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your care and directions, in a Museum open at all times to the public, 
and this collection being deficient in volcanic productions, have re- 
quested me to make this application to the Royal Irish Academy, over 
which you preside. The Dublin Society have been made acquainted 
that the Academy is in possession of a numerous collection of volcanics, 
presented by the Rev. Mr. Graydon. It is by his consent that this ap- 
plication is made to the Academy, requesting the favour of this collec- 
tion being added to the Museum of the Dublin Society, which then will 
be as perfect as most collections in Europe. 
“‘The Society also request of the Academy the specimens of hard 
woods presented by Mr. Conyngham; and if to these they would be 
pleased to add the cast of Lackshimi,* for the use of the Academy of 
Figures of the Dublin Society, it would be pleasing. 
‘‘Tf the Royal Irish Academy will consider that the funds of the 
Dublin Society enable them to pay a professor to lecture on mineralogy, 
and servants to keep their museum in order and to show them to the 
public, it must be evident that knowledge will be more diffused—the 
great desideratum of the Academy—by these things being in the So- 
ciety’s Museum than in the house of the Academy; and this considera- 
tion alone has induced the Society to make the request.” 
By a resolution of Council it was agreed that the volcanic specimens 
and hard woods ‘“‘ should be lent to the Dublin Society, a receipt being 
taken acknowledging them to be the property of the Royal Irish Aca- 
demy, and to be removable at pleasure.’”” And upon April 20, 1801, it 
was resolved—‘‘ That it is the opinion of Council that the collection of 
volcanic specimens and of hard woods should not be separated from the 
Leskean collection whilst it is accessible to the public’’—so that the 
Academy virtually presented that collection to the Dublin Society. The 
latter body, by a letter dated May 2, agreed to ‘‘ accept of the donation 
upon the conditions expressed.” 
Some of these fossils were engraved for the Academy and figured in 
the fifth volame of the Transactions, and are still preserved in the Dub- 
lin Society’s collection. When arranging the Museum for the reception of 
the British Association, three years ago, Mr. Wilde felt the want of a single 
specimen of an ancient boat, although more articles of that description 
—carved out of single trees—had been found in Ireland than in any 
other country in Europe. Knowing, also, that the Royal Dublin Society 
possessed two specimens of such boats, and having learned the feelings of 
some of its most influential members on the subject, he induced the 
Council of the Academy to ask them from that body. The answer 
evinced the most liberal spirit on the part of the Royal Dublin Society, 
who, as trustees for public property, could not absolutely give those 
things away; but they agreed to ‘‘ deposit’’ them with us upon a receipt 
* The Indian idol now in the Tea-room of the Academy, and described in one of the 
early volumes of the ‘‘ Transactions.” 
a ae 
