164 



" When 1 first commenced this inquiry some years ago, 1 

 was under the impression that the Transactions of this society 

 were still in existence, and would one day or another be dis- 

 covered, and acknowledged by some of the public libraries or 

 private collections in these kingdoms. I have since, however, 

 convinced myself of the contrary being the fact, and feel as- 

 sured that no manuscript volume of the Transactions of the 

 Dublin Philosophical Society is, or perhaps ever was, in 

 being. 



<' The Minute Book of this Society, from 1683 to No- 

 vember, 1686, with its revival in 1693, and again in 1707, 

 is still preserved in the British Museum (Addit. MSS., 

 4811). In the Manuscript collection in the Library of Tri- 

 nity College we find among some scattered papers lately 

 collected by the Rev. Dr. Todd, rough drafts of the minutes 

 of the Dublin Philosophical Society, in the handwriting of 

 William Molyneaux, from January the 28th to June the 9th, 

 1684, all of which accord with the notices of this body still 

 existing in the papers of the Royal Society. On the first of 

 these dates we find the ofiicers for that year were appointed, 

 and the 'obligation subscribed.' At that time there was 

 110 President (as already stated in the Molyneaux correspond- 

 ence) ; Dr. Willoughby was appointed Director, and William 

 Molyneaux Secretary and Treasurer. The members present 

 were Dr. Narcissus Marsh, Sir William Petty, and Messrs. 

 Bulkeley, Cuff, Foley, Baynard, Ash, Mullen, Follet, Bag- 

 got, and Mr. Keogh, who was represented by proxy. At 

 this meeting Sir William Petty read a paper on Concentric 

 Circles. 



" On the 18th of February the Minutes closed with this 

 notice : — ' Nicholas Hudson, our operator, attended on us.' 

 (MS., T.C.D., CI. I. Tab. 4, No. 18, p. 11). 



" The unpublished Letter Books of the Royal Society, and 

 Birch's History of that body, likewise contain the Minutes of 

 the Dublin Philosophical Society from its first meeting on the 



