MEMOIR OE THE LATE ROBERT BALL, LL.D. 
3 
school, few now remain; hut among those few is Dr. Longfield, one of the 
Commissioners of the Incumbered Estates Court. That gentleman, in 
answer to an inquiry respecting the appearance and habits of his school¬ 
fellow, has most kindly furnished the following note :— 
“ He did not remain long at that school after I entered it. That 
circumstance, combined with the length of time (nearly half a century) 
which has since elapsed, makes me unable to give much information 
about his pursuits and habits there. I remember, however, that he 
was about my own age, was very slight and tall for his years. He was 
a pleasant companion, from the good temper and fairness with which he 
played tops, balls, marbles, and all other childish games. He used also 
to entertain us with stories of cranes, seals, and other animals. He was 
the only one of our class of little boys who had ever seen a seal, and he 
was never tired of telling stories about these animals, nor we of listen¬ 
ing to them.” These are “ the trivial, fond records” of early life, the 
recollections preserved by relatives and friends; yet the biographer 
would be justly blamable if, because of their being trivial, they should be 
blotted out. They shadow forth, even in their triviality, the future 
man; they demonstrate the existence in him of tastes and habits which 
were rare at that time, but which, happily, are so no longer. 
The ability which Ball displayed at Ballitore recommended him to 
his teachers, and the genuine kindliness of his disposition made him a 
favourite with his school-fellows. He is described as having been gentle 
and docile, fond of making experiments on birds, frogs, &c., retreating 
sometimes to his own room for that purpose, and when interrupted by 
the boys, driving them away with his bolster ! He was blessed with 
high spirits and great bodily vigour. It delighted him to use a large 
bow and arrow; the bow was one that no other boy at the school could 
bend. 
One cause of complaint, however, existed against him, and not 
without reason. The worthy lady who at that time took especial charge 
of the boarders’ clothes, and who is yet living, could not infuse into 
young Ball her own innate love of neatness in regard to dress. His 
clothes were occasionally torn, and often soiled or dirtied, while he was 
intent on obtaining some specimen, which to other eyes seemed worth¬ 
less. A limestone quarry near Mr. White’s residence was rich in 
fossils, and these lured him in his play-hours to efforts which were 
frequently damaging to his habiliments, and not at all conducive to 
habits of personal tidiness. 
At the age of sixteen he left Ballitore and returned home to 
Youghal. During the next few years his bodily frame was gradually 
developing itself by active outdoor occupations, and his observant 
powers were in constant exercise. Hot, however, content with merely 
observing, he recorded much that he saw, and sought to classify and ar¬ 
range the multifarious objects which a sea-side residence brought under 
his notice. 
His occupations were very diversified, including drawing, wood-turn¬ 
ing, classical reading with a tutor, and physical science, so far as it could 
