15 
proved of are published in the Transactions. The Royal Dublin Society takes * 
different range, and is a much older body. The charter for its incorporation was 
granted nearly a century ago; and the Society had existed for many years before, 
as a private body. As it possibly may not be altogether uninteresting to the mem* 
bers of your Institution to be made acquainted with the establishments of the 
Royal Dublin Society, I shall endeavor to give a succinct view of them. 
I. A Botanic Garden, founded about the year 1790, containing twenty-seven 
English acres, with extensive ranges of Conservatories, all maintained in very 
beautiful and efficient order. Besides the main compartments, for the exposition 
of the Linnaean system of plants, others are devoted to the experimental cultivation 
of useful plants in relation to agriculture, &c. A Professor, Dr. S. Litton, resides 
at the Garden, who delivers lectures there, in the season, at an early hour of the 
morning, which are most numerously attended ; and other lectures at the Society’s 
theatre in Dublin. All the lectures and all the public instruction delivered under 
the auspices of the Society are free to the public, without any charge whatsoever; 
but the Professors are permitted to receive fees from private pupils, when they 
offer. 
II. An extensive Chemical Laboratory and dependencies, well provided with 
apparatus, under the superintendence of Professor Davy, a cousin of Sir Hum¬ 
phrey, who delivers lectures. 
III. Department of Mineralogy and Geology, under Professor D. Scouler, 
About the year 1790, the Society purchased, at an expense of about £1,500, the 
celebrated Cabinet of Minerals formed by Leske, a favorite pupil of Werner, con¬ 
sisting of upwards of 7,000 specimens, each of which is elaborately described in 
a printed catalogue for the benefit of students. The arrangement of this Cabinet 
has been allowed to remain in its original state; but other series of minerals have 
been arranged on later and improved systems, and detailed catalogues have been 
printed, for explanation and study. 
IV. A general Museum, also tinder the care of Dr. Scouler. With the annual 
augmentations of subjects, more room has become necessary, and the foundation 
has already been laid of a new edifice for the express purpose. The Museum is 
open to the public on certain days in the week, and is usually visited by from 
20,000 to 30,000 visiters in the course of the year. 
V. Department of Natural Philosophy and Mechanics, provided with valuable 
instruments and models, under Professor Kane, M. D. who delivers lectures. 
VI. Four Schools of Design. 1. For the study of the human figure. 2. For 
the study of general ornament. 3. For the study of architecture and plain draw¬ 
ing. 4. For the study of modelling in clay. 
There is a different master for each school, and each school is open, in rotation, 
for three hours, on three alternate days in the week, 9 to 12, and 12 to 3. These 
schools have been established for fourscore years, and since their first opening have 
never failed to send forth young men who have become distinguished in the British 
school of arts. At the present day may be enumerated Sir Martin Archer Shee, 
President of the Royal Academy of Painting in London; Mr. Behner, the cel©** 
