393 



cists and the Classicists, are questions of the past. The victory has re- 

 mained with our national bard, and all interest is now concentrated on 

 the powers of execution, and critical rules and dogmas are utterly dis- 

 carded. 



Metaphysics, again, which a few years since were so popular a 

 course of intellectual amusement, seem almost forgotten, even on their 

 favourite ground, the Scotch Universities. 



I fear it must be admitted that, with the prevalence of utilitarian- 

 ism and political economy, poetry and the works of the imagination 

 have fallen into the background. There is still a Tennyson, and there 

 are some beautiful poems by our Transatlantic brethren; but lyrics 

 and ballad poetry, in which Ireland still continues to excel, have dis- 

 placed the epics and tragedies of our fathers. The progress of periodical 

 literature and novel writing has also contributed to this result. Doubt- 

 less, by this means a more general diffusion of a certain kind of know- 

 ledge and taste has taken place ; but it is a question whether the desul- 

 tory reading now so prevalent has not tended to wean young students 

 from habits of close thought, and from the perusal of standard works of 

 literature. 



There always will be a class of educated men, the bent of 

 whose mind will not be directed towards abstract science, and 

 polite literature has hitherto been their congenial pursuit. On 

 this account it is most desirable that literature should be kept 

 up to a high standard ; and I cannot but regret the prejudice, which 

 seems to be on the increase, against the study of the Classics. It cannot 

 be denied that in some of our public schools too much time has been 

 devoted to the practice of Latin and Greek composition ; but I am sure 

 it would be a matter of regret to find the Irish gentleman less able to 

 appreciate the works of Homer, Virgil, Horace, and the great orators 

 and historians of Greece and Rome in their own language. It cannot, 

 however, be said that we have neglected all questions appertaining 

 to polite literature. Philology is still popular ; and the able papers 

 of Dr. Hincks must occur to every mind. 



The efforts, also, which have been made to illustrate our Celtic lite- 

 rature must command the respect of every friend of Ireland. The pub- 

 lications of the Irish Archaeological and Celtic Society, in which some 

 of our members have had so great a share, have raised us much in the 

 estimation of foreigners; and the edition of the "Brehon Laws," now 

 in course of publication, is one of the most valuable contributions to the 

 materials of history in our days. I need not say that these great works 

 could hardly have been attempted without the assistance of two mem- 

 bers of this Academy, whose loss we can never cease to regret. 



It now remains for us to digest thoroughly these materials, and to 

 turn them to good account. Before doing so, however, it is most essen- 

 tial that a complete and reliable Irish Dictionary should be compiled 

 and printed. There are considerable materials already collected for 

 this purpose ; and our lamented member, the late Mr. Elliot Hudson, 

 has placed a considerable sum at our disposal in order to carry it 



