Minutes of Proceedings. 265 



a similar spectroscopic digest equally minute, compreliensive, and au- 

 thentic. !N"o one could now tliink of essaying any generalization on 

 the subject ■without resorting to these lists, as a necessary companion 

 of his steps and foundation for his inferences. You have yourself, 

 with commendable prudence, refrained from inference. If I might 

 express an individual opinion, I would say that not the least of your 

 deserving consists in the candour with which you declared your belief 

 in the insufficiency of the then existing data for any reliable induction 

 as to the constitution or direct motions of these bodies. In their gyra- 

 tions, they may be receding deeper into the abyss, or they may be 

 emerging into shallower depths coasting our own system. You 

 content yourself with noting facts. It is thus solid knowledge 

 is ultimately attained to. Of you, let it be said, sic itur ad astra. 

 Proceed, with the best wishes of the Academy, in your philoso- 

 phic method ; and bear back with you to the Birmingham Country 

 this Medal, as a token and assurance to our brethren beyond the 

 Shannon that wherever Irishmen devote their leisure to higher learn- 

 ing, there exists for them here, in the capital of their own part of 

 the United Kingdom, a Body having perpetual succession, and speak- 

 ing with the voice of constituted authority, whose business it is to 

 sympathise with them, to encourage and to reward. 



The President then presented the Medal to Mr. Birmingham. 



The Secretary read a Eeport by Mr. Samuel A. Stewart " On the 

 Botany of the Island of Bathlin, county of Antrim." 



Dr. Lyons, m.p., read, by permission of the President, an Abstract 

 of Mr. D. Howitz's "Preliminary Eeport on Ee-foresting of Ireland, 

 with a List of Trees proposed for Planting and Cultivation in 

 Ireland." 



A vote of thanks was passed to Dr. Lyons for bringing this 

 Abstract before the Academy. 



Donations were announced, and thanks were voted to the Donors. 



Part 1 of the "Proceedings," Yol. iv., Ser. ii., Science, January, 

 1884, was laid on the table. 



The following Eesolution was moved by Dr. E, P. Wright, 

 seconded by the Rev. M. H. Close, and carried :— 



"That it be referred to the Council to consider and determine 

 whether it is not expedient to have the Academy placed on the 

 Dublin Telephone System." 



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