and hams in end- 

 less profusion — and no small supply of whisky. In this latter 

 case the committee have not followed the lead of London ; — nor 

 ha\e they done so in the refreshment-rooms, where malt liquors 

 of all sorts are freely dispensed, and where probably whisky is 

 not a stranger. 



Since the opening day the work of ari'angement has proceeded 

 with rapidity, — and the cftect produced has been mar\ellous. 

 There were some indications of flagging pre\'ious to the inaugu- 

 ration ; but it seems to have disappeared under the influence of 

 the excitement of that daj', — and to have been replaced b}' con- 

 fidence and natural feeling of satisfaction at Hvhich has been 

 already achieved, and what promises to bo accomplished. 



In another week the greater part of the Exhibition will be 

 complete. It will, indeed, it already does, reflect the highest 

 lionour upon the Irish people. In the liistory of our country 

 there is not recorded a more important or more praisewoithy act 

 than the raising of this temple of indnstiy ; and the effort which 

 has been made under so many difficulties, mm( yield a substantial 

 and endurinc; reward. — Atlifnirvm. 



INCOUPOSATED BY ROYAL CHARTER. 



Canadian Institute. 



Council Meeting, June Wlh, 1853. 



DONATIONS. 



1. The Corresponding Secretary announced the presentation 

 to the Institute by Mr. Bohn, the eminent London Publisher, of 

 six volumes of Bohu's Scientific Library. 



2. The presentation was also announced of two pair of Stags- 

 horns of very extraordinary dimensions, by M)-. Maurice S. 

 Baldwin, Junior Member of the Institute. 



The names of the following Candidates for Membership were 

 laid before the Council on the evening of June 4th : — 



S. W. Hallum, Junior Merabei- Toronto. 



T. C. Gregory,. .'. Windsor, C. W. 



Rev. R. Whitwell, Phillipsburgh. 



J. E. Pell, Toronto. 



Rev. B. Cronyn, London. 



C. McGregor, Junior Member Toronto. 



E. M. Crombie, Junior Member, " 



It was ordered that the Secretary should be directed to com- 

 municate to the above named gentlemen that the formalities of 

 their election could not be completed until the first General 

 Meeting in December, but that on payment of the Subscription 

 for the current year they will be entitled to a copy of the Journal 

 from January last, and to the use of the Reading-room. 



Provincial Observatory; Toronto. 



In the February nunil)er of the Canarlian Journal we pub- 

 lished the Memorial of the Institute to the three branches of the 

 Legislature to continue the Royal Magnetic Observatorj-, under 

 Provincial management. The reply of the Provincial Secretary 

 on the part of His Excellency the Governor General, contained 

 the following passage: — '-I am directed by his Excellency to 

 acquaint you, (Capt. Lefi-oy) and through you the membere of 

 the Canadian Institute, that the subject retVrred to in their me- 



