1887-1888.] 33 



which the circular states was then in contemplation, additional 

 subscriptions were sought. From Mr. Patterson's address I 

 find that at intervals from 1838 till 1843, various Fine Art 

 Exhibitions were held in the upper room, the Society showing 

 then, as it has ever done since, its desire to afford accommoda- 

 tion to other bodies, and so to aid in the advancement of 

 scientific, literary, and artistic knowledge. In 1852 a further 

 addition was made to the Museum by the erection of the 

 "Thompson Room,'' as a memorial of the late William 

 Thompson, one of the earliest members of the Society, and one 

 of the most indefatigable and celebrated of our local Natura- 

 lists. I may state in passing that this room now contains a 

 fitting memorial of one of the originators of the Society, in the 

 shape of the geological collection of the late James M'Adam, 

 which was during the past year presented to the Museum by 

 his brother, Mr. Robert M'Adam. From various causes a 

 debt occurred about the year 1852, but courses of public lectures 

 delivered by Messrs. Robert Patterson, Richard Davidson, 

 M.P., George C. Hyndman, Dr. Andrews, Mr. James M'Adam, 

 and Dr. Wyville Thomson, materially reduced it, and by a 

 continued increase in the membership of the Society, the 

 Council's Report submitted in May 1866 intimated that the 

 Society was then free of debt. The more recent history of the 

 Society is known to most of you, but I must not omit to refer 

 to its action in recent years with regard to public lectures. By 

 its aid the Belfast public have had year by year the opportunity 

 of hearing at a nominal charge the interesting utterances of 

 some of the most eminent scientists of our day. 



The opening of the Queen's College in 1849 forms the next 

 point to which reference may be made. So far as the teaching 

 within its walls is concerned, but little is necessary to be said, 

 as the high scientific attainments of those who have occupied 

 its Chairs, and the distinguished position taken by its graduates 

 in all professions, and I may say in all lands, are matters known 

 to us all. Since the opening of the College its professorial staff 

 have not been those who confined their work to their class- 

 rooms, or who felt that their students were the only persons to 



