216 



before tlie Academy^ during the past year. We have had papers on 

 Scientific subjects from Sir Win. R. Hamilton, the Rev. Professor Haugh- 

 ton, Professor Downing, Professor Sullivan, Mr. DavidMoore, Mr. George 



C. Garnett, Mr. George C. Knox, Mr. Alexander Macalister, Major 

 Paul W. Phillips, R.A., Lieut. J. Haughton, P. A., and Mr. John 

 Locke ; in Polite Literature, from the Rev. Dr. Reeves, Mr. W. H. 

 Hardinge, Lord De Ros, Mr. G. C. Garnett, Mr. Samuel Ferguson, Mr. 



D. H. Kelly, Mr. P. W. Joyce, and Mr. Herbert Hore; in Antiquities, 

 from the President, from Captain Meadows Taylor, Sir Wm. R. Wilde, 

 Mr. S. Ferguson, Mr. George H. Kinahan, Mr. Du Noyer, Mr. E. A. 

 Conwell, Mr. Henry O'Hara, and Mr. W. G. Brooke. 



During the past year the Library has received donations to the ex- 

 tent of 203 volumes, chiefly contributed by bodies with which the 

 Academy exchanges publications. We are indebted to the liberality 

 of the French Government for a series of the valuable historical publi- 

 cations issued under the direction of the Minister of Public Instruction. 

 A further portion of the arrears of binding has been executed ; and to 

 this department has been allocated a sum of £29, bequeathed to the 

 Academy by the late Mr. Beriah Botfield. 



The Collection of Antiquities has been increased during the past 

 year by eighty-nine donations, sixty-one articles obtained by purchase, 

 and seventy-six procured under the Treasure-trove regulations, amongst 

 which are several gold ornaments of considerable value. Mr. Marcus 

 Keane has deposited in the Museum a valuable relic from the county 

 of Clare, called the " Clog Or." 



Nearly all the cases in the Museum being now full, it has been sug- 

 gested that more accommodation, as well as better light, would be ob- 

 tained by removing the Collection of Antiquities to the spacious and 

 handsome room, available for the purpose, on the second story of the 

 Academy's house. 



In April, 1864, the House of Commons appointed a Select Com- 

 mittee to inquire into the condition of the Scientific Institutions of 

 Dublin which are assisted by Government aid. The Yery Rev. the Pre- 

 sident, Sir W. R. Wilde, and the Rev. Professor Jellett were examined 

 at length by the Committee on the present state and requirements of 

 the Academy. In their Report the Committee speak in very high terms 

 of the public services rendered by the Academy. " This Society," they 

 observe, " has had upon its lists since its foundation almost every man 

 in Ireland distinguished in abstract science, in the sciences of experi- 

 ment and observation, in literature, and in archaeology ; it has illustrated 

 the history and character of its own country by works of originality and 

 importance ; it has further illustrated and awakened an interest in that 

 history by its Museum of Irish Antiquities. The liberality of its mem- 

 bers in contributing to those objects is deserving of remark. As a pecu- 

 liarly national institution, it has no ordinary claims for support in car- 

 rying out its present work, and for encouragement in extending it." 



The requirements of the different departments of the Academy, to 



