score of economy, transferred the printing of its Transac- 

 tions to another printer, their succeeding volume was such 

 as to render it impossible for me, having a due regard to the 

 appearance of works so extensively illustrated, to put any of 

 my Essays into the volume of Transactions which followed. 



" It is also true that I received the prize and Gold Medal 

 of the Academy, for an Essay on Irish Military Architec- 

 ture, in March, 1834 ; and I believe it true that I, a member 

 of the Council myself, was the proposer of this question, as 

 well as that on the origin of the Round Towers, as Sir 

 William Betham states with an obvious object. As ques- 

 tions for prize essays must originate with the Council, I had 

 as much right to suggest them for approbation as another, 

 and, in point of fact, I did, at the request of the Council, 

 draw up a list of themes for dissertations on Irish History 

 and Antiquities, from which they might select, similar to 

 those relative to the history of Scotland, suggested to the 

 learned of that country by the celebrated John Pinkerton, 

 who remarks, that ' Scotland is certainly that country in 

 Europe, if we except Ireland, in which national history and 

 antiquities are most neglected.' But amongst those questions 

 there were many indeed, which I should never have thought 

 of treating of, — as, for instance, the question, ' who were the 

 Scoti ?' which Sir William Betham induced the Council to 

 propose, and in competition for the prize for which Sir 

 WiUiam Betham sent in his printed volume, entitled, ' the 

 Gael and Cimbri.' 



" I may also remark, that though I may have suggested 

 to the Council the question on ' Irish Mihtary Architecture,' 

 I never seriously contemplated competing for the prize 

 offered, my time being occupied on the Ordnance Survey, 

 till one week precisely before the day appointed for deliver- 

 ing in the papers, when, at the earnest solicitation of my 

 friend. Captain Larcom, R. E., I was induced to write an 

 Essay, as that gentleman will, I have no doubt, be ready to 



