MEMOIR OF THE LATE ROBERT BALL, LL. D. 
25 
House, Dublin, when its own funds were not sufficiently flourishing to 
enable it to rent rooms for its own occupation. Subsequently he was 
one of the principal supporters, if not the originator, of the proposition 
which was afterwards carried out, that the Society should offer its col¬ 
lection to the University of Dublin, which had for some years previously 
been taking a most praiseworthy interest in the Natural Sciences. As 
a fellow-worker with him for many years, I can testify to the untiring 
zeal with which he entered into every plan for the advancement of the 
Society, and to the truly disinterested and active aid he afforded in 
carrying them out. During the many years I was Secretary, and after¬ 
wards President, of the Society, Ball was one of the great supporters of 
the institution, and through good report and evil report he never failed 
in his confidence in its final success, or wavered in his steady adhesion 
to its ranks. The Journal of the Society contains a few contributions 
by him, bearing principally on the light thrown on geological questions 
by natural history research among living animals; and it was but a 
just and proper acknowledgment of these long-continued services which 
the Society gave expression to, in his election to the Chair.” 
“In the internal management of the Society his friendly and social 
intercourse with most of the members was of great avail. It was chiefly 
by his persuasion that the Council adopted the plan of meeting at break¬ 
fast, a plan attended with the most beneficial results, and still continued 
with great success. Dr.- Ball’s purely geological work was not much; 
but on this, as on every other subject with which he was acquainted, 
we all felt, and acted on the feeling, that we should in no case apply to 
him without being certain of obtaining from him every information that 
he himself possessed: and this was always given with the most perfect 
frankness and the most friendly earnestness.” 
The Geological Society of Dublin was founded in 1831; the Natural 
History Society seven years afterwards. Of the latter I find no mention 
in any of Dr. Ball’s papers that came into my hands; and for the fol¬ 
lowing particulars referring to it I am indebted to the kindness of its 
excellent Honorary Secretary, William Andrews, Esq. This gentleman 
informs me, that the first meeting of the Dublin Natural History Society 
was held on the 19th March, 1838. At its third meeting, in April of 
the same year, Dr. Ball and W. Thompson, Esq., were elected Honorary 
Members. Dr. Ball afterwards became an Ordinary Member, and as 
such was placed on the Council. He does not appear, however, to have 
read papers or taken any active part in the management, and his name 
was afterwards removed. In the session of 1841-42 Mr. Andrews was 
elected one of the Secretaries in the room of Mr. Clarke, who retired on 
his ordination. Mr. Andrews was desirous of introducing certain changes 
tending to elevate the character of the Society, and he was also anxious 
that the names of Dr. Scouler and Dr. Ball should be placed on the 
Council. Both were rejected. Erom that time Dr. Ball never interested 
himself in the proceedings of the Society. 
The Statistical Society was established in 1847 : Dr. Ball was one 
VOL. V.-REV. E 
