tance being the collection of Irish antiquities presented last year 

 by Mr. Benn, and now deposited in the new room downstairs. 



An important, but now by many almost forgotten, episode in 

 the history of the society was what is spoken of in our records as 

 " the Porter bequest." This was a sum of ^5,000, apparently 

 intended to be willed to the Museum by the late Mr. John 

 Porter of this town. The validity of this bequest was called in 

 question ; and, after getting the best legal opinions obtainable 

 on the subject, the council of the society considered that 

 it would not be prudent to enter into litigation to support 

 their claim. They therefore abandoned it, and, having informed 

 the residuary legatee of their intention of doing so, this gentle- 

 man offered, on 10th May, 1868 — (1) To provide cases for the 

 proper display of the articles presented to the Museum by Mr. 

 Porter, (2) to pay the law costs incurred ; and (3) to present the 

 Museum with a sum of ^"500, which offers were duly accepted. 

 The gentleman who acted thus handsomely is my friend Mr. 

 Edward Porter Cowan,* the present excellent and popular Mayor 

 of Belfast. j 



In a brief sketch such as this of the history of the society and 

 the Museum it is not easy to adhere strictly to the chronological 

 order of events without increasing the tedium of the description. 

 However, I think that, except the addition to the building, 

 which was completed only last year, and which is so recent that 

 it need not now be alluded to, I have mentioned the principal 

 events in the material history if this Museum ; but the moral 

 history of the society that meets within its walls would not be 

 so easily written. That the society has exercised a considerable 

 influence towards the cultivation of natural science in the town 

 and district is undeniable, and the future historian of Belfast 

 will fail in his duty if he do not accord to many of those whose 

 names have been mentioned here this evening the acknowledg- 

 ments that are due in this regard. I feel, however, and say it 

 with regret, that in my opinion, the society has perhaps passed 

 the zenith of its importance ; and that its influence and the 

 interest excited by its proceediugs have latterly been on the 



* Now Sir Edward Porter Cowan. 



