( cxxxv ) 



[Enclostire.] 



" Science and Aet Depaetment, 



''April \st, 1876. 

 " Mt deae Dr. Steele, 



"After meeting the Deputation from the Royal Dublin So- 

 -ciety last Wednesday, I submitted the following Memorandum to 

 Lord Sandon : — 



'' ' I have had a long interview to-day with the Deputation 

 from the Royal Dublin Society. It is evident that many difficul- 

 ties would be removed if an amalgamation could be effected 

 between the Eoyal Irish Academy and the Royal Dublin 

 Society. 



'" The arrangement of such an amalgamation would be a matter 

 entirely for the Societies, but it might tend to forward such a 

 scheme if the gentlemen interested were assured that it met with 

 your Lordship's approval, and that if the Societies are prepared 

 to take the necessary steps, the Government would give them 

 any aid in its power. 



" ' Further, there is some possibility of an amalgamation of the 

 R,oyal Agricultural Society of Ireland with the Royal Dublin 

 Society. If this were carried out, would the Government be 

 prepared to provide for the Agricultural Shows in the Phoenix 

 Park, and remove them from the present buildings beside 

 ' Leinster House ?' 



"'Lord Sandon has authorized me to give this assurance generally. 



"Will you, therefore, kindly inform the llembers of the Deputa- 

 tion of this. I should add, that I told Lord Sandon that if an 

 amalgamation were effected, it would probably take the form of a new 

 Society, with a limited number of Pellows, ordinary Members, and an 

 Agricultural Section. 



" I said nothing about this in the Memorandum, as it is of course 

 a matter purely for the Societies to arrange. 



" Under these circumstances I suppose the Deputation from the 



Royal Dublin Society would wish no further steps to be taken with 



reference to the questions they left for Lord Sandon, until we hear 



from you. 



"■ Yours very faithfully, 



(Signed) " J. F. D. Donnelly." 



s2 



