Minutes of Proceedings. 169 



These labours were naturally not unregarded by the Academy, 

 wbo awarded him tbe Cunningham Medal in 1862, having pre^-iously, 

 in 1846, bestowed upon him the highest honour in their power by 

 electing him their President. 



In 1874 there was conferred on him by the Emperor of Germany 

 the order "Pour le Merite." IS"© more significant proof could be 

 given that the respect in which he was held in his own country was 

 no mere local partiality, but was due to the intrinsic worth of the man. 



But high as he thus stood in men's estimation for his scientific 

 merits, he stood, if possible, yet higher in their thoughts as a man 

 deserving implicit trust. Till the close of his life his advice was 

 eagerly sought, for his counsel was as sagacious as his sympathies were 

 large ; and his decisions, calmly and quietly given, were accompanied 

 by a charm of earnestness and self-abnegation that compelled the 

 esteem and affection of all men, even of those who differed from him 

 in opinion. To this charm of manner and singleness of purpose was 

 added a singular receptivity of new thought; never warped by old 

 methods, nor trammelled by routine, he was equally ready to assimi- 

 late new truths, and to lend encouragement to every honest worker. 

 With him success was no measure of effort, and his praise was as un- 

 grudging as it was sincere. Judging others by his own earnestness 

 and candour, he was repaid by the profound respect of all with whom 

 he had to deal. To no man did fame ever come more unsought, and 

 no man was ever less spoiled by fame. Earely has such a warm sym- 

 pathy been felt so continuously : the honours that his labours and 

 character could not fail to secure him after death seem to have 

 attended him throughout his whole life : 



quod dedistis 

 viventi decus atque sentienti 

 ran post cineres habent. 



The Report of the Council was adopted. 



The following Grants were approved of by the Academy : — 



£25 6«. &d. to Mr. A. G. More and Professor Haddon for Dredging 

 in Dublin Bay. 



£20 to Mr. H. C. Hart in aid of the Exploration of the Botany of 

 the Killarney mountains. 



