22 
MEMOIR OF THE LATE ROBERT BALL, LL. D. 
to term “their sense of his distinguished merits,” by conferring on him 
the honorary degree of LL. D. 
Erom the time that he entered fairly on the duties of his new office, 
Dr. Ball looked forward to making the Museum directly the means of 
instruction; and in the first “Report” announced his intention (when 
the arrangements were further advanced) “to form a class of Practical 
and Philosophical Zoology.” “ In the meantime,” it added, “he will 
be happy to afford to students all the information in his power to aid 
them in any zoological pursuits they may engage in.” This scheme was 
never carried out as originally contemplated; but, a few years after¬ 
wards, a new organization was formed, under his auspices, which suc¬ 
ceeded in drawing together some ardent and youthful naturalists, whose 
zeal required not to be stimulated, but merely to be guided aright. He 
became the personal friend of each of its members and their much- 
respected President. To this reference will be made hereafter. 
In 1851, on the formation of the Queen’s University in Ireland, he 
was honoured with a request from Lord Clarendon and the Senate that 
he would undertake the office of Secretary. He made this known to the 
Provost and Board of Trinity College, and, after consulting them on the 
subject, he, with their full approval, accepted the highly flattering pro¬ 
posal. 
Of the nature of the varied and responsible duties in connexion with 
this appointment, no one not a member of the Senate, is competent to 
speak. Their opinion on the subject was afterwards expressed under 
circumstances that gave a peculiar solemnity to the act. 
In the autumn of 1854 he was requested to act as Secretary to 
the Joint Committee of Lectures. That Committee was appointed 
under the Department of Science and Art, and consisted of eight members, 
four on the part of Government, and four on the part of the Royal Dublin 
Society. The matters which came under its control were of a twofold 
nature,—first, Lectures common to the Royal Dublin Society and to the 
Museum of Irish Industry; and, secondly, Provincial Lectures and Ex¬ 
aminations throughout Ireland. The subjects were classed under the three 
general heads of Natural History, Chemistry, and Natural Philosophy, 
each of these being divided into departments. Dr. Ball took a warm 
interest in the success of these lectures, seeing in them a powerful means 
of diffusing over Ireland some elementary knowledge of several impor¬ 
tant branches of physical science. No salary was originally attached to 
the office of Secretary, for the very sufficient reason that no one could 
predict what possible amount of duty he might be called to fulfil. On 
his death, however, his faithful and able services were acknowledged, 
and some compensation for them transmitted to his widow. 
In 1855 he was employed as Assistant Examiner for Ireland to the 
Civil Service Commission, and continued up to the period of his death 
to fulfil, with acknowledged ability and impartiality, the duty confided 
to him. It involved the necessity of answering great numbers of letters 
from the several candidates and their friends, and many from gentlemen 
personally known to himself, who sought to interest him on behalf of 
