278 Royal Irish Academy. 



and scientific BocU.es in Dublin, and the creation out of them of a large 

 institution with extended and well-defined priyileges. The advantages 

 of such an amalgamation are very clear, and His Excellency would be 

 disposed to further it by erery means in his power, and would be quite 

 ready to deal thoroughly with the subject as a whole so soon as it is 

 ripe for settlement. He cannot but feel, howerer, that whatever may 

 be the present prospects of amalgamation, they would be materially 

 lessened by granting such a Charter as the Eoyal Dublin Society now 

 seek to obtain, and he is not, therefore, prepai-ed to submit to the 

 Queen a proposal for the extension of the functions of the Eoyal 

 Dublin Society as proposed by them. 



"As the Society contend that they have already power under their 

 existing Charters to pursue their scientific investigations, he considers 

 that the present requirements of the case would be best met by a 

 Charter which should continue the existing powers of the Society, 

 and at the same time provide for the internal administrative changes 

 which its altered cii'cumstances appear to requii'e. These should not, 

 however, include the power to grant Fellowships, which His Excellency 

 considers would be unadvisable at the present time ; nor does he think 

 a sufficient reason has been shown for the recital of the Society in the 

 Draft Charter as the ' Eoyal Society of Dublin.' 



'' Should the Society decide to accept these proposals, and submit 

 a Draft Charter in accordance with them, His Excellency will cause 

 the necessary steps to be taken for its being laid before the Law 

 Officers of the Crown, and subsequent submission to the Queen, with 

 as little delay as possible. 



"I am to add that His Excellency has communicated his views 

 on the subject to the Lords of the Committee of the Council of 

 Education, and has received from them a letter in which they state 

 that they have no objections to make to His Excellency's proposals. 



''I am, &c., 

 (Signed) "E. Gr. C. Hamilton. 



"■ The Secketaet, 

 *' Royal Bullin Society.'''' 



The Secretary laid on the table Part 15, Yol. xxviii., of the Trans- 

 actions (Science): "Expansion of Elliptic Eunctions," by William 



Xicolls, E.A. 



