220 



been fully recognised by the Select Committee. But, from scantiness 

 of funds, it is impossible to purchase many valuable articles which are 

 offered by the finders. The public are freely admitted to inspect the 

 Museum ; but there is great need of a Curator, who could give con- 

 stant attendance, and whose business it should be, not merely to make 

 arrangements for the safe custody of the subjects in the collection, but 

 to give useful information to visitors. He would also be employed in su- 

 perintending the making of Casts and Photographs, to be exchanged 

 with other collections. 



Fourthly, a salary for a Library Clerk is required, as well as addi- 

 tional funds for the purchase of books, and for binding. Both for the 

 convenience of readers and the safety of the books and manuscripts 

 they may consult, and also for the recovery, at stated periods, of vo- 

 lumes lent to members, it is necessary to have an attendant perma- 

 nently and exclusively occupied with these duties. The Library of 

 the Academy is particularly rich in the Transactions of learned socie- 

 ties, and in works relating to Ireland ; and it is only the want of a suf- 

 ficient staff which prevents the Council from making it still more availa- 

 ble for the use of the public than it has hitherto been. 



Fifthly, the Academy requires aid towards the printing and illus- 

 tration of its " Transactions" and " Proceedings." The knowledge 

 of the smallness of the funds now available for these purposes prevents 

 persons from coming forward to read papers ; and several valuable 

 communications have, for this reason, been withdrawn from us, and 

 presented to learned societies elsewere. There is a special difficulty 

 with respect to papers on natural science, arising from the expense at- 

 tending the illustrations which are absolutely necessary to make them 

 intelligible and useful. 



For all these reasons, the Council of the Boyal Irish Academy beg 

 leave earnestly to urge upon your Lordships the propriety of making 

 such increased provision for the wants of the Institution as has been 

 suggested in the Eeport of the Select Committee; and respectfully 

 request that your Lordships will include in the next Estimates to 

 be submitted to Parliament an additional Grant to the Academy of 

 £1000. 



I have the honour to be, my Lords, 



Your Lordships' obedient humble Servant, 

 Chaeles Geaves, D. D., 



President of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Eesolved, — That the Eeport now read, with the Appendix, be re- 

 ceived and adopted by the Academy. 



The ballots for the annual election of President, Council, and Officers, 

 having been scrutinized in the face of the Academy, the President re- 

 ported that the following gentlemen were duly elected : — 



President The Yery Eev. Charles Graves, D. D. 



