( vii ) 



haye felt the impulse of the time, and the educational reforms 

 in the University were carried into effect by Provost Lloyd. The ener- 

 gies of the Academy in its scientific, literary, and archaeological 

 departments began to re-develope. The Ordnance Survey of Ireland 

 was undertaken, various schools of medicine and surgery, with their 

 accessory sciences, sprang up, and, I am proud to say, that the 

 name of Eobert Graves stands out prominently in that illustrious 

 band which reckons in its roll of honour the names of Cheyne, CoUes, 

 Cusack, of Macartney, and Smith. 



But as regards the Academy, in what may be termed its period 

 of renaissance, there are five names which stand out in relief as 

 leaders of their respective departments of pure mathematics, physics, 

 and archaeology, Hamilton, M'Cullagh, Hincks, Todd and Petrie, 

 all of whom were not only endowed with the most refined men- 

 tal development, but animated with that love of country, that 

 pure and true patriotism which, while it is not blind to its faults, 

 never ceases to labour for its honour, and therefore its mental and 

 material progress. To this object, in truth, their admirable lives, from 

 early youth to their lamented deaths, were unchangeably devoted. 

 Hamilton brought his splendid intellect, after a series of triumphs, to 

 furnish the most advanced instrument of investigation, the Calculus of 

 Uuaternions, leading to paths hitherto unexplored. '' Something like 

 this," says the present Bishop of Limerick, "was the unshaken 

 assurance which led Columbus to turn his back upon Europe, to 

 launch upon the broad Atlantic and seek a new world in the far-off 

 west." 



Thus says Schiller, in apostrophising Columbus : — 



" Steer on, brave sailor, steer right on, though scoifers may deride, 

 And the tired pilot at the helm his rudder cast aside. 

 Yet ever, ever, Westward ho ! the coast must yet appear ; 

 Already to thy mental sight it rises bright and clear. 

 Trust to the God who guides; pursue the silent ocean flood. 

 Even -were it not, still there 'twould rise, to make thy surety good. 

 "With genius nature joins, in everlasting covenant still 

 The promises of one the other fails not to fulfil." 



The second name in this roll of honour is that of M'Cullagh, so long 

 and truly devoted to the best interests of the Academy. His papers 

 in our Transactions on geometry and on physical optics are distin- 



