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Survey office in the Phoenix Park, planned and directed by Captain 

 Larcom, has now been upwards of ten years in active operation, 

 and may be taken as a model for similar establishments. Of the Mag- 

 netical and Meteorological Observatory of Dublin, founded in the year 

 1838 by the University, I have already had frequent occasion to speak 

 at these meetings, and 1 hope before long to communicate some of the 

 ultimate results. 



" Of the Geology of Ireland I have, perhaps, less right to speak, as 

 the subject has been appropriated by another and a younger Society. 

 Yet there are two facts in its recent history of such importance, that it is 

 impossible not to refer to them in noticing the labours of the members of 

 this Academy. I mean the completion of the Geological Map of Ireland 

 by Mr. Griffith, which, as the work of one man, is certainly one of ex- 

 traordinary merit ; and the recent arrangements for the continuation of 

 the Geological Survey of this country, the first fruits of which are bf fore 

 the world in Captain Portlock's able and elaborate Report on the 

 Geology of Londonderry. 



" Passing now from the sciences of Observation to those oi Experi- 

 ment, we liere also meet with labourers of our own Body, and our 

 Transactions are enriched with the results of their successful toil. Here 

 are to be found the hygrometric researches of Dr. Apjohn, which have 

 solved one of the most intricate problems in Meteorology ; and the still 

 more refined researches of the same author upon the Specific Heats of 

 the Gases, to which you have awarded your medal. Here too are to be 

 found most of the Chemical researches of Sir Robert Kane, upon the 

 chief of which you have conferred a similar reward ; and to this body 

 were communicated the first investigations of Dr. Andrews, upon the 

 Heat developed in Chemical Combination, which have recently been 

 honoured with the Royal Medal. 



"To remind you of the progress which Natural History has made, 

 and is yet likely to make in this country, T have only to mention the names 

 of Ball, of Thompson, of Mackay, and Harvey, and Allman, whose con- 

 tributions to the history of the Fauna and the Flora of Ireland are too 

 well known to need any comment here. The researches of Dr. Har- 

 vey, indeed, have embraced a wider range ; and his latest work, the 

 Phycologia Brittanica, now in course of publication, cannot fail to 



