Minutes of Proceedings. 
51 
compounds, wliicli he discovered, of Copper, Mercury, Platinura, and 
other metals. In addition to his laboiirs in the fields of original 
research he published, in 1842, his Elements of Chemistry." 
Having been appointed Professor of I^atural Philosophy to the 
Eoyal Dublin Society in 1843, he delivered before the Society, in that 
year, a series of lectures on the natural sources of wealth in this 
country. These constituted the basis of his well-known book published 
in the following year, " The Industrial Eesources of Ireland," which, 
even in these days, notwithstanding the change of circumstances in 
various respects and the subsequent advancement of science, continues 
to be a work of great interest and importance. 
In 1849 Sir R. Kane was elected a Pellow of the Eoyal Society. 
Having been for a short time Director of the Museum of Irish 
Industry, Dublin, he was appointed, in 1849, the first President of 
Queen's College, Cork ; the duties of which post he zealously and 
efficiently discharged until he resigned it in 1873, when he came to 
live in Dublin. In 1875 he was appointed Commissioner of JN^ational 
Education, and a Member of the Academic Council of the University 
of Dublin, and, in 1880, a Member of the Senate of the Royal University. 
To us of the Academy his loss is great ; he was emphatically one 
of our land-marks, his Membership of the Academy having begun so 
far back as 1831. He was elected on the Council in 1841 ; he was 
Secretary of the Council from 1842 to 1846, and President of the 
Academy from 1877 to 1882. 
Along with his rare ability and scientific attainments, Sir E. Kane 
was endowed with qualities which made association with him very 
pleasant ; his excellent judgment and unruffled temper made him 
an admirable adviser on any point on which his opinion was asked, 
or when he felt it his duty to set forth his views. And in con- 
sequence of his habitual moderation he was able to hold and express 
perfectly definite opinions without forfeiting either the friendship or 
the respect of those from whom he differed. Perhaps few men of his 
position have preserved so steadily to the end so large a circle of friends ; 
and there are still fewer whom even opponents would name with 
such unfeigned esteem and respect. 
It should not be forgotten that his work was in various ways 
pre-eminently of a national character ; the result of his labours tended 
directly to benefit and to ameliorate the condition of his fellow- 
