4 
MEMOIR OP THE LATE ROBERT BALL, LL. D. 
be carried on in the observatory of Dr. Dartnel. He read much, and as 
his memory was retentive, it is probable that the miscellaneous books 
which then fell into his hands contributed largely to the varied charac¬ 
ters of the information he possessed. 
It was during the years now spent at Youghal that a large amount of 
his extensive zoological knowledge was acquired. He fought his way to 
it alone and unaided, and through difficulties which would have deterred 
one who was less in earnest. An early friend of his, and one whose 
friendship throughout life has been “ without variableness or shadow 
of turning,” Richard Dowden (Richard), of Cork, has kindly sup¬ 
plied some memoranda, from which the folio wing passage is extracted:— 
“Dr. Ball was a self-made naturalist; he enjoyed no opportunities of 
an assisting nature; he had no one of any position in his science to ap¬ 
plaud or sustain his exertions; indeed, on the contrary, the only person 
who gave attention to science, in Dr. Ball’s contiguity, was interested 
in natural philosophy, and rather contemned £ the preparing of skeletons 
on the sea-shore, and such’ (as the natural philosopher called them) 
i useless and slovenly operations.’ But Dr. Ball worked on; he did not 
depend on sympathy for his encouragement, and the only help he sought 
for was aid in determining a species, or establishing a habitat, or an 
animal’s habit. This kind of inquiry in a country town, thirty miles 
from a very moderately supplied natural history library, had its diffi - 
culties and its disappointments. Dr. Ball, though he left us in the ver T 
vigour of his life, began his natural history progress at a time when a 
literature fitted to help him did not exist in the extent which may now 
be easily commanded. Descriptions were carelessly and obscurely given; 
writers often contradicted each other, and put the inquirer into confu¬ 
sion; any of the less common objects were scarcely known, and ‘Shaw’s 
Miscellany of Natural History, in twenty-four duodecimos,’ was consi¬ 
dered the cyclopedia of marvels, where everything beyond the most 
every-day objects in natural history was to be found. There were other 
books in great metropolitan libraries, but when postage was high, when 
railroads were unknown, and when travelling after knowledge was rare, 
the resources of a provincial investigator were rather limited. I record 
these facts because they may indicate to young men how much of our 
progressive power is our own. No doubt every facility should be 
prized and taken advantage of; but when we find zeal and perseverance 
thus making a noble triumph over most discouraging wants, it is ob¬ 
vious that earnestness is the first power leading to success, and that, 
without it, no abundance of materials can make any man a really 
well-informed and useful naturalist.” 
At all periods of his life Dr. Ball devoted much of his energy to 
institutions having reference to the well-being of others. Accordingly, 
as he approached the age of twenty-one, we find him taking part in 
the management of the Loan Eund in Youghal, the Savings Bank, the 
Never Hospital, and the Library and Reading Room. 
Great distress unhappily prevailed about this time among the starving 
poor, and large collections made for their relief were confided to him. 
