Minutes of Proceedings. 239 



as to the true functions of the Society was precisely in accord- taken by the 



ance with that now taken by the Council of the Academy. But '^'ifnesses 



examined. 

 it seems worth while to go a little farther, and to see how far 



that view was supported by the evidence of the able and learned 



men who either were personally examined, or whose written 



statements on the subject of the inquiry were laid before the 



Committee. 



" Isaac Weld, Esq. (Sec. to the E. D. S.). Mr. Weld. 



*' ' The objects of the Academy*'' and of the Dublin Society are 

 very different. The Dublin Society originated in the desire of 

 a number of men for practical improvement in the Arts, Manu- 

 factures, and Agriculture of the country. Such matters of deep 

 abstract Science as are frequently introduced at the Academy 

 have never engaged the attention of the Dublin Society.' — 

 Evidence, 57. 



*' De. (now SiE R.) Kane. (Paper read by Eobert Hutton, Dr. Kane. 

 Esq.) 



" ' It occurs to me that there is only one principle which can 

 be adopted, not indeed to the exclusion of every other, but on 

 that principle which must govern all the others — I mean the 

 dissemination among all classes of a knowledge of Physical 

 Science. It is, therefore, to the improvement of the Society as 

 an organ of Scientific instruction that all our efforts should, in 

 the first place, be directed. . . . 



'' ' The Society ought to give up all idea of becoming the 

 vehicle for the publication of original Articles. Nothing is 

 more absurd or mischievous than the opinions of many influential 

 members on that point. Surely the Society ought to know that 

 its end is not to advance any Science whatever, but to apply the 

 abstract principles of Science to practical purposes, which can 

 be best done by giving the requisite instruction to all classes of 

 the community without distinction.' — Ev. 1395. (Paragraphs 

 9 and 26.) 



* See in Eeport of 1836 the letter of H. Drummond, Under-Secretary, 

 March 17tli, 1836, par. 12, where the Royal Irish Academy is grouped with 

 the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh. Mo. 1371. 



