340 Royal Irish Academy. 



temperature made at GreenTvich, by means of a logarithmic formula, 

 easily applicable to similar observations made elsewhere. 



In the jS'atui'al Sciences the Academy has revived, during the 

 past six years, the impulse given to it by the late Dr. Macartney, 

 and we can show, by such Papers as those of Professor O'Eeilly, 

 on the Earthquakes of Europe ; of Hr. Y. Ball, on the Breeding 

 of Lions in Dublin ; and, above all, by that of Professor D. J. 

 Cunningham, on the Lumbar Curve in Man and the Apes, that this 

 ancient Academy need not fear any rivals in the discussion of any 

 branch of Science, either ancient or modem. 



In Letters, we have had two Papers, which, I trust, are only the 

 prelude to what may be expected in future from the same quarter, 

 viz. Mr. L. C. Purser, on the London iiss. of Cicero's Letters ; and 

 Mr. J. B. Bury, on the Praetorian Prefects and the Divisions of the 

 Eoman Empire in the Fourth Century a.d. 



In the Department of Antiquities we have had from our late 

 President the translation of the Patrician Documents into his own 

 graceful and attractive Anglo-Irish, of which he was so complete a 

 master — a translation that must di-aw and win students of other 

 branches of knowledge, who would otherwise have cared but little 

 for St. Patrick and his literary memorials. 



I should add to this the valuable Memoir on the Stowe Missal, by 

 the Eev. Dr. M'Carthy. 



In conclusion, Gentlemen, I now ask for your hearty support and 

 assistance, during the period in which it may please God that I shall 

 remain your President. 



"We close to-day a page of the past, and open another of the 

 future — 



" Cras ingens iterabimus sequor." 



The Secretary then read the following Pieport of the Council : — 



