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instruments of research, — they confer a no less important, but indirect 

 service, in disciplining the Mind, and correcting those tendencies of 

 other portions of our mental constitution, which, when unbalanced, are 

 sure to mislead. 



" Turning from the Mathematical to the Physical Sciences, — and first 

 of all to Astronomy, which stands upon the confines of both, — we 

 cannot fail to be struck by the fact, that in this one Island, with 

 all its disadvantages of climate, there are no fewer than four Astro- 

 nomical Observatories, each claiming a high place in the history of 

 European Science; and that while, in other countries, these costly 

 institutions have been, with but few exceptions, founded and endowed 

 by their respective Governments, in Ireland (a country not certainly 

 among the foremost in pecuniary resources) they have been erected, 

 equipped, and, with but one partial exception, maintained by the 

 munificence and public spirit of Individuals. The names of Mr. 

 Cooper, and of the Earl of Rosse, will henceforward be added to those 

 of Provost Andrews and Primate Robinson, as benefactors of science 

 in this country ; and Markree and Birr be united to Armagh and Dub- 

 lin in the future history of Astronomy. 



" The Dublin Observatory is the eldest of this noble sisterhood. 

 As respects its connexion vnth this Academy, I need not remind you 

 that its chair has been filled by two of your Presidents. With the 

 labours of Brinkley the Dublin Observatory will always stand con- 

 nected in the history of Science. I am sure that it is unnecessary for me 

 to remind you of his researches connected with the problem of the 

 " Stellar Parallax," of which your Transactions contain the first results — 

 that great problem, whose final solution has at length been placed beyond 

 question by the observations of Bessel. Of the other and better known 

 inequalities, which affect the apparent places of the stars, all have been 

 illustrated by the observations made with the Meridional Circle of the 

 Dublin Observatory. In this important class of astronomical inves- 

 tigations, the able Director of the Armagh Observatory has had a dis- 

 tinguished share ; and the labours of Dr. Robinson have conferred, as 

 might have been expected, increased accuracy upon the resulting 

 values of the Constants. 



" And here, Gentlemen, you will permit me to pause for a moment, 



