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v
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY.
VOL. V.
DUBLIN: PRINTED BY M. H. GILL,
PRINTER TO THE ACADEMY.
MDCCCLIIL.
Opal rand mi
har ot OF od
Tue Acapemy desire it to be understood, that they are not answerable for any opinion, representation of facts, or train of reasoning, that may appear in the following Papers. The Authors of the several Essays are alone responsible for their contents.
deen. pte!
\ gules eay a x tet,
gy, hibbe yaciaes She
CONTENTS.
VOLUME V.
1850-1853.
PAGE.
On the Induction of Soft Iron, as applied to the Determination of the Changes of the Earth’s rate Force. By-the Rev. Hum- phrey Lloyd, President. . .
A Notice of the Cyclonic Gale of the 6th October 1850. By th the Red Humphrey Lloyd, President.
On the same. By the Rev. Samuel Hauler: raf a
On the Meteorological Observations published in the Prdeothijes by Mr. George Yeates. By W. Hogan, Esq. . . , .. .-
On the Reproductive System and Development of the cg tet in Paludicella articulata. By Professor Allman.
On the Isogonal Lines in Ireland. By' the Rey. ‘Humphrey Loyd, President. :
On a Collection of Shoes en of Bronze er near Coleraine By M. J. Anketell, Esq. .
On the Cyclone of the 19th November, 1850. By the Rev. “Fain phrey Lloyd, President. .
ou anmene Brooch ra near Drogheda By George Petrie,
On ed Artificial Prediction of Valerianie Acid. By pee * Azjohn,
A Letter toni R. Lapkiti
On an [rish MS. of the Four Gospels in i td British iri By the Rev. William Reeves, D. D. ;
On the Improvement of Linhthatess. By M. Baca Esq.
On the Structure of the Muscular Fibre in the cdg (pus By Pro- fessor Allman. r
On the Vitrified Fort at Sbantamon, Co. Cevias By hes Rev. W. P. Moore.
On a Geometrical Proof of Joachimsta’s Theorem By ‘the Rev: Charles Graves, D.D. . . . .. . ES bo
vi CONTENTS.
PAGE.
On the same. By Sir William R. Hamilton, LAD ok: hee eee
On “ Etymological Criticism.” By N. L. Benmohel, Esq. . . . 75 On the early Alchemical and Chemical i ais a! M. noe
Esq. . - aay 8l On an ctennt Irish eee Pokbited for Rev. Dr. Roieal: By
George Petrie, LL.D. . - 82
A Generalization of Pascal’ sirntoretn. By Sir William R. Hamilton. 100 Inaugural Address. By the Rey. Thomas R. Robinson, D.D.. . 101 On Comets. By Edward J. Cooper, Esq. . . . - . - - « I12
On the Connexion between Certain Terminations of Words in the Hebrew and in different Indo- pnd ey sasha oh the Rey. Francis Crawford. . . . . Abarth, ’ 112
On Experiments made in Dublin to determine the Azimuthal Motion of the Plane of Vibration of a freely suspended Pendulum. By the Rev. Samuel Haughton andthe Rev. Joseph A. Galbraith. 117, 177
On the Emission of Light by Aaeenhanies toni By Pro-
fessor Allman... . .-. - Sues 2. 23 On the Original Fluidity of the Barth and some vier ‘Planets, ee! the Rev. Samuel Haughton. . . . ... . 127
On two ancient Anaglyphs, preserved in the MS. ee of si Li. brary of Trinity Colleges Dublin. my the Rev. James Kennedy
Bailie, D. D. . re PASS On an ancient Irish See a ae in be Chapter-howse, West-
minster. By the Rev. William Reeves, D. D. As . 132 On Concert Pitch. By Michael Donovan, Esq.. - . - - 138
On an Apparatus intended to illustrate the Azimuthal Motion of a freely suspended Pendulum. By the Rev. Robert V. Dixon. . 139
On a Formula, containing a Symbol which denotes Rotation through a given angle and round a given axis, by means of Rectangular Co-ordinates and Differential Co- efficients. By the Rey. Charles Graves,D.D. . . . ne teahe » eee
A Letter from the Rev. R. v. Dixin, proposing to establish a Mu- seum in Trinity College, Dublin, ‘for pice aik Instruments and Apparatus fallen into disuse. . . - 5 UMPC ERC m sor
On the Experimental Determination of the Limits of the Transit Rate of the Propagation of Waves or Pulses, analogous to those of Earthquakes through solid materials. By ‘Robert Mallet, Esq. 143
On the Account of Thomas de Chaddisworth, Custodee of the Tem- poralities of the UL re ee from 1221 to 1256. By Sir
William Betham. . . Ames. wre ls: On the Irish MSS. in the Pirates Library. By the Rev. James
Henthorn Todd, D.D. . 162 On the Nature and Piivenine of the Rete Fescuie of Six te.
tors. By Sir William R. Hamilton, LL.D. . . .- - Ae.
On a singular Acoustic Phenomenon hasd Roping: Forks. By) M. Do- novan, Esq. « ares keys
EO e——————
CONTENTS. vil
PAGE.
On the formation of Wood in Plants. By David Moore, Esq. 187 On a Thunder-shower observed at Markree Gites on June 30, 1851.
By Edward J. Cooper, Esq. . : - 196 On the same. By the Rev. Thomas R. nities? D. D. 197 On the Solar Eclipse in August, 1851. eg the Rey. iwhtician R.
Robinson, D.D. . 198 On a Meteoric Ptlerininieni similar to an ihviowe Borealis ‘By
Digby Pilot Starkey, Esq. . . 198 On the same. By the Rey. T. R. Retiienn) D. ‘D. y Faceig 198 On ancient Coins found in Ireland. By George Petrie, LL. D. 199 On the same. By the Earl of Enniskillen. : . 200 The Address of the President in the rapa of the Cunningtiam
Medal to the Rev. John H. Jellett. 200 On Dalton’s shins of Mixed ya at Joseph Patton, » Bg, by of
Bombay. . 203 On an ancient Bell, said to bad belonged to St. ii: By Jobn
Bells Bages \ 9s igei td os aha - « 206 On certain Antiquities recut Sabbiied io the Pave of Clava!
free, Co. Roscommon. By Denis H. Kelly, Esq. 208 On the Ses rerid of the ond wc Elk. By Ribers Ball,
LL. D. ohne 214 On ciinaps Sabet: By Gein Pattie, LL. D. 214 On the same. By the Earl of Enniskillen . 214
On the Connexion of Quaternions with Continued Fhabtions and
Quadratic Equations. By Sir William R. Hamilton, LL. D. 219, 299
On an Aurora visible in Dublin on the afin of October 2nd, 1851. By Rev. Samuel Haughton. .
Ona MS. in the a aad of a By Charles P. Mae Donnell,
Esq. 222 On the Whirlwind hich sed over ms October 5th, 1851.
By Daniel Griffin, M.D. . . 225 On the same. By the Rev. Humphrey Lloyd D. D., and Robert
Mallet, Esq. . . . . 230 On an ancient Deed, being a inka of aie in bks, fiom Donald
Mac Donald, Lord of the Isles. By the Rev. W. Reeves, D.D. 230 On Inscribed Crosses on Stones, nae with ae pam
tions. By the Rev. Charles Graves, D. D. 234 On the British Association's eaalogse of recorded Earthquakes, By
Robert Mallet, Esq. . . 235 On the Homology of Organs a the Affinities of the Palyzoa wal
Tunicata. By Professor Allman. - 237 On several Collections of Antiquities made we the Officers of the
Board of Works, and pee to the Academy. Aine also Ap-
pendix No. II.) By W. T. Malvany, Esq. . 239, 243
On the Affinity of Hebrew to the Celtic Dialects. By is Rey. Francis Crawford. :
vuli CONTENTS. PAGE.
On the ordinary Theorem by which the magnifying Power of a Tele- scope is determined. By the Rey. Thomas Romney Robinson, nD areae peer ee . 249
Address to the Earl of foaic. ees ee of Irelands Ke. 253
On a Method of PRSSETUIAE rusted Iron -Amanities, &e. By Tho- mas F. Bergin, Esq. .« . 266
Address to the Earl of Beata, ae Tieden of Traine ee. 269
On the Quantity of Caloric necessary to produce equal Volumes of the Vapours of different Liquids. By James Apjohn,M.D.. . 272
On a Fragment of an ancient Pentateuch Roll. By the Rev. peor.
Fan cis es Daigeeaie aine | Br cor eee - 275 A Letter relating to the paieconery in China of Jews. By w. E. ‘D. Broughton, Esq.,R.E. . . . 281
On Continued Fractions. By Sir William R. ‘Haiwilign, LL. D. 281, 299
On a Generalization of the Symbolic Statement of pace s Theo- rem. By the Rev. Charles Graves,D.D. . . wine yp 2S
On the Effects produced by the Vicinity of the Railroad on the Ob- servatory at Armagh. By the Rey. Thomas R. Robinson, D.D. 287
On an Improvement in the Illuminating of Objects in the ee
Microscope. By Thomas Grubb, Esq. sites ep Saas . 296 On the Structure of the Claviform and Sertularian Zoophytes, PY Professor Allman... . . 297
On the Khorsabad iaesianigas By the nex, Balun Hincks, D. D. 301 On the Atomic weight of sree Hed Alexander Mae Don-
nell, Esq. . 303 On the Chemical Gonna me Optica Ciencia of Baines
By James Apjohn, M.D. . . . . 307 On the Effects of Lightning in the Heue No. 19, dasthane lace.
By James Apjohn, M. D. said 309
On Electro-Magnets. By the Rey. Thanks panues Beniab D. D. 310 On the Illumination of Objects in the gel ae Micr pages By
Thomas F. Bergin, Esq. . . . “ 313 On Scotch Coins and Counterfeits in inc leRee By Aquila Smith, MOD A eS ikerh 4 vfike ees ‘ . 324
On the grounds on witch the faccit hetastion was iets of Elect. ing Honorary Members. By the Rev. Charles Graves, D. D. . 331
On the same. By the President. . . . . 335 On the Affinities of certain Irish and Latin Ww nas By the Rev. Charles Graves,D.D. . . . . 337 On the Total Curvature of Bounded Pins of ap hc By ‘the Revs @harlesGravess is D5. sa eters Mate ne. as 339
On Barometric Determinations of Height, made with the view of examining by direct observation the different Formule which have been proposed for introducing the Hygrometric condition of the Air into the calculation of Heights. bigs Rey. Professor ha ie aA RSS SARS is alli . dtl
CONTENTS. ix PAGE.
On the Analysis of the Waters of the Streams which descend from the side of the Dublin Mountains. By Sir Robert Kane, M.D. 349 On thesame. By James Apjohn, M.D. . . . . : Mees 37 |
Letter from Mr. James S. Knowles, accompanying ey cast of an Inscribed Monumental Stone, found in St. sae aes London. ;
On Rhyming Rats to Death, By the pa J. HL Todd, D. D. - 395
On the Probable Errors of the Eye and Ear in Transit Olectration By the Rev. T. R. Robinson, D. D., President. . . : - 366
Address to Earl St. Germans, Lord Lieutenant, &c. . . . . . 373 On the Development of the Ferment Cells and other Vital Ete
mena of Fermentation. By Professor Allman. . . «ee Answer to the Address to the Lord Lieutenant. . . . ate.)
On the Nature and Relative Proportion of the Alkalies occurring in the Granite of the Vicinity of Dublin. By J. Apjohn, M. D. 379, 418
On the same. By Sir Robert Kane,M.D.. . . - Vel. eee
On the shania ee of the Moon. by the Shade H. aes D. D. 383
On ES cescatvicat lasipuetintich ot ein Results Ghtained by bey lation with Biquaternions. By Sir William R. Hamilton, LL.D. 388
On Ogham Monuments. By the Rev. Charles Graves, D. D. . 401 On the Names of the Ran Te Months, &c. mgd the Rev. Edward
Hineks, D.D. . . 403 On the Checiieal! Composition of the Antiquities in the hudba!
By Mr. William Mallet. . . - 407 On the Achievements of Magnus Barefoot, King of Nave}: By the
Rey. W. H. Drummond, D. D. - « . 407, 421, 476
On the Geometrical Demonstration Fe some T hpeihin by means of the Quaternion Analysis. By Sir William R. Hamilton, LL.D. 407
On the Properties of the Functions of two Variables employed in the Interpretation of Triplets. By the Rev. Charles Graves, D.D. 423
On the Codex Montfortianus, By the Rev. Orlando Dobbin, LL. D. 430
On the Cross of Kilnasagart. By J. Huband Smith, Esq. . . . 434 On the Influence of the Moon ak the Position of the freely sus- pended Horizontal Magnet. By the Rev. H. Lloyd, D.D.. . 434 On the Webaedeeg of aie ay: 4 Surfaces, er the ae Professor Jellett. . se - 441 On the Hbcuiinte of Hydri, By Picfomor. Adler: Taar - 444 On the Primary Stages of ene and eee By Robert D. Lyons, M. B. - . 445, 480 On ancient Irish Relatatien By the ee. J H. Todd, Dail 6} On the same. By George Petrie, LL.D. . ....... 467
An Account of the late Professor M‘Cullagh’s Lectures on Attrac- tions, and Clairaut’s Theorem, reported by G. J. Allman. By ave Key. Samuel Haugttons A
b
x CONTENTS.
PAGE,
On a Modification of Mr. Green’s Formule, applicable to the repre- ; sentation of M. Jamin’s Experiments on Reflected Polarized Light.
By the Rey. Samuel Haughton. , ; 470
On the Stone Cross of Tuam. By George Petrie, LL.D. . . . 470 A Theorem. By Sir William R. Hamilton, LL.D. . . . . . 474 On the Meteorology of Ireland, as deduced from Observations made
in 1851, under the direction of the Committee of Science. By
the Rev. H. Lloyd, D. D. 476
ANTIQUITIES ExCHANGED,—p. 199.
By-Laws PAssED OR AMENDED,—pp. 23, 82, 235, 339.
Deposit or AnTIQquities,—p. 418.
Donation oF ANTIQUITIES, &c.,—pp. 27, 43, 69, 126,151, 196, 199, 200, 219, 225, 235, 241, 265, 266, 271, 283, 295, 323, 324, 351, 355, 375, 401, 407, 417, 418, 423.
Donation or MSS.,—pp. 126, 131, 281, 283, 405, 407, 468.
Donation oF Maps,—p. 131.
Donation oF METEOROLOGICAL OBsERVATIONS,—pp. 225, 267, 417.
Donation oF Drawines, &c.,—pp. 43, 224, 235, 281.
Donation oF Co1ns,—pp. 265, 271.
ELecTion oF MemsBers,—pp. 43, 101, 126, 138, 142, 225, 269, 295, 307, 339, 373, 407, 461.
Exection or Honorary Mempers,—p. 23, 331.
ELECTIONS OF PRESIDENT AND CounciL,—pp. 99, 264, 400.
ExulpitTion or ANTIQUITIES,—pp. 43, 44, 45, 176, 206, 241, 295, 299, 307, 309, 336, 405, 441, 461, 464.
EXHIBITION OF MINERALS,—pp. 71, 295. ExuiBiTion or MSS. AuTocrapus, &c.—pp. 71, 284, 295, 507, 418, 441. Grants oF Money: Meteorological and Tidal Expenditure,—p. 1. To purchase Antiquities,—pp. 116, 307, 374. To make Catalogue,—pp. 117, 269, 295. Reports (ANNUAL) OF THE CouNciL,—pp. 84, 255, 391. REPORTS OF THE CoMMITTEE OF SCIENCE RELATIVE TO METEOROLOGICAL AND Trpat OBsERvATIoNs,—pp. 91, 261. Report on CaTatocue or Museum,—pp. 116, 215. Reso.utions (MIscELLaNEous),—pp- 22, 131, 207, 267, 247, 269, 295, 339, 374, 416, 423.
CONTENTS. xi
APPENDICES.
PAGE
I. Account of the Royal Irish sa anges from Ist rie 1850, to 3lst March, 1851. . . i II. Notices of Meteorological and Tidal Stations, a Sahar XV
IL. Account of the Royal Irish wesuael from Ist sai 1851, to 3lst March, 1852. . - . os. ENIL
IV. Synopsis of the Accounts of the Royal Irish Mateos Sain 18th April, 1785, to 16th March, 1816. . . . . to face XXxXi
V. Notices of Antiquities presented to the Royal Irish Academy
by W. T. Mulvany, Esq., M.R.I. A., on the —_ of the q Gommissioners of Public Works. + « {xual
. VI. Account of the Royal Irish Aendeetys, from Let April 1852, to 3lst March, 1853. ane evil
VII. Supplement to Catalogue of Tiadisinen’s Tokens. By Aquilla Smith, M.D. (see p. 480)... - se ee Ixxix
| INDEX OF CONTRIBUTORS’ NAMES TO PROCEEDINGS.
VOLUME V.
Allman, 18, 68, 125, 237, 297, 375, 444.—Anketell, 27.—Apjohn, 40, 272, 307, 309, 351, 379, 418.
Baillie, 127, 136.—Ball, 214.—Bell, 206.—Benmohel, 75.—Bergin, 266, 313.—Betham, 145.—Broughton, 281.
Cooper, 112, 196.—Crawford, 112, 247.
Dixon, 139, 142.._Dobbin, 430.—Donovan, 68, 81, 138, 187.—-Drum- mond, 407, 421, 476.
Enniskillen, 200, 214.
Galbraith, 117, 177.—-Graves, 70, 140, 234, 285, 331, 337, 339, 401, 423. __Griffin, 225.—Grubb, 296.
Hamilton, 71, 100, 177, 219, 281, 299, 388, 407, 474.—Haughton, 12, 117, 127, 222, 341, 468, 470.—Hincks, 301, 403.—Hogan, 12.—Hitch- cock, 401.
Jellett, 441.
Kane, 349, 382.—Kelly, 208.—Knowles, 351.
Lepsius, 44.—Lloyd, 1, 12, 23, 29, 230, 383, 434, 476.—Lyons, 445, 480.
Mac Donnell (A.), 303.—Mac Donnell (C. P.), 222.—Mallet (Robert), 143, 235.—Mallet (William), 407. Moore (David), 187. — Moore (Rey. W. P.), 69.—Mulvany, 239, 243, App. p. xxxi.
Patton, 203.—Petrie, 36, 82, 199, 214, 467, 470.
Reeves, 45, 132, 230.—Robinson, 101, 197, 198, 200, 249, 287, 310, 335, 366.
Smith (A.), 324, App. p. Ixxix.—Smith (J. H.), 434.—Starkey, 198.
Thompson, 267.—Todd, 162, 275, 355, 461.
oe.
+e
PROCEEDINGS
OF
THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY.
NovemBer 1I1Tu, 1850.
HUMPHREY LLOYD, D.D., Presivent, in the Chair. On the recommendation of the Council, Ir was Resotvep,—That a sum not exceeding £75 be granted for the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred in the erection of the meteorological and tidal instruments.
The President read the following paper on the induction of soft iron, as applied to the determination of the changes of the earth’s magnetic force.
«To determine completely the laws of the changes to which _ the earth’s magnetic force is subject, observation must furnish “the values of three distinct elements. Of these, thev ariations in the direction and magnitude of the horizontal component are
- completely determined by the methods given by Gauss and
others; but, until lately, no satisfactory means had been de- vised for the determination of the variations of the remaining element. The principle of the method by which, as I con- ceive, this desideratum is now supplied, has been already sub- mitted by me to the notice of the Academy ;* but as the mode of applying it has since undergone many important 5 aan en enn * Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. ii. p. 210. VOL. V. ; B
2
alterations, I deem it right to resume the subject, and to lay the method in its complete and amended form before the Society.
«¢ When a bar of soft iron is held in any direction not perpen- dicular to that of the earth’s magnetic force, it becomes a tem- porary magnet, by the inducing action of that part of the force which acts in its direction. The small changes of the induced magnetism may be assumed to be proportional to those of the inducing force; and, as the former may be mea- sured by their effects, the latter become known.
‘To apply this simple principle to the determination of the variations of the vertical component of the earth’s magnetic force,—two soft iron bars,* of the same size and form, are to be placed vertically, at equal distances on either side of a small freely-suspended horizontal magnet, and so that the plane con- taining them may pass through the centre of the magnet, and be perpendicular to its axis. Then, if the upper extremity of one of the bars, and the lower extremity of the other, be in (or near) the horizontal plane containing the suspended magnet, it is obvious that they will conspire to deflect it, the predomi- nant pole being in one a north, and in the other a south pole.
«<The moment of free magnetism of the suspended magnet being denoted by M, let MU and MU’ be the moments of the forces exerted upon it by the two bars. The quantities U and U’ are functions of the vertical component of the earth’s magnetic foree; and depend also upon the quantity and distribution of magnetism in the bars, and upon their position with respect to the suspended magnet. They may likewise each contain aterm dependent on the permanent mag- netism of the bars, which is seldom wholly evanescent. These forces conspire to turn the magnet, and are resisted by the horizontal component of the earth’s magnetic force, whose
* « The employment of a second bar originated with Dr. Lamont, of Mu-
nich, to whom (as will presently be stated) this method is indebted also for other improvements.”
3
moment is MX sin u,— X denoting the horizontal component, and u the angle of deflection of the magnet from the magnetic meridian. Hence the equation of equilibrium is
U+ U'= Xsinu.
“‘ Now let the two components of the earth’s force undergo any small changes, 6X and 3 Y, andlet é Y and Vd ¥Y be the changes of U and U’ produced by the latter. Then, du de- noting the corresponding change of the angle w, in parts of radius, ‘
(V+V)8Y=X cosudu + dX sinu. Dividing by the equation Y = X tan @, in which @ denotes the magnetic inclination, there is
oY | ae et ne + sinu—> 3
l or, making, for abridgment, (/ + V’’) tan 0 4% oY
1 OA +7 (cos uou + sinu X ). The angle zw, in this formula, being the deviation of the sus- pended magnet from the position which it would assume under the action of the earth alone, its changes, du, are the differences between the observed changes of position, mea- sured from a fixed line, and the corresponding changes of de- clination.
‘Tn order to correct for the effect of temperature upon the iron bars, we have only to substitute (du — ad¢) for du, de being the actual change of temperature, and a the change of angle (in parts of radius) corresponding to a change of one degree. ‘The effect of an increase of temperature upon a soft iron bar, in all my experiments, has been an increase of its induced magnetism,—the reverse of its effect upon the per- manent magnetism of an artificial magnet. The amount of the change is, however, very small. With the bar which has been most used in the Dublin Magnetical Observatory, an in-
B2
4
crease of 1° Fahr. produces a change of angle amounting only to + 0°05; so that a=+-000015, and the relative change of the force of the bar = + :000029.
“If we assume that the induced magnetism of the iron bars is proportional to the inducing force, the coefficient p may be found by inverting the bars, and observing the angles of de- flection in the direct and inverted positions. : For, these angles being denoted by w and w’, it may be readily shown that
2
sin w+sin zw”
jis
It was by this method that I originally proposed to deter- mine the constant of the preceding formula. The assumption upon which it rests is the same as that which Poisson has taken as the basis of his theory of induced magnetism. It is, how- ever, as Dr. Lamont has shown, not strictly in accordance with fact ; and it is therefore necessary to seek another mode of determining the constant. It is obvious that this quantity will be known, if we can alter the inducing force artificially, by a small but known amount, and observe the change of angle thereby produced. ‘This is the principle of the method de- vised by Dr. Lamont for the purpose; it is practised in the following manner.
«¢ A magnet is placed at a considerable distance above or below the suspended magnet, their centres being in the same vertical line; and it is so arranged as to be capable of rotation round a horizontal axis parallel to the suspended magnet in its deflected position. Let this magnet be first placed verti- cally, in which position it exerts no direct action upon the suspended magnet, but only on the iron bars. Then, if 2 and R' denote the forces exerted by the auxiliary magnet upon the two bars, SsU=VR, 6U =V'R’; so that if kn denote the corresponding change of angle, expressed in scale-divisions of the instrument, we have
VR+VR =X cosu kn.
5
Let the deflecting magnet be now turned (the position of its centre remaining unchanged), so that its axis is horizontal, and perpendicular to that of the suspended magnet. In this position it exerts no action upon the iron bars; but tends to turn the suspended magnet with a force whose moment we shall denote by S. The equation of equilibrium in this case is therefore U+U'+ S=Xsin (u+ kn),
kn’ being the change of position of the suspended magnet due to the small added force. Hence
- S=X cosukn'; and, dividing the equation last found by this, Ro ph 8, S e.
‘< Now, the deflecting magnet being vertical, and its distance considerable as compared with its length, the force which it exerts upon the unit of free magnetism at the centre of one of the iron bars, in the direction of the joining line, and in the
V
perpendicular direction, respectively, are M. . cos, — we sin ,
in which M denotes the magnetic moment of the deflecting magnet, e the length of the line connecting its centre with the centre of the iron bar, and ¢ the angle which that line makes with the vertical.* And the sum of these forces, resolved in the vertical direction, is
= (2 cos? ¢ — sin? @).
But we may consider the quantities e and @ (and therefore the force exerted by the magnet) to be the same for all points of the bar, the variations of these quantities being of the same order as those negletted in the approximation; so that
* Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. xix. p. 162.
6
M 3 , M Lagat) R= (2-3sin’ 9), R=, (2-3sin’ 9); e’ and ¢’ denoting the corresponding quantities for the second
bar. Also, if a denote the distance between the centres of the
deflecting and suspended magnets, we have M
Substituting these values, and observing that sin® ¢ = sin’ ¢, very nearly,
te as a\ n 2 -Bsin 9) (7S + Vo)
n
‘Now, if 5 denote the horizontal distance of the axis of each bar from the centre of the suspended magnet, and h the distance of their centres above and below the plane in which the latter moves, we have
2a(ath+B, e2=(a-hP+B;
accordingly, if we expand a’ e~*, a®e*, according to the as-
cending powers of : ; 4 (stopping at the second), we find ab as me Ai ad h
(ales agate V ua Noes .. Was
Vat A (V+ ) (1465 1B)3V V)-3
in which, since V and /’ are nearly equal, the term 3 (V’-V) :
may be neglected. Also sin? ¢ = f = a q.p» And, substi-
tuting these values in the formula obtained above, it becomes
2747)(14 git 3) a~ a~ nr
But p=(V+V’y cotan 6; wherefore, finally, 2h? - =) n
az
p= 2eotand {143 =
‘In my original instrument there was but one iron bar ; and it was placed in the vertical plane passing through the centre of the suspended magnet, and perpendicular to the magnetic
— _
7
meridian. ‘This position, I soon perceived, was less advanta- geous than that described above ; and it was accordingly aban- doned in all the instruments subsequently constructed for other observatories. In the Dublin Observatory, however, I pre- ferred the continuance of the less perfect arrangement to the interruption of the series of observations consequent upon its alteration ; and I have been thus compelled to re-discuss the theory of the instrument, which is rendered much more com- plicated in this form.
‘* It was natural to suppose that the moment of the force exerted by the iron bar upon the suspended magnet was of the form MUcosu, U and u denoting as before; so that the equation of equilibrium should be, simply,
U= X tanu.
Differentiating, and dividing by Y = X tan 0, and denoting (as before) the change of U produced by a small change of the vertical component of the earth’s force by Vé Y, we have
bY. (sec? uu + tan u®*) yY ma 2 8 be i >
in which p = V-! cotan 0.
‘«* This formula, however, is only an approximate one. The expression for the moment of the force exerted by the iron bar upon the suspended magnet, in this case, is not, strictly, of the form supposed above; and it becomes necessary to seek the exact form, and to examine in what manner the formula of re- duction is modified.
‘¢Let CP be the freely suspended horizontal magnet ; C’P’ the verti- cal iron bar; and O the point in which it intersects the horizontal plane passing through CP. Also, let dm and dm’ denote the elements of free magnetism at P and P’, and p the distance PP’. Then the force exerted by dm’ on dm is
8
dmdm3; p” and the portion of this resolved in the horizontal plane, is dm a
x OP.
The moment of this force to turn the suspended magnet is
dpa x OP sinOPC = CP x ae cd
OE x OC sin OCP.
Hence, putting OC = a, CP=7, and OCP =90° - uw, the whole moment of the force of the iron bar is
| | rdmdm a@ COS U a
p?
Now, PP?= P’O?+ OP?. Or, putting OC’=h, CC’=e, CP’=7’,
p?=(h-r)? +a? +7? - ar sin u= e+ r°+r?— 2 (hr’'+ ar sin uv).
: wheel ; ' Accordingly, expanding e according to the ascending powers a, es : ; of oe integrating and making fr-dm=M,, {r"dm'= M’,,
and observing that, on account of the symmetrical distribution of free magnetism in the magnet and bar, J/,, and M’, vanish when z is an even number,—we have, for the moment of the force of the iron bar,
3ah M3 hA\ M; a3 — ps MM'cos u whi-g5[Gr (1 _ a) ap (1-7 Sain u) |
M's h? M’, M3 ae h? ao al!-6 a) + 2 ag (- 9“ sintu-35)
M; a. dae ~ oe 2 r + ue (1 18 2 sin w) | &e.
“‘ This formula is unfortunately not convergent, and is, con- sequently, of no use in the present investigation. In fact,
aS)
M’; M' ar is of the same order of magnitude as e”, a as e4, and so
9 :
‘on. We are, therefore, unable to obtain the value of this
moment, expressed as an explicit function of a and A, and must have recourse to a different development.
‘‘ Let the distance of any point of the iron bar from the centre of the suspended magnet, CP’, be denoted by &,
R? =a? + (h-r’)?, and p?= R?+r?- 2ar sin u.
Expanding ih according to the inverse powers of R, and in- p
3
tegrating, observing that M, = 0, when n is even,
dmd d d. eet = fame oS pt treaty
~'2°4°6
- 327 (M+ 124? sint w Me) [ “4+ Bees ;
or, if we make
ule -ims | + $$ Ms [Fhe ae ts (Ma| Fr - 4 Ms | Fh + &e.)=B,
in which, on account of the smallness of the distance of the \ iron bar, the term containing sin? uw may bear a very sensible proportion to the whole. Accordingly, if we put, for abridg-
ment, 4a=MU, Ba’=MUQ,
the moment of the force exerted by the iron bar is MU cos u (1 + Q sin? x) ; and the equation of equilibrium therefore is U (1 + Q sin? uw) = X tan wu.
“Let Vd Y denote, as before, the change of U produced by a small change of the earth’s vertical force. Then, if we
10
a the equation of equilibrium under the abbreviated form = Xfu, and differentiate, and divide by Y= X tan 0, = = fudu t+ fu Be
tanw ane ee 1-—Q sin? u 1+Qsin? wu’ eos? u (1+ Q sin? u)?
electing the term 2 Q sin‘ w in the numerator, as inconsiderable ;
> ne-
But fu =
wherefore putting, for abridgment,
. cotan 6 eae | 1-Qsin® u Ae VUi+Qsin?w)’ ~ costu 1+Qsin?u’ there is finally, es on ox
p (Sau+tanu =):
c The os p, in this formula, is obtained by the me- thod already explained. It has been shown that when a mag- net is placed vertically, above or aries the suspended magnet,
its inducing action on the iron bar = Ste 3 sin? ¢), eand @
denoting as before; and, as this ad has the same effect asa small change of the earth’s vertical force, the effect upon the
suspended magnet is obtained by making 6 Y = = (2-3sin?¢),
6X = 0, in the preceding equation. Wherefore, kn denoting the corresponding change of angle,
=o sin? ¢) =p YS hn.
Again, when the deflecting magnet is horizontaJ, and per- pendicular to the magnetic meridian, its effect is the same as that produced by a small change of the earth’s horizontal force, whose magnitude is given by the equation
3X sin w+ cosu=0. a
Putting, therefore, for §X the value thus given, and making oY=0, <- XS kn’;
11
hn’ denoting the corresponding value of gu. And eliminating M between this and the former equation, we find , an m 2-3 sin? ¢) — —. p=cotan 0 ( sin? @) re he -«¢ We must likewise have recourse to experiment, to deter- mine the value of the coefficient S.* In fact we have seen that the quantity, Q, which enters into the expression of this coeffi- cient, is the ratio of two series containing the integrals {r°dm, dm (dm (dm BR’) RB’ | R’
depending upon the distribution of free magnetism in the mag-
frdm, fridm, &e., | &e., the values of which,
net and iron bar, cannot be known a priori.| We may, how- ever, determine the value of the coefficient S by experimental means analogous to those already employed in the determina- tion of p. We have seen, in fact, that when the deflecting magnet in that experiment was horizontal, and perpendicular to the magnetic meridian, there was
A = XS hn’. Now, let the iron bar be removed, and, the deflecting magnet remaining in the same position, let An’ denote the change of angle produced by its action. Then
ae Xhkn" ; and, dividing the equation last found by this,
” ya _ n
The President exhibited to the Academy a map of Ire-
= eee
* «It is obvious that this necessity does not arise in the adjustment of the soft iron bars described in the commencement of this Paper.”
+ “We may approximate to these values, and therefore to the value of Q, on theassumption that the whole forces of the magnet and bar are concentred in two points, or poles.”
12
land, on which the stations for meteorological and tidal obser- vations were marked, so as to show their geographical distri- bution. And he availed himself of the opportunity to give a brief account (derived from these observations) of a cyclonic gale, accompanied with a sudden fall of the barometer and a corresponding rise of the tide, which was felt over the whole of Treland on the 6th of last month.
The Rev. Samuel Haughton stated, in confirmation of the President’s remarks, that the returns from the tidal stations showed an elevation of water varying from ten to eighteen inches above the mean height, corresponding to the period of greatest depression of the barometer. This depression would, however, only account for part of the elevation of water, the rest must be attributed to the force of the wind.
Mr. W. Hogan read an analysis of the meteorological ob- servations communicated by Mr. G. Yeates, and published in the Proceedings.
“The violent and fatal epidemics, affecting both animal and vegetable life, which prevailed during the preceding seven years, may have been, and probably were, in some manner connected with the state of the atmosphere ; and it has occurred to me that an examination of the state of the weather during that period might be interesting and possibly instructive.
‘The quantity of rain which falls at any period, in this climate, is, in general, indicative of the state in which both the barometer and thermometer stood at the time. Bright skies and serene weather are in general accompanied by a higher mark both of the barometer and thermometer, and on the con- trary the mark is lower in cloudy, damp weather. It has, therefore, occurred to me that a table showing the quantity of rain which fell in each month during those seven years would, for this climate, give a general view of the state of the atmo- sphere at the time. The Royal Irish Academy has published
13
Mr. Yeates’ reports of his rain-gauge for the last seven years, from 1843 to 1849 inclusive, and I have constructed my table from them.
«<T began by arranging in so many parallel columns the monthly quantity of rain which fell in the seven years com- mencing in January, 1843, and ending in December, 1849, and having then ascertained the mean quantity for each month during those years, I assumed that it was the average quantity of rain in that month. On comparing this mean quantity with the actual fall of rain, I was surprised at finding the great irre- gularity which it indicated. It appeared that there was not any one month which was either wet or dry, or of average weather, during the whole of that period. The most settled weather was in August and December, and in those months the weather was either very wet or very dry ; each was for four years very wet, and for three years very dry.
‘Tam aware that a period of seven years is too short to afford a satisfactory average, but Mr. Yeates’ tables did not go farther back, and those years were marked by the epidemics I have alluded to. We had cholera, influenza, murrain, and the potato disease; on that account they deserved a separate con- sideration, even if the rain tables had gone further back.
“In classifying the varieties of weather, as indicated by the quantity of rain which fell, I took the mean, or any quantity within a quarter of an inch, more or less, of rain in that month, as average weather. For example, I found that about two inches of rain was the mean quantity for the month of June; I marked it as average weather in June, if the fall of rain was less than two inches and a quarter, and more than one inch and three-quarters. If more than two inches and a quarter, I marked it as decidedly wet ; and if less than an inch and three- quarters, as decidedly dry. June was four times very dry and three times very wet. Adopting this scale, I found that during those seven years, the weather had a remarkable tendency to
14 q
extremes; that there were but eighteen months of average weather; that thirty-two months were decidedly wet, and thirty-four decidedly dry; and also that there was no appa- rent order in the variations of the weather. For instance, the average fall of rain in May, was an inch and three-quarters ; in May, 1843, more than four inches and a half of rain fell ; in May, 1844, not much more than a quarter of an inch; and in May, 1845, very nearly the average quantity. This great and striking difference of weather in the same month, in successive years, must have had a great effect on vegetation, as well as on the state of the atmosphere.
‘¢ An inspection of the table thus prepared for seven years will prove that there were great irregularities in the state of the weather during the whole of that period. ‘There was not a month of average weather in 1846, there was but one in 1845, and but two in 1844 and 1848.
‘* The year 1847 was decidedly a dry one, as there only fell twenty-one and a half inches of rain, of which nearly three inches, almost a seventh of the whole, fell in December.
‘* In 1846 thirty inches and a half of rain fell, and in 1848 upwards of thirty-one inches. Sce Table No. 1.
“The irregularity of the weather will be more striking, if we omit from the table all figures except those indicating the greatest and least monthly fall of rain in each year. See Table No. 2.
‘In 1843, most rain fellin May, and least in December.
*< In 1844, most rain fell in November, and least in May.
“In 1845, most rain fell in Jan., and least in September.
“In 1846, most rain fell in April, and‘least in December.
“In 1847, most rain fell in December, and least in July.
“In 1848, most rain fell in August, and least in May.
‘¢In 1849, most rain fell in October, and least in June.
«* Another remarkable irregularity in the weather, as indi- cated by the monthly fall of rain, is, that those months in which
15
the greatest and least fall of rain took place were not, with one exception, those whose mean quantity of rain was greatest or least. February and March have the lowest mean, and yet neither was ever the dryest month in the year. August and “October have the highest mean, and yet each was only once the wettest month in the year. See Table No. 3.
«It would be very interesting to extend these inquiries over the whole country. The Academy has the rain tables kept in Athlone by order of the Board of Works, and I hope to classify them in a similar manner as soon as they are pub- lished.
‘Tf it should appear that the climate of Ireland is liable to such great vicissitudes, it might be of importance to call the attention of agriculturalists to the fact, lest, by the occurrence of one or two favourable seasons, they might be induced to cul- tivate crops which are dependent on dry warm weather at any period of their progress to maturity. The following remark occurs in Captain Larcom’s Report to His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, which is prefixed to his Returns of the Agricultu- ral Produce of Ireland in the year 1849, p. vi. :—‘ The success of any crop must necessarily depend in a great degree on the natural fitness of the soil and on the character of the climate ; and in a country like this, the wheat crop must, from the lat- ter cause, be always a hazardous one.’
** Captain Larcom states, in the same Report, that the average acreable produce of wheat in Ireland, in the year 1847, was 6,5, barrels; in 1848, was 4,5,; and in 1849, was 5,5; bar- rels. It is remarkable that the fall of rain in those years in Dublin varied very nearly inversely in the same proportion ; in 1847, the fall of rain was twenty-one and a half inches ; in 1848, it was thirty-one inches; and in 1849, it was twenty- seven three-quarter inches. Oats and barley seem to have been but little affected.”
16
TaB.e LI.
Showing the monthly Quantity of Rain which fell in Dublin, in seven Years (1843 to 1849, inclusive), as recorded by Mr. Yeates, and published in the Proceedings of the Royal Trish Academy.
1843.|1844.|1845. 1849. | Mga”
January,. . . |2°589 ee 3°495| 2°84: - 2-544
February, . . | 1635) 2° : : : 1°534 March, . . 1-643) 2:042| 1°412! 2° : . 1°739
April, . . . .| 2645} °545) °909|"b- : 2°503 Mayon see es 47644, = 1680) 1-6: : 1°814 Ahi Sees ne Z e i 7 : “005 aly heey. anne : : fe *168 August, ... . 4°Ad “936 September,. . ° - *62¢ 2°520| 3° “861 October,. . . J 2°677| 3° a7 ; | 3°707| 3°060 November, . . *742| 2-810 : *477| 1°689] 2-300
December, . . : 1°539) °713) 2° : 3°309) 1-938
Fetasin the i 23°711 26-628 30488 21 “085/29 °732)26°407
year, ..
Mean Tempe- i
alae 5OrL | 48°3 | 52-1 5 | 49
In this table the average quantities are printed in large g p s
ficures; and those above an average have the usual figures fo} oO fo) underlined.
Average weather in seven years, . 18 months.
More rain than the average, do. . . 32 4,
Less than average, Gere «4 oo eg
Actual average of all the months, in seven years, 2-200.
17
Tase II Showing the Month in each Year, from January, 1843, to De-
cember, 1849, in which the greatest and least Quantity of Rain fell in Dublin.
Monta.
January,. . . February, . . March,
EDIT, joi? o) Ye us May, . . June,... July, . . August, . . September, . October,. . . November, .
D. December, . . | °138
50°6 | 50°1
rature,. .
Mean Tempe-
The letter w. has been placed over the number indicating the greatest monthly fall of rain in the year, and the letter p. over the number indicating the least monthly fall of rain in the year ; w. indicating the wettest, and p. the dryest month in the year.
VOL. V. Cc
18
Tasue III:
Showing the Month in each Year, from January, 1843, to December, 1849, in which the greatest and least Quantity of Rain fell in Dublin ; the Month whose. mean Quantity of Rain is greatest being placed first, and the others in rank of their mean Quantity of Rain.
October,. .
August, ...
J anuary, wok
2s ee November,. . July, .
June, ... December, . . September, . Mavi tie. March,
February, .
The numbers indicating the greatest monthly fall of rain in each year are underlined.
The monthly mean varies from three inches to an inch and a half.
Professor Allman read a paper on the reproductive sys- tem and development of the gemme in Paludicella articulata. ‘* All the fresh-water polyzoa produce true ova, which are formed in a definite organ or ovary. From the existence of a
19
true ovary and ova we are at once led to expect the co-exist- ence of a male organ. That a testis is present in all the spe- cies of fresh-water polyzoa there can, I think, now be little doubt. In most of the genera I have met with an organ which I have little hesitation in viewing as a testis, though, with the exception of Paludicella, the demonstration of such an organ is somewhat obscure. In this genus, however, I have had the most satisfactory demonstration of both testicle and ovary, the one loaded with spermatozoa, the other with ova.
‘The ovary and testis in Paludicella articulata are both found in the same cell. The former is an irregularly shaped body adherent to the inner surface of the internal tunic, to- wards the upper part of the cell. About the end of June, when I discovered this organ, it was loaded with ova of various sizes, some so small as to require for their detection a high power of the microscope, while others were almost visible to the naked eye, and seemed ready to burst the restraining membrane of the ovary, and escape into the cavity of the cell. Attached by one extremity to the external surface of the sto- mach, near the commencement of the intestine, and by the other apparently in connexion with the ovary, is a cylindrical flexible cord which obeys all the motions of the stomach. Of the nature of this appendage, which thus brings the ovary into connexion with the stomach, I have been unable to arrive at any satisfactory conclusion; it can scarcely be an oviduct communicating with the cavity of the stomach, and thus affording through the latter organ a way of egress to the ova; for even though it be tubular, a condition not by any means apparent, it is evidently too narrow to receive the mature ova, - even supposing it to undergo as much dilatation as would seem possible with such an organ.
‘“‘ The testicle is an irregularly lobed mass, attached, like the ovary, to the inner surface of the lining membrane of the
c2
20
cell ; it occupies a position near the bottom of the cell, and is thus separated by a wide interval from the ovary. Like the lat- ter organ, it is connected with the stomach by a cylindrical cord precisely similar to that already described as belonging to the ovary. This cord, which is connected with the testicle by one extremity, is attached by the other to the fundus of the stomach, and its office is just as obscure as that of the corres- ponding cord connected with the ovary. The testicle was observed at the same time as the ovary, and was then loaded with spermatozoa, which projected from its surface in the form of a dense villosity, each minute filament of which exhibited a perpetually undulating motion. Many of the spermatozoa had escaped from the testicle and were carried about by the cur- rents of the perigastric fluid, and thus brought in contact with the ovary, round which several were observed clustering. The spermatozoa in Paludicella are simple vibrioid bodies without any terminal enlargement, and exhibit a constant sinuous or un- dulatory motion.
«« The ova, on arriving at a certain stage of development, and while still in the ovary, present distinctly the germinal vesicle and germinal speck; these, however, soon disappear. When the ovum escapes from the ovary it is a lenticular body, surrounded by an annulus, in which a somewhat obscurely cellular structure is apparent. A coloured and very eccentric spot may be observed at this stage in the contents of the ovum. I have not been fortunate enough to observe the ova of Palu- dicella more than once, and have thus had no opportunities of making further observations on these bodies.
‘¢T have never witnessed in Paludicella the occurrence of free locomotive embryos, such as may be seen in other poly- zoa, though it is by no means improbable that further research may detect them; I have, however, succeeded in following the development of the gemmez from a very early stage to its completion. The gemma, in the earliest condition in which I
21
have been able to observe it, appears as a minute tubercle pro- jecting from the external walls of the cell, and filled with a granular parenchyma. We next find it hollowed out into a cavity which communicates with the interior of the parent cell. The tubercle, with its cavity, increases in size, and the gemma is now found to consist of an external envelope continuous with the external tunic of the parent cell, and ofa thick fleshy lining continuous with the internal tunic. This lining has nu- merous, large, round, nucleated cells distributed through its substance, and internally it presents a rough, uneven surface. The two tunics of the gemma are to become the external and internal tunics of the future cell.
“¢ By this time the gemma has become considerably elon- gated, and has acquired a clavate form, and its cavity begins to be cut off from that of the parent cell, by the formation of a septum. We next perceive that a rounded mass has formed in the substance of the lining tunic, near the wide extremity of the gemma, and projects into the interior of the latter. In this mass we soon perceive a cavity surrounded by a slightly waved oval ring, which is afterwards to become the tentacular crown of the adult. The ring is at first quite simple, resembling a mere fold of thickish membrane, but in a short time it pre- sents all round a series of minute tubercles, the rudiments of the future tentacula. Delicate fibres may now be distinctly seen passing from the little mass, in which these appearances have been presenting themselves, to the walls of the cavity of the gemma; these fibres are the rudimental retractors of the alimentary canal. Circular fibres may also be now seen in the lining membrane of the gemma; these are chiefly collected near its proximal end, and are to become the parietal muscles of the adult. The tentacular sheath also may now be per- ceived extending from the base of the rudimental tentacula to the walls of the cavity in which the young polypide is sus- pended, and fibres which are to become the superior parieto-
22
vaginal muscles may be observed in connexion with it. The rudimental polypide has now become somewhat enlarged below the tentacular ring, and here presents in its interior a cavity. This cavity is at first simple and continuous, but as the in- ferior extremity of the polypide continues to elongate, we soon find it divided into three distinct regions, which are the first indications of cesophagus, stomach, and intestine. By the | elongation of the tentacula, the tentacular crown has now ac- quired nearly its full development. Up to this period the young polypide has been entirely shut off from all communi- cation with the external water, and its nutrition must have been effected through the general nutrition of the colony; now, however, an opening occurs in the gemma, just over the tentacular crown, and the last stage of development is en- tered on. The tentacular crown rapidly acquires its complete form, the inferior extremity of the alimentary canal becomes elongated into the great cul de sac of the stomach, the mus- cles are by this time all formed, and the polypide is capable of exsertion and retraction. It is now no longer dependent for its growth on the general nutrition of the colony, but has be- come an independent being, obtaining its food from without, and submitting it to the action of its own digestive system.”
The following Resolution of Council was read :
«That the Report of the Committee of Antiquities, which was presented to the Council on the Ist of July, be read at the next meeting of the Academy, together with the Resolu- tion of October 7th, referring thereto, viz. :
«¢ That the Report of the Committee of Antiquities, received on July 7, be adopted.”
It was, however, resolved that the Academy do adjourn.
. 23
NovemBeER 30, 1850.—(Sratep MEETING.).
HUMPHREY LLOYD, D.D., Presipent, in the Chair.
On the recommendation of Council,
Ir was Reso_tvep,— That the rule of the Academy limit- ing the number of Honorary Members to sixty, be not consi- dered as applying to the President and Ex-Presidents of the Royal Society.”
The following Gentlemen were elected Honorary Mem- bers of the Academy :—Jn Science—Alexander D. Bache, Washington. Jn Polite Literature — Washington Irving, New York; Augustus Boeck, Berlin; Victor Cousin, Paris. In Antiquities—L. C. F. Petit-Radel, Paris; and C. T. Grote- fend, Hanover.
The President read the following paper on the position of the Isogonal Lines in Ireland, as deduced from the obser- vations of Sir James Ross, in 1838.
“In the year 1835 I laid before the British Association, then assembled in Dublin, a Report on the Direction and Inten- sity of the Terrestrial Magnetic Force in Ireland, based upon ob- servations made by Lieut.-Colonel Sabine, Sir James C. Ross, and myself.* In these observations Mr. Robert Were Fox and Professor Phillips afterwards took part; and the survey was subsequently extended to the whole of the British Islands. The details of this extended survey are given ina Memoir on the Magnetic Isoclinal and Isodynamic lines in the British Islands, drawn up chiefly by Lieut.-Colonel Sabine. f
‘«¢ The observations contained in these Reports are limited to the Magnetic Inclination and Intensity. Observations of the Declination, as well as of the other two elements, were
* Fifth Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. + Eighth Report.
24
indeed made by Sir James Ross; but they have only lately been given to the public in a Memoir by Lieut.-Colonel Sabine, on the lines of Magnetic Declination in the Atlantic.* In this Memoir, the observations referred to are combined with a large mass of other materials, and the position of the iso- gonal lines inferred from the whole by a graphical process. The Irish portion of these observations is, however, so dis- tinct, and so complete in itself, that it seemed to me desirable that they should be discussed by the same method which had already been applied to the observations of the other two ele- ments, in the Reports above referred to; such a discussion serving to complete the Magnetic Survey, so far as Ireland is concerned, and to furnish a formula for the Magnetic Decli- nation at any point in the island whose position is known.
*‘ The following is the mode of doing this:
<<‘ Tf § denote the magnetic declination at any place; 8, that at some near station which is taken as the origin of co-ordi- nates; and x and y the actual distances (in geographical miles) between them, measured on the parallel of latitude and on the meridian, respectively,—or the co-ordinates of position of the former station referred to the latter as an origin; the relation of these quantities is expressed approximately by the equation
o-6,=Mx+ Ny, in which M and N represent the increase of declination corres- ponding to each geographical mile of distance in the two di- rections. If) and » denote the latitude and longitude of the former station, \, and yu, those of the latter, y=A-Ao» = T=("- Hy) COSA.
‘It is evident, that ifx and y be treated as variable, 6 being constant, the preceding equation is that of the locus of all the points of given declination. It is that of a right line, making the angle with the meridian,
* Philosophical Transactions, 1849, Part ii.
25
ang. (‘ang =- 7m) H and the increase of declination corresponding to each geogra- phical mile of distance, in a direction perpendicular to this line, is Vv (M? + N®).
<¢ It is evident then that, to obtain the values of Mand N, observation must give the values of the declination at three, or more, stations. ‘The observations of Sir James Ross were taken at twelve stations, well distributed throughout the island ; and as they were all made during the months of Octo- ber and November, 1838, no correction is required to reduce them toacommon epoch. For convenience of reference, they are here extracted from Colonel Sabine’s Memoir, together with the longitudes and latitudes of the places of observation.
STATION.
Valentia, . . . | 51°56’| 10°17’| 28°42’ Killarney, . .| 52 2 28 11 Westport, . .| 53 48 29 9 Limerick,. . . | 52 40 28 3 Conky Se, 9) ese 27 44 Markree, . . .| 54 14 29-15 Shannon Harbour,| 53 14 3.1.28.3 Edgeworthstown, | 53 42 : 28 8 28 47 26 44 28 8 27 35
Londonderry, . | 54 59 Waterford, . .| 52 15 Armagh, . . 54 21- Dublin: ewe Oa. a)
Oora-1-7 mm OO
«© Taking Dublin as the origin of co-ordinates, and substi- tuting the values of A-A,, w—p,, and d- 8,, given by this Table, in the equation above given, we obtain eleven equa- tions of condition, from which the values of M and N are:ob- tained by the method of least squares. They are the following:
M=0'°690, N=0°585..
26
We may now test the accuracy of these numbers, by em- ploying the formula to calculate the values of the declination at each of the eleven stations. The result of this calculation gives, at Waterford, a difference between the observed and calculated values amounting to 34’,—which far exceeds the probable error of observation. This difference is, therefore, probably due to some local irregularity of the magnetic force. But, whatever be its cause, it is obvious that it tends to viti- ate the general result; and that a nearer approximation to the values of M and N will be obtained by excluding that observa- tion from the computation. We thus obtain, from the re- maining ten equations, M=0°-689; N=0°527. And substituting these values, we find
ang. (tang =— 1) =~37°25; + (M*?+ N*)=0°867.
Accordingly, the isogonal lines in Ireland lie to the east of north, making an angle of 37°25’ with the meridian of Dub- lin; and the declination increases as we proceed in the north- westerly direction, the increase being 52” for each geographical mile, in a direction perpendicular to these lines.*
«¢ Finally, the declination at any point of the island, whose longitude and latitude are known, is given by the formula
8-8, = 0527 (A-A,) + 0° 689 (4 — 1.) cosr5 the declination at Dublin, 8,, being supposed known. Or, if
we substitute for cos A the value corresponding to the mean latitude (A = 53°17),
6 — 8, = 0°527 (A-A,) + 0° 412 (u—po)- «¢ The mean declination at Dublin, for the year 1850, is
* “This result agrees very closely with Colonel Sabine’s map of the iso- gonal lines in the Atlantic, as to the direction of the lines; but gives a more rapid rate of increase.”
27
26° 29’ west 5 and as the yearly value of the secular change of the declination is — 6°06, the mean declination, in any not very remote future year, will be given by the formula
8, = 26° 29’ - 6° 06 xn; n being the number of years, counted from the present. If greater accuracy be desired, the diurnal and annual variations
of the declination, corresponding to the time of the day and of the year, must be added.”
The Secretary, on the part of Mr. M. J. Anketell, presented to the Museum of the Academy a man’s shoe made of three - pieces of thin plate bronze or brass. This shoe, Mr. Anketell states, was found, with about two dozen pair of the same kind, near an old heap of stones in the vicinity of the Giant’s Cause- way.
« This shoe (A), with another (B) of the same kind, ex- hibited, was purchased in the year 1831, by Mr. Anketell, from a brazier inColeraine, who had melted down or worked up all the others found, he not considering them to be of any pecu- liar value.
“‘ Along with the shoes were found the two small vessels exhibited. They are made apparently of the same materials, but they are differently fabricated, and put together with great care, and are evidently intended for use ; while the shoes, on the contrary, are only fastened together so very imperfectly with lead, used as solder, that the least wear, or motion of the foot of a person attempting to walk in them, would break the soles away from the uppers.
« One of the vessels is a cylindrical cup, having the fol- lowing dimensions, its bottom being slightly convex:
Duameters) 6. 205 cnn y, S62 ea, 4 hd dmohes. Depth, . .. . ee hee | eo
«‘ This cup is brazed, and the cates of the brass plate, at the
28
side, are so cut that they form a sort of continuous mortising, which prevents their being drawn apart, independently of the brazing.
‘¢ The other vessel is constructed in the same way. Its shape is very peculiar, and its dimensions are as follow:
Greatest breadth, . . . . about inch. 4s lenpth,”: 3s '. »,.»* 4) meher a eu ete ee ae Cor eee a5
‘‘ The bottom consists of one piece of metal, five and a half inches long, bent, however, unequally to an angle at the great- est depth of the vessel. One side of the angle measures about three and a half, and the other two inches; and the oval ends of the box, to which these are attached, measure severally three and four and a quarter inches.
«‘ The measurements of the shoes are as follow; they may be of use to. help parties to compare these with similar shoes found elsewhere in Ireland :
Length, . . . . . . 13} inches in sole. iresth, (294), “AP et ed ie ge 99 Height ofupperbehind, . 23 ,, 9 Height of instep of A, . 3% 55 > Diora: eye Saar ye ”
‘¢ The shoes weigh as follow :—A, 9$ oz., and B, 8 oz. only.
‘© Tt has been suggested that these shoes might have been originally intended for the purpose of being put on the feet of deceased persons of rank ; butas we know of no body haying been found interred with shoes of this kind on it, we can attach but little weight to this suggestion. It has also been sugges- ted that they might have been intended as a measure of capa- city for wheat ; but as the two shoes (A) and (B) differ mate- rially in their capacity, that notion also appears not to hold good either.
‘¢ The above facts and sarmises are communicated, in the
29
hope, that the attention of antiquaries may be drawn to the subject, which promises tobe of general interest, as ] understand that shoes composed of brass or bronze, more or less like those, have been found in other parts of Ireland.”
DeceMBER 9, 1850.
HUMPHREY LLOYD, D.D., Presipent, in the Chair.
Tue President communicated the following account of the Cyclone of the 19th of November.
* The leading phenomena of revolving storms at a given place are,—1. the veering of the wind through an angle rang- ing from 0° to 180°, its magnitude depending on the proximity of the centre of the cyclone; 2. the gradual increase and sub- sequent decrease of its force; 3. the fall and rise of the ba- rometer. All these characters were distinctly exhibited at Dublin on the 18th and 19th of last month. The gale com- menced about 12 p.m. of the 18th, and gradually increased in force until 1 or 2 vp. m. of the following day, after which it di- minished again. Before it commenced, in the afternoon of the 18th, the direction of the wind was singularly variable, shift- ing rapidly between S. and E. During the greater part of the forenoon of the 19th, it blew from the S.; at noon from S.W.; at 6 Pp. m. from W.; and between 1 and 2 a. M. of the following day its direction shifted suddenly to N.N.W., and
it continued between N. and W. the whole of the day. The barometer underwent a corresponding series of changes, the mercury falling rapidly until near noon, and then rising again. The least observed height was 28-290 inches, at 10 a.m.
*¢ Tsoon after received from Dr. Robinson and Mr. Cooper detailed accounts of the gale, as observed at Armagh and Markree, from which its rotatory character was still more evi-
“¥.
30
dent; but I deferred laying them before the Academy, until I could combine with them the observations made in other parts of Ireland according to the system recently organized. The following are the observations of the direction of the wind, and of the height of the barometer (reduced to 32° Fahr.),* at all the stations from which the results have been as yet forwarded to the Academy. The hours of observation are 9 a. M. and 9 Pp. M.
Heicut or BAROMETER. DIREcTION OF WIND.
-|19, A. M.|19, P. M.|20, A. M.|18, P. M.| 19, A. M.| 19, P.M. | 20, A. M.
29:100/28°339/28°518/29-044 29-094/28‘300)28°500/29-061 28:928/28:242/28-650/29°150 29°131/28°376/28-346/28-937 28°782|27-975|28-298|28°823 28°656|28°126/28°536)29-088 28°362/28-528/28-982 28°566/28-562/28°924 28°455/28°706|29:267 28°593/28°633)/28°993 28°756)/29-080/29-370 28°83 1/28°940/29°207
CORBRDARARAMANGD
‘¢ Tt will be seen from these observations that, at 9 a. mM. of the 19th, the wind was blowing from N. at Killybegs, and from S. at Donaghadee ; that it was blowing from S.E. at Portrush, and from N.W. at Castletownsend ; from 8.S_E. at Armagh, and from N.N.W. at Markree. The centre of the vortex was therefore over Ireland at that time, and be- tween the stations mentioned.
‘** But the most satisfactory mode of discussing these obser- vations is to lay down, on a map, lines in the direction of the wind at the same moment of time at the several stations. It is thus evident that these directions are, very nearly, tan- gents to concentric circles, the common centre of the circles
* “ The reduction to the sea-level has not been applied. The heights of the cisterns above the sea are small at all the coast stations. At Armagh this height is 211-0 feet; at Markree 131°5 feet.”
dl
being of course different at the different epochs. We thus find that the centre of the vortex had a progressive motion from W.S.W. to E.N.E. ; and that it reached the western shores of Ireland about 3 a.m. of the 19th, and quitted the | north-eastern about 3 p.m. of the same day. The position of these circles at 9 a. . of the 19th, together with the direc-
tion of the wind at the several stations, is shown in the annexed
eon ek
; diagram. The centre of the vortex was then over the north a the island, in lat. 54° 20’, long. 7° 30’, very nearly.
32
‘Tt will be seen that the direction of the wind is well re- presented at all the stations, excepting Buncrana; and the anomaly at this station is readily accounted for by the modify- ing influence of Lough Swilly, and its double chain of moun- tains.
“We have seen that the centre of the vortex was between Armagh and Markree at 9 a.m. of the 19th; and, as the direction of its progressive movement was not far from the line connecting these places, ‘it must have passed nearly cen- trally over both. Hence we should expect there the peculiar phenomena—the ull of the wind, and the sudden reversal of its direction—which are observed to occur at places in the path of the centre of a cyclone. I shall therefore briefly de- scribe the series of changes at these two stations, which have been kindly furnished in much detail by Dr. Robinson and Mr. Cooper. The observations at Armagh are from the re- cords of the self-registering anemometer, and are consequently continuous ; those at Markree were taken at short intervals.
‘At Armagh the wind began to blow at 7 p.m. of the 18th, with a velocity of 22 miles an hour. The maximum velocity (with the exception of that of a short squall* at 5 a.m.) occurred at 7 a. M. of the 19th, and amounted to 30 miles an hour. From this time the wind abated rapidly almost to a calm, its velocity at noon amounting only to 4 miles an hour ; and at 3 P.M. it rose again, with a velocity of 15 miles. The initial direction of the gale was from the E.S.E. From 9 p.m. on the 18th, to 1 a.m. on the 19th, it veered to S., at which point it continued for several hours, including the period of greatest force of the gale. At 11 a.m. its direction had re- turned to §.E., and it then suddenly shifted to W.N.W., altering through 160° in 24 minutes. The minimum pressure took place at 115 30™, at the close of this movement; its amount was 27°930 inches.
* During this squall, which lasted only three minutes, the velocity reached 60 miles an hour.
33
<< At Markree the gale commenced at 4" 30™ p. m. of the 18th, with a rapidly falling barometer. At 7 P.M. the wind abated to a breeze, the barometer still falling. It recommenced at 10 p.m. from the S. E.; and at 3 a.m. on the 19th it appears to have attained its maximum. At 6 a.m. the wind again abated; and at 7 a.M. there was a calm. The minimum pres- sure took place at this time, and amounted to 28-058 inches. At 9 a.m. the wind rose again from the N.N.W., but not with such force as before; and in the afternoon there was a strong gale again.
‘** From these facts it is evident that the centre of the vor- tex passed nearly over Markree at 7 a. M., and over Armagh at 11* 30" a.m. At Donaghadee, which is nearly in the prolonga- tion of the line connecting the two former places, the wind ceased at 1 p. m., and recommenced at 5 p.m.; so that the vortex passed nearly centrally over this station at about 3 p.m. From these data we learn that the cyclone movedfrom W.S.W. to E.N.E.; and that the velocity of the progressive move- ment was about 14 miles an hour.* )
“¢ The dimensions of the vortex may likewise be collected from the same data. ‘The interval between the commence- ment of the storm, and the passage of the centre, at Armagh, was 16} hours; and, the velocity being 14 miles an hour, the distance between the front of the vortex and the centre was 230 miles. We have grounds for believing that the posterior portion of the vortex was more considerable, and, conse-
* «<The direction of the progressive movement may also be inferred, although not so satisfactorily, from the initial and final directions of the wind, in veering, at any one station. And, the time of the nearest approach of the centre of the vortex being that of least pressure, the rate of the pro- gressive movement may be ascertained by a comparison of the heights of the barometer at two distant stations, the direction being known. Thus, the time of the minimum pressure at Caherciveen (deduced by interpolation)
was about 3 a.m., and that at Donaghadee about 3 p.m.; which gives a
velocity of 18 miles an hour.” ; VOL. V. D
34
quently, that it deviated from a circular form; but the gra- dually diminished force of the gale in the latter portion renders it impossible to fix its close with precision. The total diame- ter, in the direction of the progressive movement, probably exceeded 500 miles. The magnitude of the (nearly) quiescent portion of air in the centre of the vortex is better defined. At Armagh the lull lasted from three to four hours ; at Markree three hours; and at Donaghadee four hours. The diameter of the quiescent central portion was therefore about 50 miles.
‘<I shall now refer to some particulars connected with this gale, which appear to merit attention—although probably, in the present state of knowledge on this subject, we should not be justified in offering any suggestions in explanation.
«« Among the first of these are the abnormal irregularities in the rotatory movement, especially along the track of the centre. Thus we have seen that, at Markree, there was a subsidence of the gale from 7 p.m. to 10 P.M. of the 18th. There was, in like manner, a temporary lull at Armagh, be- tween 3 and 4 a.m. of the 19th. But the most curious irre- gularity is that of the direction. At Armagh this began to change rapidly at 9 p.m. of the 18th. At 9 P.M. it was E.S.E.; at 10 p.m, S. E.; at midnight, S.S.E.; and at 1 a.m. on the 19th, S. At this point it remained for several hours ; and the direction then retrograded through an are of about 45°. At 9 a.m. on the 19th, it was S.S.E.; and at 11 a.m. it came back to S.E., after which the sudden shift to W.N. W. already noticed, took place.
‘* The next point which seems to merit notice is the fact, that the force of the gale was considerably greater to the south of the line of passage of its centre, than on that line itself, or to the north of it. Thus, at Killiney, where I made frequent observations during the gale, I found the maximum velocity to be 55 miles an hour; at Armagh it was but 30 miles. It would be easy to account for this, if we could suppose that
mee
4
;
35
the whole revolving mass of air was transferred bodily, in virtue of the progressive movement. But this assumption
seems to be negatived by other facts.
«‘ It has been already mentioned that the greatest force of the storm occurred at Armagh and Markree, before the epoch of minimum pressure, the interval at both places being about four hours and a half. A similar interval took place at Kal- liney, but in the opposite direction, the epoch of greatest in- tensity following that of least pressure by four hours and a half.
‘‘ The last point which appears to demand notice is the curious fact, that there was a considerable interval between the epochs of the greatest intensity of the storm at Dublin and at Killiney, places only ten miles apart. The greatest force of the gale, at Dublin, took place between 1 and 2 p.M.; at Killiney it occurred between 5 and 6 p.m. There is a similar interval between the times of minimum pressure at the two places, the least height of the barometer occurring at Killiney at 1 p.m.,—or later than at Dublin by two or three hours. These differences are probably connected with the difference of altitude of the places of observation.
“ T have thought it right to bring this subject under the notice”of the Academy, not only on account of the general in- terest which attaches to it, but also as a specimen of the re- sults which may be expected from the observations recently instituted by this Society. And I gladly avail myself of this opportunity to testify to the fidelity and accuracy with which the observations are now made by the men belonging to the Coast-guard service. So far as regards the meteorological part of the undertaking, little more seems wanting than that, on occasions such as that which forms the subject of this paper, the observations should be taken at shorter intervals.”*
* <«Extra observations were taken during the gale at the Coast-guard
stations at Caherciveen and Kilrush.”
” p 2
36
Dr. Petrie exhibited an ancient brooch belonging to Mr. Waterhouse, of Dame-street.
‘¢ Sir, —By permission of Mr. Waterhouse, of Dame-street, I have the pleasure of exhibiting to the Academy a very re- markable specimen of ancient Irish art,—a fibula, or brooch, which came, a few months since, into that gentleman’s posses- sion. In availing myself, however, of this permission, I must confess my incompetency to treat of the skill exhibited in the workmanship, or of the taste in the design of this surpassingly beautiful article, which, though not much differing in its gene- ral form from various specimens of the Irish fibule in our own and other collections of antiquities, is superior to any hitherto found in the variety of its ornaments, and in the exquisite de- licacy and perfection of its execution. From such acquaintance as I have been able to acquire with the progress of ornamental art in Ireland, I may, perhaps, venture an opinion as to the age to which, with the greatest probability, this article may be ascribed ; but to treat of, or properly illustrate, the various mechanical arts exhibited in its manufacture, would require a greater amount of knowledge than I can pretend to, and a greater expenditure of time in the preparation than, from pe- culiar circumstances, I have lately had at my disposal; and besides I have no doubt that there are, within our Academy, many members who are better qualified than myself to under- take and accomplish this difficult and peculiar task. In short, my present object is little more than to present this beautiful remain to the notice of the Academy, and to direct their atten- tion to a few of its more striking peculiarities.
‘‘ Of these peculiarities, perhaps, the first that should be noticed is that of the metal of which the brooch is chiefly com- posed. ‘This metal is apparently, and was for some time sup- posed to be silver; but this supposition has been found to be erroneous, and that it is in reality that harder metal formed by a combination of copper and tin, and usually known by the appellation of white bronze.
37
s¢ Another peculiarity of this brooch, not hitherto found in any other specimen of the kind, is the attached chain, unfortu- nately broken, which was intended to keep the pin tight, and in its proper position. This chain, whicli is of silver, is of that peculiar construction usually known as the Trichinopoly work ; but it is not the only example of the manufacture of such chains in Ireland which has fallen under my notice, and which I be- lieve to be examples of art of a very considerable antiquity.
‘« Tt is scarcely necessary to call attention to the beautiful taste in design exhibited in the various ornamental patterns with which this work is overlaid, and which are not, as usual, confined to the front or exposed side, but almost equally enrich its reverse; nor is it necessary to call attention to the beauty of workmanship exhibited in the execution of these ornaments; but to appreciate fully the perfection of this beauty, the orna- ments must be studied through a lens of no moderate power: and thedrawings on an enlarged scale, which I hold in my hand, and which have been made by Mr. Nelson, the very intelligent conductor of Mr. Waterhouse’s business, will assist the Aca- demy in tracing the various designs of the ancient artistic work- man.
‘¢ Of these designs or patterns it has been found that there
are no less than seventy-six varieties, all of which exhibit an
admirable sense of ornamental beauty, and a happy fitness for their relative situations; and it should be observed that in all the smaller ornaments the only fastening used to keep them in their places is a delicate bur, not perceptible to the naked eye. In other places, however, and particularly in the circu- lar insertions of amber, the gold rosettes placed upon them are fastened by pins, which pass through the brooch, and are rivet- ted also, on the opposite side.
“ It should be observed, that the insertions of amber and - variegated glass are not of unusual occurrence in the remains
_ preserved to us of the jewellery art in Ireland ; nor is the ex-
38
ample of Niello, upon the reverse of this brooch, a solitary in-
stance, though we have seen none before of such delicate beauty ;
but of the carving or casting of glass into the forms of human
faces, as seen in this brooch, no other example is, I believe, to _be found.
‘‘T have now stated the principal points observable in this beautiful remain, to which it seemed to me desirable that the attention of the Academy should be drawn, and I shall only add a few words more.
‘* The general form and character of this brooch is that usually recognised as peculiarly Irish, or perhaps more properly Celtic, for it was, at all events, common to Scotland; and if we can trust to the authority of the author of ‘The Pillars of Hercules,’ it is also common to Moorish tribes of Africa, and derived from thence; but, be that as it may, it is certainly ofa very great and unknown antiquity in Ireland. Not so, how- ever the various arts displayed in its manufacture, which, how- ever derived from an earlier period, are those of Christianized Greece and Rome, as practised on the decline of the higher and nobler arts of design, when, as St. Chrysostom acquaints us, ‘all admiration was reserved for goldsmiths and weavers.’ And as to the age to which this exquisite specimen of those arts should be assigned, I should with little hesitation state as my opinion, founded on the peculiar character of most of the ornaments found upon it, though examples of a few of them may be found of an earlier antiquity, that it should be assigned to that period when such arts were carried to the greatest artis- tic perfection, namely, the eleventh, or, perhaps, the early part of the twelfth century.
«« And further, should it be an object of inquiry what the probable rank of the owner of such a costly ornament had been, I would with as little hesitation express my opinion that the rank must have been a princely one; as we have the autho- rity of a tract of our most ancient Brehon laws that the size
39
and value of the Gieve angoic, or silver brooch, should be in proportion to the rank of the wearer.
«« And lastly, I would fain refer to the preservation of this valuable memorial of the ancient art of Ireland as an impor- tant result of the efforts made by the Academy to illustrate the past history of our country, and place it upon a solid basis. I shall not easily forget that when, in reference to the exis- tence ofa similar remain of ancient Irish art, I had first the honour to address myself to a meeting of this high Institution, 1 had to encounter the incredulous astonishment of the illustri- ous Dr. Brinkley, which was implied in the following remark : —‘*‘ Surely, Sir, you do not mean to tell us that there exists the slightest evidence to prove that the Irish had any acquaintance with the arts of civilized life anterior to the arrival in Ireland of the English.’ Nor shall I forget that in the scepticism which this remark implied nearly all the members present very ob- viously participated. Those, at least, who have seen our mu- seum, will not make such a remark now.
*T need scarcely say that I very deeply regret that this beautiful remain of art is not as yet placed in our museum, its proper resting-place. Such a memorial should never be ab- stracted from the country which produced it, and I do trust that to our museumit will findits way. As I have beeninformed by Mr. Waterhouse, a prince merchant, who is a member of our Academy, very shortly after the brooch had come into Mr. Waterhouse’s possession, offered for it a sum vastly more than that which the Academy has latterly appropriated annu- ally to the increase of its museum, in order to place it in this national depository ; and such noble and generous spirit was only such at least as I could not be surprised at on the part of Mr. Charles Haliday. And I have been also told that ano- ther distinguished member of our body, the future chief of our nobility, has, in a spirit worthy of his station, endeavoured to purchase it at any reasonable cost, with the same object in view. With such examples before him of generous and patriotic zeal
40
in furthering the objects which the Academy have done so much to promote, I cannot but feel assured that Mr. Water- house, who has derived a great pecuniary benefit from our ex- ertions to create an interest in such remains, will feel it due to us, in return, to give a deaf ear to all temptations to seduce him to let this brooch out of Ireland, and that he will have a pleasure, as well as feel it his interest, to see it placed in its proper depository.”
Dr. Apjohn made an oral communication in relation to a process.recently employed by him for the artificial production of valerianic acid.
He stated that, as must be well known to many members of the Academy, the root of the Valerianas officinalis, or native plant, is much employed for medical purposes, and that diffe- rent pharmaceutic processes have been devised for extracting from it powerful antispasmodic medicines. Now, of the sub- stances existing in the root, and which admit of being separa- ted from it, the most remarkable are a peculiar volatile oil, and an acid of a fatty nature; the former being the essential oil of valerian, the latter the valerianic acid. The valerianic medi- cines of the Pharmacopeeia contain both these, and the therapeu- tic virtues they exert, they owe, undoubtedly, to these princi- ples. Reasoning from these facts, Prince Lucien Bonaparte, who is well known to have devoted much attention to certain departments of chemistry, first suggested the manufacture of the valerianates as curative agents, and their introduction into medical practice. But there is one great difficulty in the way of employing these salts extensively in the treatment of disease; they are very expensive, the cheapest of them, the valeria- nate of zinc, costing so much as eighteen or twenty shillings an ounce. It may be added that, from their high cost, a strong inducement exists to their fraudulent adulteration; and that, in point of fact, much of the valerianate of zinc at present in the market is nothing but the butyrate of the same metal, upon which a very minute quantity of a spirituous solution of the oil
| 4 | ,
41
of valerian has been poured. Impressed with the conviction that, as long as valerianic acid is derived from the root of the valerian, the price of the valerianates could not be materially reduced, and occupied, at the desire of the College of Phy- sicians, with the task of bringing out a new edition of the Dublin Pharmacopeeia, it became his duty to inquire whether valerianic acid could not be obtained from some other source, and at such reduced cost as would permit of the valerianates being more generally used in the practice of medicine.
The well-known method of Dumas and Stass was first tried, which consists in passing the vapour of fusel oil over the hy- drate of potash at a certain temperature, but the result was such as t6 forbid its being recommended as a pharmaceutic process. The conversion, however, of fusel oil, C;9H,,;O, HO, into valerianic acid, CjpHyO;, HO, being obviously a process of oxidizement, it naturally occurred to him to try whether the oxidation in question could not be effected by agents frequently applied in other departments of organic chemistry to a similar purpose, viz., bichromate of potash and oil of vitriol ; and upon subjecting, in November, 1847, this idea to the test of experi- ment, operating on small quantities, a tolerably satisfactory result was obtained. The subject, however, was not then pro- secuted further ; but as the Pharmacopeeia approached comple- tion, he had again to return to it, and working with the same materials, but by a somewhat different method, he had such success as, he conceived, would justify him in communicating his results to the public, through the medium of the Academy. The following process succeeds well :
Take of Bichromate of potash, nine ounces ; Oil of vitriol, six and a half fluid ounces ; Fusel oil, four fluid ounces ; Water, half a gallon:
Dilute the oil of vitriol with a pint, and dissolve the bichro- mate of potash, with the aid of heat, in the remainder of the
42
water; and, when both solutions have cooled to 80°, mix, and having then added the fusel oil, shake the mixture, and continue the agitation until the temperature, which at first rises to 150°, has fallen to 70° or 80°. Draw over now by distillation about half a gallon of liquid, and having saturated this with caustic soda, and separated any unoxidated fusel oil, evaporate down to about the bulk of four ounces, and, placing the valerianate of soda in a retort, with an equivalent quantity of oil of vitriol diluted with twice its bulk of water, again distil. The vale- rianic acid thus obtained, when rendered anhydrous by the usual methods, was found to have the same chemical composi- tion, specific gravity, and boiling point, with the acid extracted directly from the root of the valerian, so that there*gan be no doubt of their identity.
The fusel oil used in his experiments is found in the spent wash of the distillers, from which it may be separated by con- tinuing the distillation after the spirit has ceased to come over. The discovery of it in this liquid Dr. Apjohn stated that he communicated to the Academy so far back as the year 1840.
The valerianates of zinc, quina, and iron, should be pre- pared from the valerianate of soda by double decomposition. The valerianate of zine may also be made by neutralizing va- lerianic acid with the hydrated carbonate of zinc; but this direct method is scarcely applicable in the case of the two other salts.
Dr. Apjohn, in conclusion, stated that he did not claim to be original in converting fusel oil into valerianic acid, such hay- ing been previously effected through the agency of potash. At the time, however, he first accomplished this metamorpho- sis (November, 1847), by the oxidating influence of chromic acid, he was not aware that such method had been tried by any other chemist ; and the attempts since made on the Continent would seem{not to have been very successful, as Regnault, in his fourth volume, not long since published, immediately after describing a process of this kind, observes, ‘‘ that the best
43
process still for the conversion of fusel oil into valerianic acid is that by potash, originally given by Dumas and Stass.”
On the part of Richard Caulfield, Esq., the Secretary ex- hibited an inscription on a silver ring found in the county Galway: the letters are as follows:
es AVENMGAONEAIME.
He also presented, on the part of the same gentleman, a lithograph representing a silver buckle, and other or na~ ments, in the possession of Thomas Ronayne Sarsfield, Esq. ; and a rubbing from a stone in the church of Mallow, with the following inscription: ‘ Hic jacet Jacobus filius Wilhelme de Barry, in temporalibus dominus Kilmaclenyn.”
In the absence of Dr. Stokes, Dr. Petrie presented, from Rey. William Demoleyns, to the Museum, a large bronze ves- sel, found in the lands of Lahern, in the parish of Killorglan, in the county of Kerry, in 1849.
Rey. Charles Graves, on the part of Sir Robert Gore Booth, M. P., presented an ancient wooden crucifix, found in a font in the demesne of Lissadell, County Sligo.
January 13, 1851.
JOHN ANSTER, LL. D., VicrE-PRESIDENT, in the Chair.
Sin Francis Waskett Myers, Bart.; Rev. Orlando Dobbin, LL.D.; Samuel Gordon, M.D.; Daniel Griffin, M. D.; Ewing Whittle, M. D.; St. George Williams, M.D.; Robert Clayton Browne; James Gibson; Henry Hennessy ; Andrew John Maley ; and William Harvey Pim, Esquires, were elected Members of the Academy.
44
The following letter from R. Lepsius was read :
“‘ Berlin, le 27 Décembre, 1850.
«‘ Monsieur LE Prisipent,— L’ Académie Royale Ivlan- daise m’a fait ’honneur de me nommer un de ses membres ho- noraires. En présentant mes humbles remercimens pour cette distinction, si flatteuse pour moi, je dois, avant tout, vous prier de vouloir bien faire mes excuses 4 honorable Acadé- mie, du retard, bien pénible 4 moi, muis involontaire, que cette lettre de réponse a éprouvé. Je suis loin d’attribuer cette no- mination 4 mes mérites personnels, trop insignifiants pour avoir motivé une semblable résolution de votre corps savant ; mais je crois y reconnaitre un témoignage précieux pour la po- sition, toujours plus éminente, que la science égyptienne, a laquelle je me suis voué de préference, gagne partout, notam- ment, dans les siéges principaux des études scientifiques. En effet, des recherches qui ont pour but la connaissance d’un peuple qui 4 présent est généralement reconnu pour celui qui nous a laissé les monumens contemporains les plus anciens, et dont, par conséquent, Vhistoire, scientifiquement entendue, remonte plus haut que celle de tous les autres peuples d’anti- quité,—d’un peuple qui, depuis les temps d’ Abraham et de Moise, restait toujours en des relations intimes et remarqua- bles avec le peuple de Dieu,—d’un peuple, enfin, qui fournis- sait sans contredit un grand nombre d’éléemens trés essentiels et trés fertils A la civilisation des peuples classiques des Grees et des Romains,—de telles recherches ne peuvent manquer d’attirer l’attention de tous les hommes de science, depuis le moment ou elles promettent des resultats, et lattireront tou- jours plus 4 mesure qu’elles réussiront d’avantage. Il est vrai que précisément les questions chronologiques, qui présentent un intérét tout particulier 4 cause de l’antiquité inattendue ou elles paraissent vous conduire, sont encore controverses a un point qui leur semble dter toute confiance; et vous possidez vous-mémes, parmi vos membres indigénes, des savans célé-
45
bres par leurs travaux pleins d’érudition et de sagacité sur lEgypte ancienne, qui vous l’attesteront. Mais il n’y aura guére un seul parmi tous ceux qui se sont occupé de ce grand probléme, qui ne serait d’accord, que les élémens de cette
“question immense existent et sont accessibles dans un si grand
nombre, que, dans un temps pas trop éloigné, la science pourra et devra se décider pour l’une ou l’autre des solutions nom- breuses qui ont été proposées dans les derniers temps, et accep- ter, je ne dis pas toutes les particularités, mais bien les princi- pes fondamentaux d'une d’entre elles. Dés lors seulement importance des études égyptiennes, et leur influence puis- sante sur toutes les sciences historiques et antiquaires, sera mise en pleine évidence.
‘«¢ Veuillez étre, Monsieur le President, |’interpréte de sen- timens sincéres de ma profonde gratitude auprés de MM. vos savans collégues, et agréer pour vous-mémes l’expression de la haute considération avec laquelle j’ai ’honneur d’étre,
** Monsieur le President,
s Votre trés humble Serviteur, ‘ « R,. Lepsius.”
Dr. Ball exhibited some articles made of stone, now in use amongst nations in an early stage of civilization in distant parts of the world, with the view of showing, that antiquities found in Ireland may be illustrated by comparison with ob- jects of this nature.
_ Dr. Petrie restored to the Academy the original wooden covers, with their ornaments, belonging to the MS. known as the Book of Lecan, and now in the Library of the Academy.
Rey. Dr. Reeves read a paper descriptive of a certain Irish MS. of the four Gospels, examined by him in the British Museum.
Among the manuscripts in the British Museum is one
46
7
which, though neither so ancient nor so brilliantly illuminated as some others of the Irish school, is yet of peculiar interest, on account of its exquisite penmanship, and the precision with which its date has been ascertained. It belongs to a period in Irish history of which there are scarcely any other biblical re- mains, and is further valuable in that it serves as an excellent standard of the handwriting which was practised in this coun- try in the early part of the twelfth century. It is in the Harleian collection, No. 1802, small quarto, consisting of 156 folios, the page measuring 64 by 44 inches. It contains the Latin text of the four Gospels, agreeing very nearly with the Vulgate, accompanied by preliminary matter, and a running commentary in the form of marginal and interlinear scholia.
Fol. 1 commences with the prologue of St. Jerom, be- ginning “‘ Novum opus facere me cogis.” At folio 3 follows the “ Argumentum Evangelii Matthei.” In a note on the upper margin the following scrap of etymology occurs: ‘ Ar- gumentum, argutum inventum ; argumentatio, argute mentis ratio.”
Fol. 3 6. The genealogy of our Saviour, with notes. Upon which Wanley observes: ‘ This is written separately from the rest of the Gospel, and amongst other prefaces ; as being looked upon but as a preface. Ihave seen other ancient co- pies of the Evangelists, written in Ireland, or coming from books written by Irishmen, wherein, although the sacred ge- nealogy was not rejected or misplaced, there would neverthe- less appear a great distinction between it and what followed ; the words ‘Christi autem Generatio’ being illuminated again, as if the Gospel had begun there.”*
Fol. 4 6. An interpretation of the Hebrew and Syriac names which occur in the Gospels, ‘‘ perhaps,” says Wanley, ‘‘taken from St. Hierom.”
* Catalogue of the manuscripts in the Harleian Collection, vol. y. pp. 180- 207. MS. Brit. Mus.
47
Fol. 5 b. An Irish poem on the Wise Men of the East who were led by the star to Bethlehem, consisting of eleven quatrains. Notwithstanding the assistance of Toland, who professed to be well versed in the Irish language, Wanley has so far erred in his estimate of this composition that he styles it “ Glossariolum quoddam Hebraice, Latine, et Hybernice ;” and Mr. Westwood, in his Paleographia Sacra, repeats the statement. The poem is as follows, and the accompany- ing translation is from the accurate pen of Mr. Eugene Curry.
CQumluup humilup apo Malgalad nunaup n(pcsans Meléo mong liaé cen mebail 60 nulcha lech Lantebuin
Senom bpoic buive Inaip slap 50 slanmec lalaénamd bmie slap sen bnon Ni po epb m pi sen pig on
Cpenup proelip pial Salgalad veuocup o1an Ruad fen Cappap ian cumcach Ollla nua-sel nemulecaé
bpat conepa mman cuparo cam Inain butoe efn bnecun Slap 1alacpamd mpaic Tuip 00 Oia Doves TIONaIC
Oamapcup in cnep pep o1b Mipemcopp sen mmpnim Sincepa spactia cen cacht Pacipappac pip uallach
Fen ovop bpoic conena bpecsil blaomaip Copena uapeach cen imparo Tm 1alacpino buic buroe Oo pac mipp don mon oUINe
48
Cd ceat po anmand na opudao In Cbpa hi Spere pia spao luao HWlacin nach sluaip spaoa 1 m beptla uaip Gpaboa
Oach a necaic eparo ib Ria cancain mm cech coemcharg Selua pon saeppa sala Deboae A(pae Epcroae
Tmap dona opudib sen oop Theva md apeaerd ba apo nor Tm ecaise 1m cach pep o1b Don bi éplcave c(n oIMbjNG
Mame, loreph, Semion paen CG meb luda na nano map Ip m cI5 Danad caep cech 0OIT - Cpotn pip Spo
Co nepnum 00 pep ap Ippi oomen papmopsni Ip maid dian cobain acup O pocaoaip Gumliup.
Aurilius, Humilis, the noble, Malgalad, Nuntius, of fierce strength, Melcho the grey-haired, without guile, With his grey and very long beard.
A senior with a graceful yellow cloak, With a grey frock of ample size, Speckled and grey sandals without fault, He approached not the King without royal gold.
Arenus, Fidelis, the munificent, Galgalad the devout and fervent; A red man was Caspar in his vesture, A fair, blooming, beardless youth.
49
A crimson cloak round the comely champion, A yellow frock without variety,
Grey and close-fitting sandals: Frankincense unto God he freely presented.
Damascus was the third man of them, Misericors, without dejection, Sincera gratia without restraint, Patifarsat the truly-grand.
A grizzled man with a crimson, white-spotted cloak: Crimsoned stood he, above all without competition, With soft and yellow sandals, ; Who presented myrrh to the Great Man.
These are the names of the Druids In Hebrew, in Greek to be quickly spoken, In Latin which runs not rapidly, In the noble language of Arabia.
The colour of their clothes hear ye, As spoken in each of their countries: Selva, for the performers of heroic deeds, Debdae, Aesae, Escidae.*
* The descriptive materials of this poem were probably derived from the Excerptiones Patrum, ascribed to Venerable Bede, and printed among his works. ‘‘ Magi sunt, qui munera Domino dederunt: primus fuisse dicitur Melchior, senex et canus, barba prolixa et capillis: tunica hyacinthina, sa- goque mileno, et calceamentis hyacinthino et albo mixto opere, pro mitrario varie compositionis indutus: aurum obtulit regi Domino. Secundus nomine Caspar, juvenis imberbis, rubicundus, milenica tunica, sagorubeo, calceamen- tis hyacinthinis vestitus : thure quasi Deo oblatione digna, Deum honorabat. Tertius fuscus, integre barbatus, Balthasar nomine : habens tunicam rubeam, albo vario, calceamentis milenicis amictus: per myrrham filium hominis mo- riturum professus est. Omnia autem vestimenta eorum Syriaca sunt. Mun- dorum namque est munda contingere.”—Opera, vol. iii. col. 649. (Bas. 1563.)
Zacharias Chrysopolitanus, or Goldsborough, who flourished A. D. 1150, gives their names thus: ‘* Nomina trium magorum Hebraice, Apellius, Ame- rus, Damascus. Apellius interpretatur fidelis, Amerus humilis, Damascus misericors. Greca lingua vocati sunt Magalath, Galgalath, Saracin: Maga-
VOL. V. E
50
Three were the Druids without gloom; Triple were their gifts in noble fashion ; Three garments were upon each man of them; From three worlds they came without debility.
Mary, Joseph, and noble Simeon, Of the tribe of Judah of the noble kings, Are in the house in which every hand is a lighted torch, All together with the Trinity.
May we do thy will, O King, And desire it with all our heart: Thou art gracious to relieve us in our distress, Since the day thou wast adored by Aurelius.
At the foot of same page are two notes, the former pur- porting to be taken from St. Gregory; the latter from St. Jerom, in these words: ‘‘Augeant sacerdotes scientiam magis quam divitias, et non erubescant discere a laicis, qui noverint que ad officium pertinent sacerdotum.”
Fol. 6. The Prologue to St. Mark, beginning “ Marcus Evangelista Dei.”
Fol. 6 6. The Prologue to St. Luke, beginning “ Lucas Syrus natione.”
At the extreme top of fol. 7 a the following quatrain oc- curs, written in a very minute hand, and apparently as an ex- ercise of the pen, or a burst of the fancy:
lath interpretatur nuncius, Galgalath devotus, Saracin gratia.”—Concord. Evang., lib. i. p. 47. (1535.)
Petrus Comestor, A. D. 1170, writes thus: ‘‘ Nomina iii. Magorum hee sunt Hebraice Appellus, Amerus, Damascus. Grece, Galgalat, Magalath, Sarachim. Jatine, Balthasar, Jaspar, Melchior.”.— Hist. Evang. cap. viii. ** Que sane commenta sunt hominis Hebraice et Greece zeque imperiti. Nomi- nant alii Atorem, Satorem, Paratoram: ludibria omnia, et minime ante duo-
,decimum szeculum procusz fabellze.”—Calmet, Commentar. tom. vii. p. 65.
(Aug. Vindel. 1735.) Casaubon, Exercitat. p. 136. (Francof. 1615.) In the Calendar they appear in this order: Gaspar, Jan. 1 (Act. SS. Jan. i. p. 8); Melchior, Jan. 6 (Ib. p. 323); Balthasar, Jan. 11 (Ibid. p. 664).
51
bef. c.—Celebpad en an maim h Maich vo cthabainc ofp oume Cach oib po canap apa In va ni an eclaip huile
Berchan cecinit.—‘t The warbling of birds I observe,
It is good to give tears to a man; Each of them loves the other,
As does the entire Church.’
Fol. 7 b. The Prologue to St. John, beginning “ Hic est Johannes.”
Fol. 8 &. A collection of extracts from Jerom, Gregory, and Bede.
Fol. 9. Notes, wherein the Evangelists are fancifully com- pared to four liquors, four elements, four quarters of the world, four winds, four pillars.
Fol. 9 d is entirely occupied by an Irish poem on the per- sonal appearance, and the manner of death, of Christ and his Apostles. It seems to be framed according to certain rules which guided the ancient scribes in the illumination of their biblical manuscripts, and may possibly find a partial illustra- tion in the figures which appear in the Book of Kells and other manuscripts of that class.
.
becca na velba aéc velb Oe Ni velb do posain vofn Bne Folc dono cp nonnual boi occa Ocup ulcha puad po atta.
Oelb Pecap abpcail po mach, d mong slan pobo Sle liat Finn connail m pep panaa Sap umeumain a ulcha.
Pol appeal alamo a onech 60 pole (peam uppinech Cep cumcha sop vo chotca Ulcha Port ba pip potca.
E 2
52
lacob Cnopeap aep cumcha Fimo a pols potca a n-ulcha Inmam fo diacon in ola cin lacob 1p Gnomap.
€om bnunne valca Oe oil Robo oono a pole ecin Rob bo chiunin cuintach Rob beimzein oc amulcaé.
Polipp, ulcha pota pap Ocup onech dens Fo vesbail Pols vens uap uléa spp Fon Pontolon pacep-bino.
Polc carp oub an emo Macha 6an 5inn ouléa anplata Folc capp an Tacha cen tan Ulcha compacca comlan.
lacob slunech 50 5uc slan Mac Clbei nip betpocan Pole at ap lacob hute Ocup ulcha pinn-bubde.
Thomap, Tosa delbe a velb, Oonn cap a pole m imnfpb Nip bo anib vom min cumcha Sanb samc a slan ulcha.
Folc finn an Spmon poep pens Ocup cnep ofngel mend Ocup ulcha cipoub carp Cig10 pucech, pope po slap.
Eoin bapa nip bo bocha Oond a ulcha vond a pole Oelba na pen pens peta Daplem moaz lan becca.
53
> Col vain aroro Cpipe na efc ' Ocup a da appeal veac
| d manbad bamonup men Ip 1olup gan nipcen
Cpochad no cnochad Cire cain | San pia cnocad Pfcaip
ig Lammcladib v0 manbad Pol
: Rob aroio anpail ecom.
; Cpochad Ppylipp pudan mon Ocup fpennavd Poncholon
Do clarorub po slan sep slap Ro manbad 50 cpfn Tomap.
Macha m copcela pom cog Frich oen nambap vamapbao Do cloich vatha ba puad pind Soech lem Tacha vo chucim.
lacob mac Atphi, echc noll Rop poppaig panchi pip tpom Cnonearp appeal can coll Fuap hi cnoich eccamlono
lacob mae Cleopa ocur Maine Cenn na nappeal nuapal napo lacob mac Zebit vemneinc Amapmaich ba snim sans
€om na tuacth ocup na tneb ba luath po choipe m claroeb €om bpune can bpeit von mutch | Cen bulle acc ce a ofnup.
luda po manb Smon plan Ocup cloch po manb Scephan Mo doin don cach mapa ces Tne nat in Rig nace po bic. b.
D4
Cnaig a Cpipc cen chaine Cnmain hua Maelconame, dn ippepnn fecctha peta hh pil leptha lan becca. b.
Despicable all faces but the face of God: His was not a face adorned but by one complexion: An auburn, tripartite [head of] hair had he, And a beard red and very long.
The face of the Apostle Peter was most venerable, His glossy hair was of shining grey; Fair and old was the favoured man; Short and close was his beard.
Paul the Apostle, brilliant was his face, With beautiful glossy hair; Until his companions had cut it off, The beard of Paul was very long.*
James and Andrew were companions, Fair their hair, long their beards; Beloved deacons were the two, Both James and Andrew.
John of the bosom, the adopted of the loving God; Lightly auburn was his hair, Calm and placid was his countenance; He was very gentle, young, and beardless.
Philip,—a long beard had he, And a florid countenance of gracious aspect. Red hair, with a short beard, Had Partholan of the sweet prayers.
* The allusion may be to Acts, xviii. 18, or xxi. 24. + The epithet is borrowed from John, xiii. 23; xxi. 20,
55
Black curly hair upon the head of Matthew, Without the sign of a tyrant’s beard. Curling hair upon reproachless Thaddeus, With a full and long flowing beard.
James of the knees,* of the clear voice, The son of Alpheus, who was not merciless; All grey was the hair of James, With a beard of light yellow.
~ Thomas,—choicest of faces was his face; Brown and curly was his hair without doubt; It was no blemish to my companion That coarse and short was his clean beard.
Fair hair had Simon the noble, tall, And a pure white and robust body, | And a jet black curling beard, : A florid face, and a grey blue eye.
} John the Baptist was not poor,
. Brown his beard, brown his hair.
Such were the visages of the slender, tall men, And I think they were not despicable.
*F I know the fate of all-ruling Christ, ‘ And of his Twelve Apostles; To kill them was a deed of madness; Many are the authorities that relate it.
On a cross was crucified the gentle Christ, - Shortly before the crucifixion of Peter. A sword-girt hand to have slain Paul Was a fate both awful and unjust.
* St. James the Less, so styled in allusion to the ancient tradition : aeo- KAnKéva Ta yovara av’rov dikny kapnrov, dia 7d dei kare evi yor" Tp0G- kuvoivra Tp G«~.—Euseb. Hist. Eccles. ii, 23. Hieronym. in Jovin. ii. 24. Alban Butler, Lives of the Saints, May 1.
56 The crucifying of Philip was a great pity ; And the flaying of Partholan.*
With a bright, blue, sharp sword Was fiercely killed Thomas.
Matthew the Evangelist, my favourite, One single soldier was found to kill him.t By a coloured, red-pointed stone I grieve that Thaddeus fell.§
James, son of Alpheus, awful deed! Was killed by a weighty mallet.|| Andrew, the guiltless Apostle, Upon across received an unfair death.§
James, the son of Cleopas and Mary, The head of the noble illustrious Apostles.** James the son of Zebedee the guiltless,— To kill him was a dreadful deed.
John of the lands and of the housestf Quickly was he cut off by the sword;
* An Irish form of the name Bartholomew. See Butler, Aug. 24.
} The tradition is that he was pierced witha lance. Dec. 21.
} Tradition says he was thrust through with a spear, while at the altar, by order of King Hircanus.
§ This is St. Jude, called by St. Matthew ‘‘ Lebbzus, whose surname was Thaddeus.” Greek writers state that he was shot with arrows, and others add, while on a cross. Octob, 28.
|| Kai XaBav rie az’ adroy sic réyv Kvagdéiwy 76 Etdov ty @ amemisle TA iparia, iveyKe KaTa THC KEpadie Tov dteaiov.—Euseb. Hist. Eccl. ii. 23; also, iii. ‘* Fullonis fuste, quo uda vestimenta extorqueri solent, in cerebro per- cussus interiit.”—Hieronym. de Secriptor. Eccles. Butler, May 1.
{ So Hieronym. Catalogus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum.
** These two lines refer to the subject of the preceding quatrain, namely, James the Less, whose father Alpheus was supposed to be the same as Cleo- pas, and whose rank among the Apostles is implied in Acts, xv. 13, 19.
tt This designation may be per antiphrasim, or an application of the pro- mise in Mark, x. 29, 30. Ina preceding verse it is said ‘‘ John the Baptist
was not poor.”
57 John of the bosom without being brought to the green,* Without a stroke, the only one to die,
’ The Jews that killed the perfect Simon;
And with stones was Stephen killed;
May my protection be on them all if they will, Through the grace of the King who is not despicable.
' Save, O spotless Christ,
The soul of O’ Maelchonaire
From the awful blasts of hell,
In which are habitations very despicable.
With fol. 10 commences the narrative of St. Matthew’s Gospel, accompanied by a most copious catena, which, how- ever, stops at the beginning of the twenty-seventh chapter. In some cases the matter of the notes grew to such an extent _ upon the scribe that the margins were insufficient to contain _. them, and he was obliged to insert between the regular folios slips of vellum, of half the breadth of the ordinary page. On upper margin of fol. 11 4 are introduced two quatrains in a delicate hand, comprised in two lines:
Coie mile man m cach Serea mile pfp napmach Oo pil lacorb ip eol vam Imm oen mnai vo pochnacan
Timcell ban ocup mace min Tnebe beooa bemamin Ocup cimcell mo arp polao Fop muincip labip salao.
Five thousand, great the battalion, And seventy thousand armed men, Of the seed of Jacob, it is known to me, On account of one woman they all fell.
* The green or plain of execution.
58
About the women and tender children Of the lively tribe of Benjamin, And about the slaughter that was brought Upon the people of Jabes Galaad.*
Fol. 13, lower margin:
a. Mace mm cagainc Tuignecha. Line moice hi cup molecthinnig pea. Rob cfnnaip O1a pon anmamn Maelippa. Pp.
‘Mac-intagart of Tuighnetha.’f ‘The writing of my tutor is at the beginning of this page. May God be gentle to the soul of Maelissa.’? Pater.
Fol. 34 b, lower margin :
a. 3. pe.—Nepztip Gpecthae snim slice Ingen peccach 00 Philip Sa lip a cend nin bacamn Oo chunms cenn me Sachaip. ‘ The grand-daughter of Aretas,{ of the cunning deed, The sinful daughter of Philip, In the court her power was not despicable, It was she that craved the head of Zacharias’ son.’
Fol. 36, lower margin : Potuth. c.—€cena mcliuct comaple
Fir nfpc saine sun Omun fiaoac pon bith ce Sechc oana Oe oun.
* These lines refer to the events recorded in Judges, caps. xix.—xxi.
+ Now Tynan, a parish in the diocese and county of Armagh. The name occurs in the Calendar of the O’Clerys, at the 29th of August, in connexion with St.Winnoe: Umbdic Tulgneata. ** Vulgo Tuighnean, sed rectius Teagh- neatha appellata.”—Colgan, Trias Thaum., pp. 34, n. 69; 183, n. 222.
t{ Herod Antipas’ first wife was daughter of Aretas, King of Petrza; but she fled from her husband’s court as soon as Herodias, with Salome, obtained the ascendency there. Jerom (in Matt. xiv.) falls into the same error with the writer of the above poem, in making Herodias daughter of Aretas instead
of Aristobulus. &
——
59
Fothadh* cecinit—‘ Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge, Might, Stern watchfulness, The Fear of the Lord in this passing world, Are the seven gifts of God unto us.’ Fol. 50 is an inserted slip, having a long note, at the foot of which is written in an extremely minute hand : Oiamad ail lem po pepibabamd in cpaccad uli amal po. ‘If I wished I could write the whole commentary like this.’
The Gospel according to St. Mark begins at fol. 61, and __is introduced with the usual symbol of the Lion, drawn, how- _ ever, as Wanley observes, ‘‘ by one who never saw the crea- ture.” The marginal catena recommences with this Gospel, but only proceeds for seven pages, stopping at fol. 64, and not so delicately written as in the preceding. The Gospel ends at _ fol. 86, with the signature : . Op 00 Maelbpigce qui pembpic hune bpum. ‘ A prayer for Maelbrigid who wrote this book.’
St. Luke begins at fol. 87, and has the symbol of an Ox, rudely executed. The catena on this Gospel goes no further than four pages, breaking off at foot of fol. 88 d.
Fol. 97 d, in a single line in margin is :
Quioam c.—Tpian po choowpe Cpipc can
Oranabai quips In calmam; Instn lapwip ain, Mac na peoba, ocup Lazan. Quidam cecinit.—‘ Three that were resuscitated by the gentle Christ When he was for a time upon earth; The daughter of Jairus the noble, The son of the widow, and Lazarus.’
St. John’s Gospel begins at fol. 128, and ends at fol. 156. _ It has neither the evangelical symbol, nor any scholia.
* Fothadh na Canoine, who flourished A. D. 804. See Four Masters, 799. t Borrowed from Isaiah, xi. 2, 3.
60
The scholia, which profess to be taken from various writers, are generally prefixed with the author’s name, or a portion of it. Thus, the extracts from St. Jerom are marked with the signatures h., Ip., hip., hypommup; those from Venerable Bede by b., be., bea., beaoa; Gregory, 53. Besides these, the names of Origen, Cyprian, Eusebius, Priscian, Isidore, and Leo, occur. The most frequent references are to Manchanus, under the signatures m., ma., man. At fol. 44 4, marg., is a note on Matt. xxi. 25:
bapzipm lohon. .. copnuta quepuio omicup .1. ba cuaplucud ola c{ptae peom m ceipt 00 pac Cpips dob, nam pi o1zIppenG bapzip. Iahon eppet ve celo 1ed po bochoip ooib Do pad quia oixzippec eip ille De me et DE Mea poTePptate, OICenT ecce agnup, pl.
‘ Baptismus Johannis, 2. e. cornuta questio oritur, %. e. the question which Christ put to them was a solution to their own question, nam st dix- issent Baptismus Johannis esset de ceelo, what they ought to have said was, quia dixisset eis ille de me et de mea potestate, dicens Ecce Agnus, fc.’
At lower margin of fol. 48 4 is a short note on Matt. xxiv. 26, from the same writer :
Man. Si autem oixepine, pt., Ecce im oepepeto .1. us PUNT anchopicae.
‘Manchan. Si autem dixerint, §c. Ecce in deserto, i. €. ut fiunt anchoritae.’
>
At foot of fol. 49 is the following note on Matt. xxiv. 21:
Man. Cm enm - he - onace Tpibulacio 4. us Macep Piluum comevact in obpeppa ciuicace «1. Mapia nomen eiup .1. an cia ba mon o1liu coppals Coma moan pombor ocup ip oen pian po bor inci bio anopu om olpiancaib cpipts - mi - annip et o1medI0 ocup bicilapoa 1apianai ocup anoiglai - upque modo .1. ao Tem- pup quod modo.
‘ Manchan. rit enim - hyeme - orate . Tribulatio, 7. e. ut mater Jilium comedat in obsessa civitate, 7. e. Maria nomen ejus, é. e. for, though great the loveliness of the beginning of the world, greater was the pain
61
[%. @. the deluge] that came on it ; but it was only one pain that came on wt. The many pains of Christ were more intense .1. annis et dimedio, % and the pains and vengeance for them shall be more numerous and in- tense. us modo, i. e. ad tempus, quod modo.’
Of the subscriptions to the Gospels that after St. Mark ___ has been given above. At the end of St. Matthew is the fol- lowing:
i On vo Maelbmigce qui pembric hune lbpum. Ip mon in 4 gmim Copmac mac Canchaig v0 manbad o Taipvelbach .h. — Bmam.—Fol. 60.
‘A prayer for Maelbrigid qui scripsit hune librum. Tis a terrible deed, Cormac Mac Carthy to be killed by Turlogh O’Brien.’
The allusion is to an event which the Four Masters thus record at the year 1138: “Cormac, son of Muireadhach, son of Carthach, King of Desmond, and bishop of the kings of Treland for bestowal of jewels and wealth upon the clergy and the churches, an improver of territories and churches, was killed in his own house by treachery, by Toirdhealbhach son of Diarmaid Ua Briain, and by the two sons of O’Conor Kerry.”
At the end of St. Luke, the scribe’s name appears again, but with a different chronological note :
Op vo Maelbpigce qui pemibpic h. Lb. mm xx°umn? anno aetatip uae. In vana bliadain 1aippm s0(charg mop plin.—Fol. 127 b.
‘ A prayer for Maelbrigid gui seripsit hunc librum in xxviii? anno _ @tatis sue ; The second year after the great storm was this.’*
eee
* John Toland, whose real name was O'Toolan, was a native of Eskaheen _ in Inishowen, near Derry, where Irish was the language commonly spoken in his time. (See O’Donovan, An. Four Mast. 464.) He undertook to inter- pret this passage, and his autograph, which is pasted on p. 194 of Wanley’s " Catalogue, vol. v., contains this translation: ‘“Orate pro Brigidiano qui
__ seribsit hunc librum in vicesimo octavo anno aetatis suae secundo anno ab _ aedificatione magne domus.” Mr. Westwood, who translates from Wanley’s ee. Catalogue instead of the original, places the occurrence ‘‘in the second year after the building of the great house.”! At least he should have followed
Dr. O’Conor, who interprets the passage correctly.
62
Here he reckons inclusively, and refers to an event which is thus described by the Four Masters at the year 1137: “A great storm throughout Ireland, which prostrated many trees, houses, churches, and [other] buildings, and swept men and cattle into the sea, in Moy-Conaille” [the present county of Louth]. So far the writer of this manuscript is not only at one with himself, but also bears testimony, the more honourable as it is undesigned, to the correctness of our native chronicles : but there remains another subscription, which, as the colophon of the whole volume, exceeds the others in detail, and contains a number of collateral criteria for fixing its date. It has been already printed by Dr. Charles O’Conor, in evidence of the historic fidelity of the Irish annals,* and by Dr. Petriet for another purpose, but it may be well to adduce it a third time, in order to complete the present description :
oi. Of vo Maelbmgce h-Ua Maeléanaig, qui pembpic he ubpum ..im nGpo Macha. Ocup in n-ampip Oonnchavha hua Cepbdaill apopis Cipsiall po pembad, .1. mbliaoain oan peproe veac pop Kal. Cnaip «1. 1p m bluadam po manbad Copmac mac Capoaie pisfpeop Muman 7 hEpenn ap chenam na ampip.
Aceac po h pigpa hE€penn ip m nampip pe «1. Munefpcae mac Nel ua Lochtaino Ciluch. Cuulao mac Conchobuip m5 Ulav. Mupcach ua Maelpechtamo pig Moe. Oiapmaic mac Munchada 15 Lagen. Conchobop ua bmiam ~15 Muman. Taip-
oelbach ua Conchobaip 15 Connachc.
1. mac md Ip dana ‘vo 1b bipnn Sila mac Liac mac mic Ruaiom hi comanbap Pacpaic.
bennachc ap cech oen lespap pip mM lebup pa, Zebed paicin ap anmain m pepibaeoa, uaip 1p mon hacecep etip copp ] cpac- cao.—Fol. 156 db.”
* Rerum Hibernicar. Scriptor. vol. i., Prolegom. pars ii. p. 143, where a fac-simile is given. It has also been partly given by O’Brien, in his Irish Dictionary, voce Curmac. A fac-simile is among the specimens of Irish MSS. in Mr. Purton Cooper’s unpublished “ Appendix A” to the Report of the Eng- lish Record Commissioners.
{ Inquiry into the Origin, &c., of the Round Towers of Ireland, p. 303.
peer sh
LL
63
‘A prayer for Maelbrigid O’Maeluanaigh qui seripsit hune librum, i.e, at Armagh. And in the time of Donough O’Carroll, chief king of Oriel, it was written, i. e. the year in which the 16th was on the Calends of January, i. e. the year in which Cormac Mac Carty, King- bishop of Munster and of Ireland generally in his time, was killed.
‘ These also are the kings of Erin at this time, namely, Murcher- tach son of Niall O’Lochlain, at Ailech; Cooley son of Connor, King of Uladh; Murchadh OMelaghlin, King of Meath; Dermod Mac Mur-
‘rough, King of Leinster; Connor O’Brien, King of Munster; Tur-
logh O’Connor, King of Connacht.
‘ Gilla-mac-liag, the son of the son of Roory (i. e. the son of the poet of the Ui-Birinn), in the successorship of Patrick.
* A blessing on every one who will pardon the faults of this book, let him say a pater for the soul of the scribe; for it much requires indulgence both in text and commentaries.’
Dr. O’Conor has entered into a full examination of this record, and has shown, by a comparison of its details with no- tices in the Irish annals, what harmony exists between these independent records, adding, as well he might: “* A sxculo inauditum esse existimo, in rebus presertim Septentrionalibus, veritatem facti cujuscumque antiqui tanta rerum in uno anno concordantium varietate, totque personarum, locorum, et cir-
- cumstantiarum adjunctis, que alibi quam in nostris Annalibus
inveniri nequeunt, possit tam dilucide et inconcusse demon- strari.” Of the subsequent history of this manuscript nothing is
_ known till the commencement of the last century, at which q period it was shown as a Saxon manuscript in the Royal Li- _ brary at Paris. This we gather from the following statement _ of Pere Simon: ‘On trouve dans la Bibliotheque du Roi un
beau Manuscrit Latin des quatre Evangiles écrit il y a pour le
_ moins 800 ans en vieux caracteres Saxons. Le Copiste qui _ étoit un Moine Benedictin prend le nom de Dom ZElbrigte, & F il ajotte a la fin de son Exemplaire plusieurs lignes en langage
Saxon. Outre le texte des Evangiles, cet exemplaire contient
64
de petites gloses interlinéaires en Latin sur de certains mots, avec quelques notes marginales qui composent une espece de petite chaine reciieillie de Saint Hilaire, de Saint Ambroise, de Saint Augustin, de Gennadius, et ce me semble de Bede, qui est indiqué par la seule lettre B. comme Saint Jerome est in- diqué par la lettre H. Ces notes, dont il y en a quelques unes fort impertinentes, & qui sont apparement du Compilateur, viennent de deux mains; car les unes sont en caracteres Saxons, & les autres en caracteres Latins: celles-ci sont beaucoup plus recentes.”*
Simon’s error in the division of the original words vomael- bpigce was natural enough to one unacquainted with the prac- tice of Irish scribes; and, though a little too venturesome in describing the handwriting and language as Saxon, he did no more than err with Mabillon, Muratori, and other great autho- rities in re diplomatica. It has been the misfortune of ancient ‘Trish literature that its remains, through the subordinate con- dition of this conntry, have, both in England and abroad, been, almost without a dissentient voice, adjudged to the Anglo- Saxon school, whereby not only has the merit of the teacher been transferred to the disciple, but a great obstruction has been placed in the way of an acquaintance with Irish manu- scripts which are scattered through Europe; the Irish scholar neglecting to examine them, because they are called Saxon ; and the English to consult them, because unable.
What notes Simon intended as the fort impertinentes, he has not mentioned: possibly that already cited at p. 50, from fol. 5 b, and the following :
Puplicam a Puplo nese, us hepooiani ab henove, et Cpip- ciam a Cmpco.—Fol. 3.
On Matt. xvi. 18, Gc e50 vico cTibi quia cu ep Pecpurp 4 rupep hance petnam eoipicabo ecclepiam. €x hoc Loco epipcopt
* Bibliotheque Critique, par Mr. De Sainjore, vol. i. p. 271-5. (Par. 1708.)
ee. 8 ee, |
65
et ppepbicem 1accanc et appumunc aliquod be pupenbia papi reopum, uc uel bampnent mnocencer uel poluent, cum apuv Domimum non pencentia ped copum uta quepacup. Quomodo m Leuitico pacepoop lepnopum munoum pacic, non quo pacep- vocep Leppopor munoor uel immunoor pacianc red quo habeans noziciam lepnori et non leppopi, pic ec hic alligaz 7 poluic epip- copup non eor qui mponcep punt et nozn, ped ppo pacpipicio Tuo cum peccatopum audiepit uametactep pois qui iganoup ric, qui poluenoup.—Supenp hanc pecpam .1. pupep ce quia cu ep petna, et pupep petpam quia connipup er .1. pupen me.—Fol. 38.
Again, on €c abi vabo clauep pesm celonum, verse 19: Clauep mipcepia pepipcupapum, uel mm. clauep hommip .1. pI- vem, Ppem, cosicationep, et opup. 11. quoque hommip, .1. cepm- cam et accualem wicam. Qui aucem poluic moigne uel ligac, us Onesopiurp aic, a pnoppia poteptace pe ppiuac.—Ibid.
Again, fol. 54 (inserted slip): Manchan.—Ppimo quaepi- cup pi hec appumpctio panip 7 calicip piguna an hipcopia an pen- rup Figupa epc. Ppaccio autem panip pigupac coppurp con- Ppaccum a milicibup in cpuce; 7m ommbup panccip icepacta pappio eps oum paciuncup, a Chpipco upque ao pinem muno1. Sed camen non ut piebant Figupe Lesip, quae ceppauepunc; hec ueno FIZuNa cooloie Icepatunp. ‘
Quanto quaepicup an aqua in hac oblatione accipicun ea- vem caupa quia euangelipta dixepit inquit ve Latene aqua et panguip, 1cem pigupam Cpipci cenet umum, aqua uepo popula, nam pic 1unsuncun.
Fol. 55: Cenancibup uepo eip. lepup accepic panem .. agno ucique parchal mmolaco accipic panem ve pambup whup cene, accepic panem uct panem ppo capm in pacpipicium ab hommbup accepippet Oeup. Cc benepizic 1. UG MIPpTiIce coppur ep pienec. Sic oicicup Panp aucem quem pnansimurp Chppa coppur epc. Fpesic 1. pgnipicac quia coppup ep m pappione pnansgenecun. Spi. panip hic ecclepia ept quia con- pup Chpipci accipicup m proe, beneoicitup m habunoancia, Fpangicup m copmencip, oacup nm exemplip. Oedicque oiper- pulip pup pp. ~sMpPicats quod ad eop pops pepuppectionem uencupup eppec. Coppup meum .1. uc pic hec uena hoptia, non
VOL. V. F
66
agnup, non wiculup, non hineup, non caupup. hee ept ppima nou cepcamenci pigupa. Manchanup. Ec hoc o1xit ne noptpa oubicanet ploep de pacpipicio codrorano m ecclepup quod con- pup Chpipe: epc, quomam Chpiptup m vexcpa Oe1 pevet.—Cc acerpienp calicem. In Luca legimup ouop calicep quibup ppo- pimnanes, unum ppimi menpip, ec alcepum fecunoi, ut qui primo menpe agnum comedvepet non potuepit pecunoo menpe imcepn pemcencep.
Simon’s ‘ Bibliotheque Critique,” which was published in 1708, seems to have drawn some attention to this manuscript ; and his account of its age and origin, coupled with its beauty and compactness, recommended it to the cupidity of one who, about that time, was carrying on an infamous traffic in manu- scripts, which he purloined from the Bibliotheque du Roi. This was the miscreant John Aymon, whose morality was as loose as his religious principles, and whose depredations on the King’s Library have been made the subject of well-earned re- probation.* In 1708 our countryman, John Toland, was living at the Hague, where he became acquainted with Aymon, and obtained a loan of the manuscript under consideration. This we learn from Letter II. in his Nazarenus, where he states that he had it in his custody about half a year, and adds in a note that he wrote his dissertation upon it in the year 1709.f He must have been aware also of the depository to which it
* See Biographie Universelle, voce Aymon (vol. iii. p. 137); Le Prince’s History of the Bibliotheque du Roi; Silvestre’s Paléographie Universelle, vol. ii. p. 31; vol. iii. under ‘* Bible dite de Saint-Denis,” about the middle. A more particular account of the MSS. stolen by him (nearly all of which are now in the British Museum) was printed by Sir Frederick Madden in the Gentleman’s Magazine for 1832, translated from the German of Uffenbach’s Travels, published in 1753. Uffenbach saw this Yery MS. with Aymon in Jan. 29, 1711—(Gent. Mag., vol. cii. pp. 30-32.) See also Universal Palzo- graphy, by M. J. B. Silvestre, translated by Sir Frederick Madden, vol. i. p. 179; vol. ii. p. 472. (Lond. 1850.)
+ Nazarenus, Letter If. p. 15. (Lond. 1718.)
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belonged by right, and of the mode in which it was carried away, for he quotes Simon’s statement, where it is described as being in the Bibliotheque du Roi, and subsequently remarks that, “‘ The person who conveyed it out of France was under the same illusion with Father Simon, that it was the work of an Anglo-Saxon, till I undeceiv’d him, together with some others of great distinction.”
It soon after passed into other hands, for in 1718 Toland _ writes : ‘The book is come into England, being purchased by the Earl of Oxford, in whose large collection of manuscripts it is not the least valuable piece.” The particulars of the pur- chase are thus given by Wanley in his MS. catalogue: “ Co- dex membranaceus in 4'° minori, quem a Joanne Aymone in Hollandia redemit illustrissimus Dominus meus.”
«¢ When Mr. Toland first spake of it to me (for I had the first notice of this and the other manuscripts bought of Mr. Aymon from him), he said it was 900 years old; and upon the large account he gave of its rarity, joyned to 900 years Anti- quity, I presently offered 20 Guineas for it.”
Wanley, however, had more discernment than his infor- mant, and soon came to the conclusion “that this book was written in or about 1139.”
—_—_—_@—_..
January 27, 1851.
HUMPHREY LLOYD, D.D., Presiveyt,
in the Chair. Tae President reminded the Meeting of a Resolution of the ~ Academy,* which had been adopted just previous to his elec- _ tion, limiting the tenure of the office of President to five years,
2 and declaring it to be inexpedient to re-elect the same person PPresident at the expiration of that time.
“See Proceedings, vol. iii. p. 192.
F 2
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The period for which he was elected had now nearly ex- pired, and he understood that it was the intention of some members to support a motion for the repeal of the law which thus operated against his re-election. He wished, however, in order to prevent any mistake on this matter, to state that he did not intend to offer himself again as a candidate. He had received the office on the condition that he was to hold it only for five years, and he now thought that he was called upon to relinquish it absolutely into the hands of the Academy, and would not, therefore, offer himself for re-election.
Mr. Donovan read a paper, entitled, ‘‘ Suggestions for the Improvement of Lighthouses.”
Professor Allman read a paper on the Structure of the Muscular Fibre in the Polyzoa.
“The muscles of the polyzoa are especially interesting in a physiological point of view, for they seem to present us with an example of true muscular tissue reduced to its simplest and essential form. A muscle may, indeed, in these animals, be viewed as a beautiful dissection, far surpassing the most refined preparation of the dissecting knife, for it is composed of a bundle of elementary fibres, totally separate from one another through their entire course. These fibres are distinctly marked with transverse striw, a condition, however, which is not at all times equally perceptible, and some of our best observers have denied to the polyzoa the existence of striated fibre. At the meeting of the British Association at Southampton I made known its occurrence in Cristatella, and have since, by repeated observation, satisfied myself of the striated condition of the fibre in the great retractor muscle in all the other fresh-water genera. In Paludicella 1 have seen this state beautifully marked through the pellucid cell, in the whole extent of the retractor muscle, while the fibres were on the stretch in the ex- serted condition of the polypide; and in all the other genera it
}
69
has, under favourable circumstances of observation, been more or less visible. In order to witness it in perfection the fibre must be on the stretch, for when it is torn from its attachments, or lies relaxed in the bottom of the cell, the striae become very obscure. When the broken extremity of a fibre is examined, the fracture will be found to have occurred in a plane perpen- dicular to the axis of the fibre, never exhibiting an uneven or lacerated appearance, and a marked tendency to separate into disks may be recognised in the detached and broken fibre. When the fibre is in an uncontracted state it would seem to be perfectly cylindrical, and the normal act of contraction is so momentary that its condition during this state cannot be witnessed. When, however, the living polypide is torn from its cell, the ruptured fibres, which continue attached to its body, are thrown into a state of spasmodic contraction; and then it will be seen that they lose their cylindricity, and become ir- regularly swollen at intervals, while the whole fibre has much increased in thickness. In this condition also they may be observed to be obscurely striated. The swellings here visible in the contracted fibre are quite different from the peculiar knots described by Dr. A. Farre in the muscles of the marine polyzoa. Such knots do not exist in the fresh-water species,
at least I have never seen them, with the exception, perhaps,
of certain little swellings which may be occasionally witnessed
_ in the parietal muscles of Paludicella, and in the superior pari-
eto-vaginal muscles of Plumatella. In Paludicella I have wit- nessed a curious phenomenon presented by the muscular fibre. In this polyzoon the fibres of the great retractor muscle, while lying relaxed in the bottom of thecell after the retraction of the polypide, may frequently be seen to present a smgular motion, impressing you with the idea of a cluster of writhing worms.”
Rev. W. P. Moore read a description of the Vitrified Font of Shantamon, in the county of Cavan, and at the same time presented specimens of the stone of which the font is composed.
70
The Rey. Charles Graves communicated the following ele- mentary geometrical proof of Joachimsthal’s theorem.
Lemma 1.—/Jf tangent planes be drawn at two points, P, P’, on a central surface of the second order ; and if perpendiculars be let full from the points of contact on these tangent planes ; the per- pendiculars will be proportional to the perpendiculars let fall from the centre of the surface upon the tangent planes.
This is evident in the case of the sphere; and the theorem may be extended to the other surfaces by a simple deformation. Or it may be proved analytically in the simplest way, by means of the ordinary equation of the tangent plane.
Lemma 2.—Let LL’ be the line of intersection of the two tangent planes, and let the point S be taken on it so that the lines PS, P'S, make equal angles with the line LL’; then the lines PS, P'S, will be reciprocally proportional to the perpendiculars let fall from the centre upon the tangent planes at P and P’.
For the lines PS, P’S, are evidently proportional to the perpendiculars let fall from P, P’, upon the tangent planes ; and these, by the preceding Lemma, are proportional to the perpendiculars let fall from the centre upon the tangent planes at P’ and P.
If the point 5S has been taken in L, Li, so that the angies PSL, P’SL, are equal, the point S will be that the sum of whose distances from P and P’ is a minimum.
Again, the lines PS, P'S, being tangents, are proportional to the parallel semi-diameters of the surface. We may, there- fore, state the result at which we have now arrived in the fol- lowing proposition.
If two points on a central surface be connected by a shortest line passing over the line of intersection of the two planes which touch the surface at those two points; the semi-diameters of the sur- face paralles to the two straight portions of the shortest line will be reciprocally proportional to the perpendiculars let fall from the centre upon the tangent planes in which those portions are respectively contained.
71
If we suppose, now, that the two points approximate inde- finitely, we sce, as a particular case of the more general theo- rem just stated, that Mor two consecutive elements of a shortest line traced upon the surface, the product of the perpendicular let fall from the centre upon the tangent plane, and the semi-diameter parallel to the element of the curve, remains the same.
Of this celebrated theorem it would, perhaps, be hard to discover a more elementary demonstration.— May 25, 1850.
Sir W. R. Hamilton added some remarks on a very simple proof of the celebrated Theorem of Joachimsthal, derived from the Calculus of Quaternions.
Mr. Mallet exhibited a specimen of Gadolinite from the ____trap-rock in the vicinity of Galway, at the west side of Lough Corrib, discovered recently by himself, and identified by Mr. William Mallet.
Fesruary 10, 1851.
HUMPHREY LLOYD, D.D., Presivent, im the Chair.
Wrut1am Otiver Barker, M. D., was elected a Member of the Academy.
The Rev. Dr. Todd exhibited an original letter dated Ar- — magh, October 19, 1680, from George Codan,* a Franciscan _ Friar, addressed to the Duke of Ormond, the then Lord Lieu- _ tenant of Ireland, praying protection and deliverance from i imprisonment, and asserting his innocence of the charge of 3 disaffection to the Government, followed by a panegyric of the Duke in Trish verse. The letter is as follows:
* The name subscribed to the letter is not very easily read. It seems to be either Codan or Cudan.
72
ee Tne eciaseaties lori Endorsed in the Duke of Ormond’s hand.
lieutenant in Ireland
th lord James Butler ffranciscan ffriar & Duke of Ormond these Irish Verses — be d. d. [i. e. delivered] at 19 of Octt. 80 Kitrenny” Dublin Health & heaven & My Lord
Bee it knowen vuto yo' grace that I am a poore old & feeble Franciscan friar, whoe longe before & after his majes- ties proclamations have endeavoured with all my force to gett out of this kingdom to die quietly im some Catholik country, to which intent I gathered some charges heere & there, & went often tymes to sea coasts, but mist shipinge, fell sick afterwards, & laid soe amonge friends by reason of a rupture I suffer this 30 at least years. Cominge to Ireland about 16 yeares ago, I had an indifferent commission from our Generall,f and lived soe amonge the Christians, nott affixed to friary or convents, wherefore I may not bee called a regular priest. I am & was of Peeter Walshes Remonstrance for w™ I suffered much to this day from the contrary sort. I am of the Parkers of England by my mothers sid, whose grandfather Captaine Parker fought against O Neill in y° battle of blackwather. by my mothers syd too I am of the Cassills, Garnons, Doudalls & many others of y® Englis pale—soe that by originall descent Iam bound to defend his majesties crowne, and priviledges to death. I am this whole yeare persecuted with fulminations of censures by one Doctor Henry o Hugh Doctor Plunketts vicar generall, & suborned person in all his bad designs, for not keepinge friary against his majesties proclamations & that by the procuration of one Shean o Neill, owen Roe o Neill’s pre- tended bastard, whoe under the cloake of S. Francisis habit
* Kilkenny erased, and Dublin written instead, in a coeval hand. + That is, from the ‘‘ General” or Superior of the Franciscan Order.
vy eee eT ere
73
doth all mischief & intends mor & more, a most dangerous man, that keepes Tories of his owne name about him in woods & mountaines to assist him : Cominge of late from the County of Louth to the County of Ardmagh to dispose of my bookes & dispatch myself out of this Kingdome upon occasion of con- tention I had w'* these rebellious sperits, I was betraid by them as a tory to one William Hammilton of Kinderd who apprehended mee layinge sicke, tooke away all my bookes, charges & horse & committed my selfe findinge that in other countries I have been a Regular priest, though I lived as a secular priest in Ireland, albeit hee knew I was betraid asa thory by the kinges enemyes of envy & hatred & sett purpose to represse & hinder my evidence in the Kinges behalfe against
_ them & such like.
Wherefore my earnest request is that yo' grace may bee pleased to writ w" the first post for my releasment & full res- titution of all taken from me to appeare before yo" own selfes grace to speake mout to mout, which graunted I will conti- nually pray for yo' graces prosperity whose servant I remaine
Georce Copan Ardmagh the 19'4 of
Oct. 1680. Here I send yo grace a panegyricall poem ; respect the poet
Oia beta a Stmuip bucleip,
a pulpe Tpean thic na ngpdp,
0 00 SemM100 mbpomn vo thatap . o1a Géain moc sup an ldp.
Feap 1onad an prog a n€ipinn, pe linn cogaid agup piod, oa ttUs Na Tioodlaiccead mépa Cmopc, copa ounne bes pao.
Mac déémun bioconca Tulud, mo na cu-Ulwd Neill théip, Feap poiunca na ccurg ccuigzead, Pugspad oeacaip molad comp.
74
Hae cemm op mo cenn ap aipoe oa bpuil alge Peippoe mé, moigin Faipping na ccloc naluinn mpldlioeocs caluinn buaid pé.
Tangup anoip Fo vo spapaib 0 mo capaib puapsuil me, saca slurp agac tTaoi eocain, neapt, ceapc tpocaip—puapsuil me.
C éead Owe onpourpe na nHaidil, 0 Zac baosal puapguil mé, a cu a Lamm veocup eacceonc, ovéan opm oesbeopc—puarpsuil mé.
bndtpm boet, maos, appars, eaplan, rinn oath 00 veaplam, oéan mais, peipbipeac vom ms ’pM Theacuin, mipi alanh, cped ud acc part.
Tpeacuipead mus "Pps nserinol m6p an ceninol, poms mé, a ua na ccpenpean o Upmunn, pemob umuinn—poimd mé.
The following translation is by Mr.Curry :
All hail to thee! James Butler, Thou brave champion of the son of grace; Since thou wast conceived in thy mother’s womb
God the Father has been with thee ever till now.
The man in the King’s place in Erinn, In the times of war and of peace; Unto whom Christ has granted many great gifts, It is the more proper for us to be under him.
The fortunate son of the Viscount Tullow, Greater than the Ulster hound* of great Niall;
* Cuchulann, the great Ulster champion.
75
The steersman of the five provinces, It is difficult to praise him as he deserves.
Every degree above my head That he possesses, is the better for me, In the spacious mansion of polished stones
My best poetry he has deserved,
I have now come under your Grace, From my afflictions I pray you liberate me; For every lock you have a key, Might and right you have—liberate me}
Thou illustrious first Duke of the Gaels, From every danger I pray thee relieve me; I am under arrest—certainly it is injustice; Perform a good act towards me—liberate me.
I am a poor little, silly, sickly, old friar, Extend to me thy right hand—do good, . The servant of my King, and no traitor; I am under arrest, what is this but misery?
Traitors are at large, and I am in fetters; Great is the oppression—relieve me from it; Thou descendant of the brave men out of Ormond, Write in our behalf—relieve me!
The foregoing curious letter was recently found among the papers of Lord Ormond, who, through the influence of _ Mr. Graves, of Kilkenny, kindly consented to permit Dr. Todd to exhibit it to the Academy. The letter is sealed with the impression of a groat of one of the Edwards.
Mr. Benmohel read a paper as preface and abstract of his work, ‘ Etymological Criticism.” He stated that his object _ was, to correct erroneous assertions regarding some, and re- - store identifying kindred to such other words as seem be-
“a
_ reayed of every connexion, through the vast ravages of ages
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and tongues, strictly adhering to historical facts, and evidence of etymology, properly so called
Whether by thus disposing of genuine titles and pedigrees, which, though varying in dignity of extraction, shall be equal in that of truth, the Author’s heraldic services shall deser- vedly engage the attention of readers, the following few exam- ples will probably decide.
1. Aghast occurs in the eighth century as achust. Schilteri Glossarium, p. 18, shows that it meant abhorrence, disgust, not merely moral but also physical, as in Levit. xv. 25. Otfried (ninth century) spells it akust, our agast, without the h. He has also wnkust, the first trace of uncouth. A glossary of 1482 renders unkust with untugend (un-virtue) and ungeslacht (degenerate). The last Lexicon that treats of those words defines achust, quod est rejiciendum, impuritas; but chust, without the prefix, quod est eligendum, purum, probatum ; chust, kust, being the first source of our word choice, of cur in curmudgeon (which see), and of the German Chur, Kuhr, hithren (Churfiirst, Willkiihr), hiesen, erkoren, &e. ‘The flat German (Plattdeutsch) has afkeesen (choose off, declare off), reject, resign, for which the high dialect would say abkiesen (it occurs in Frisch, Berlin, 1741, p. 170); and whilst the ad of the latter was at one time simply a (see Schilteri Glossarium, asneita-abschneiden), the af of the former is our off; but since this latter is never used as a verbal prefix, we abide by the mere a instead of off, in words like ago (agone), alight, aloof, atistaff (see Distaff), awkward, &c. Should this remark obtain the reader’s assent in considering these words with me in their turn hereafter, we may then venture to suppose that the said vowel produced a verb, to awn (to keep off), of which the word awning is still in use. See Disgust and Cochrane.
2. Apricot. The word biccoora, “hasty fruit,” of Es. - xxvii. 4, when, with slight changes and the article, made
\-CmS
Arabic, becomes §,s6!\- a/bakeerat ; this, perverted by the
77
Spaniards into Albarcoque, suffered further changes in Apri- hose, abricot, apricock, &c. That the Romans called the same fruit not merely after its country (see Gibbon, chap. ii.), but likewise its precocious nature, appears from Dioscorides, 1.166.
3. Bacon. Anno 813 the plural daccones occurs, but the Latin singular has no z. It proceeds from the Dutch backe, the valued part of the hog, mature for bacon, being his back, in which state, accordingly, we find his name in Latin dacha- rus; flat German, back-beest; Spanish, cerdo de muerte, dif- ferent from cerdo de vida, as still allowed to live.
4, Blackguard. Of the seven French words, begards, be- guard, bégueule, béguelerie, béguin, béguine, beguinage, only two appear in English, namely, biggin (béguin), and beguard ; this the untutored speaker, to accommodate his immediate
intelligence, has changed into blackguard, joining other for- mations of his, beefeater, bridegroom, &c. Chronicles and glossaries abound with the various names and scandal of those converse and conversi sine voto monastico, &c., who lived by begging, preaching, &c. Among their multifarious verbal off- spring (see also Bribe) there are none harmless except biggin, as worn by the female portion called beguina, begyne, begge- wine, &c. ; who, being sorores converse, were consequently also novitiz, and this novitiate of their’s was rendered German by the verb beginnen, to begin, whence their name. The Latin name of the men occurs as Begardi, Beghardi, &c.; conver- sus in German being bekehrt, formerly bekahrt (comp. gelahrt for gelehrt, in Gothe’s Egmont, ii.1), of the verb bekehren, toconvert. The root of this verb, very frequent in German, is thus discoverable in three English words, awkward, black- guard, and churn.
5. Burden answers to Biirde and Bourdon. In songs on Aurelian, his soldiers repeated ‘mille, mille, mille occidit,” such humming repetition was called fremitus, whence frédon, bourdon.
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6. Cochrane. This personal name can have signified Elec- tus. Rhabanus Maurus (ninth century) writes kachoran, which in modern German would be gekoren. See the word Aghast, where the participle erkoren is mentioned.
7. Dairy, from métairie. See Curmudgeon and Distaff:
8. Harbinger. Warbiirge, a guarantee, personal security for fulfilment, accomplishment, &c., was composed of war, alluding to existence and truth (war and wahr sound alike), —as in gewahr werden (become aware), gewahren, grant, ac- complish, &c.,—and Birge. This latter being exchanged for mann, and war gradually for war, wahr, gewahr, &c., the compound now is Gewihrsmann, voucher, &c.; so that neither it nor harbinger can now be used in the original sense of an officer appointed by law or mutual agreement. Another ob- solete compound with both terminations is salbiirge and sal- mann (Du Cange has saleburgio), the first syllable of which is our sale, sell, and sel in handsel, which word occurs in old German, as handsal or handsaal, and is explained by promissio stipulata manu facta, sal having a more general meaning, such as giving up, delivery.
9-11. Lad, Lass, Lewd (Leud). These words, of which the first two are not noble enough to satisfy children of high rank, and the last even synonymous with vulgar, were originally (together with other terms) used among the ancient Germans to designate the people, or third class, lidi, leti, lassi, leudi, &e.3 whence still the Russian /iudi, and the German Leute, both without a singular, which occurs, however, in Lex Burgun- diorum, xviii.: ** Quicunque Burgundio optimatis vel medio- cris cum alicujus filia se copulaverit,” &c., “Leudis vero si hoc presumpserit facere,” &c. The plural of this was leudes. It may join the Greek laos, or the word dadt (loud), the less re- spectable being generally more noisy and turbulent. From the same class, called also ruoda (7vot, uprooting, weeding, ren- dering land arable), the French have their roturier.
»
(ia
12. Mast, the name for the fattening substance, then applied to its parent tree, when on board a ship, Mastbaum, or simply mast, may find in remote climes and ages such relatives whose family likeness shall be a labial joining a dental, or s. Thus the Russians have maslo for fat, butter, and their progenitors in the fertile Ukraine were called Bastarnae. The famous Basanitis, Batanea, ywa, with its rich pastures (4 Mos. xxxii., _ Amos, iv., Ez. xxxix., Ps. xxii.) and forests of oak (Es. i, Zach. xi., Ez. xxvii.), which has changed bs into ms in Chal- dee (Ps. xii. 13) and Syriac (Eph. Syr. ii. p. 1), may be compared to the és in Dyas, which occurs thrice (1 Kings, iv., Es. i., and Proy. xv.). Both these substantives find no deri- vation, but, instead of comparing, with Freytag (see his Hist. Halebi, p. 50), the Arabic as), it may be observed that Swa, like coquere, serves both for preparing food and ripen- ing; also in Turkish ds/ means to nourish ; the later Hebrew ; has pub (Greek, fatmé, crib), to fatten, after which the labial
- followed by ¢, d, will be more common, futter, food, &e., _ although the primitive verb, esse (essen), vesci, the Sanscrit
_ SYA have the s, to which may be added pascere, pastum, feist 4 inGerman, and the Italian basta.
13. Ouch. Fragment of piedouche, peduccio, a neat little pedestal, or foot-stool.
14. Pagoda, she, Put-kada, idol-temple, for which Put the Persians prefer But, coming nearer to @|ey (budh) of the 4 Sanserit This, from bemg the root it wisdom (even ; fa] wissen, wise, wistful, &c.) and pure knowledge, became _ strongly tinctured with carnal knowledge when Jaina (Seq
4 3 gimomai, gigno, &c.) was confounded with Buddha, whence But a means not only idol, but also God, truth. If the defiling Path-
bag, aan> (Dan. i. 8), supposing it originated in SY-T ST a ~~) _ (Budh-bhoj), or Buddh-food, contains p for b, the corruption
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has been assisted by the casual circumstance that the Hebrew for bread is Path.
It is possible that Buddhistical principles, in their purity, and those of Zoroaster, wherein divinity and nature are con- ceived together in the all-enlivening Mithra, fire and light, are identical ; although Ammian. Marcellin, xxxiii. 6, mentions the Brahmans instead. See Gibbon, ch. 8.
15. Prill, or Brill, Britt, Turbot, probably describes the peculiar motion of the fish, which belongs to the pleuronec- tes, since prill and purl were used alike. See Stowe’s Survey of London: ‘In 1598 was set up an image of Diana, and water, &c., prilling from her breast.”
16. Skald was the title of a man who combined the arts of a genuine minstrel, able to perform his own composition, with the knowledge of a divine, historian, &c. The letters ski (scl), conveying the idea of division, decision, distinction, are thus used not only of ideas, as in skald, shill, but bo- dily, in skull, from the division on its surface, and shilling, the Northern shilling (our penny in value), it being the change, or the small coin which divides the larger piece, and called ac- cordingly Scheide-miinze, the Danish shille-mynt (y sounds like u, the French uw). This etymology seems to admit of further extension, scald (separation of the skin through the action of hot fluid), unless it be from caldo (calidus), shell, scale, &e.
17. Spunge. The Idioticon Hamburgense gives “ Sibun-
>
gen gahn,” go to extremity, ruin, die, &c., and sibungen as a low corruption of ‘si bona,” the beginning of a cantio sepul- chralis. Compare also Hudibras, i., canto 3 :
This any man may sing or say,
I the ditty call’d What if a Day ?
18. Tattoo implies la retraite, or battre la retraite, but ex- presses (with ¢ for p),—after the obsolete manner of saying «*make the door to,” for the modern “shut the door,”—tap- too, meaning that the ¢ap is to be closed.
. : 5 P
:
PI Eee eee SS ee ee
Aim jai) aR Oe
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19. Topsyturvy. Topside-horway. Spencer writes topside- turvy, but the Anglo-Saxon horvec, horwet, &c., sufficiently accounts for the last two syllables, as meaning dirty road (dirt-way, which is the middle of the road) ;. the entire being conceived with the idea of a person on horseback tumbling headlong into the mud. See Garlick, Ghastly, and Hoary.
20. Yeliowhammer. Omit the h, and take ammer as the German, related to our ember, and descriptive of the colour of that bird, the more specific Goldammer.
Mr.: Donovan read the first part of a paper on the early al- chemical and chemical physicians.
The principal subjects treated of in Mr. Donovan’s paper were as follow :—Professions of the alchemists ; origin of al- chemy ; its effects on chemistry ; alchemical books burned by Diocletian ; alchemy amongst the Romans; first works on al- chemy ; treatises of Jamblicus, Heliodorus, and Synesius ; Geber the first alchemistic physician; effect of alchemy on his opinions ; the universal medicine of Geber anticipated by Empedocles ; Albertus Magnus the most celebrated of the al- chemistic physicians, and a bishop; his learning; his brazen figure which spoke ; Pope John XXII. first practised and then proscribed alchemy ; Raymond Lully; bis character and acquirements; made gold in England for Edward I., which was coined at the mint ; Arnold Villanova ; his learning ; made gold at Rome which stood the test; his knowledge of medi- cine ; proclamation of Edward III. for the services of alche- mists; Pietro d’Apono; his high character as a physician and enormous fees; alchemy and chemistry of King Charles ILI. ; his extreme poverty ; Act of Parliament of Henry IV. against, yet patents granted for its practice by Henry VL., in order to pay off crown debts, contrarily to the Act; fifteenth century teemed with alchemists ; 4000 writers on the art ; state alche- mist and state physician in every court of Europe; Basil
VOL. V. G
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Valentine, his real and pretended knowledge of medicine and alchemy ; his denunciation of doctors, apothecaries, and sur- geons; his process for making the philosopher’s stone; his works discovered by a flash of lightning; impositions of the alchemists ; how they effected them; their punishments; al- chemists in danger from theirvery popularity ; the alchemist and the devil ; Butler, the Irish alchemist, and his miracles, testified by Van Helmont; Glauber, his chemical sauces; the Rosicru- cian physicians, and their ridiculous pretensions ; their origin ; Robert Fludd ; cures by transplantation ; Sir Kenelm Digby; sympathetic cures ; George Pheedro ; tarantism defended lately by Hecker ; alchemists becoming useful chemical physicians ; Paracelsus an enthusiastic impostor who performed singular cures ; his life:
Fepruary 14, 1851.
HUMPHREY LLOYD, D.D., Presivenrt, in the Chair.
On the recommendation of Council,
: Ir was Resotvep, — ‘* That the word ‘ President’ be omitted in Chap. V. Sect. 3, of the By-laws; and also, that
the following words be omitted in Sect. 4 of the same Chapter
of the By-laws: ‘ Five of which shall be taken from the list of
those who are already of the above-mentioned committee.’ ”
Mr. Donovan continued the reading of his paper on the early chemical and alchemical physicians.
Dr. Petrie exhibited an ancient Irish crozier of great beauty of execution, and supposed to be a work of the tenth century, which had been recently obtained by Cardinal Wiseman in
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London; and also the celebrated crozier and mitre of Corne- lius O’ Deagh or Dea, Bishop of Limerick from the year 1400 to the year 1426, when, as Ware acquaints us, he resigned his bishopric in order tolive a retired life. This crozier and mitre are now the property of the Right Rev. Dr. Ryan, R. C. Bishop of Limerick.
Dr. Petrie stated that he had the honour to exhibit these most interesting remains at the request of his respected friend, the Rev. Dr. Russell, of Maynooth College, who had kindly consented to their being deposited for a time in the museum of the Academy, in order that they might be seen by its mem- bers, their friends, and those who take an interest in such mat- ters generally ; and he added that, as the Limerick crozier and ; mitre had been very fully described bythe late eminent archzxo- logist, Dr. Milner, inapaper published, with illustrations, inthe 17th volume of the Archzologia, and the whole of these interest- ing remains had been recently treated of by Dr. Russell in a very elaborate and able paper which that gentleman intended for publication, it was not his intention, nor did he think it would be proper, to do more than offer a few remarks, such as appeared to him necessary to direct the attention of the meet- ing to the most striking features in these beautiful remains of ancient Irish Art, and which were so valuable, as presenting ,. the most characteristic specimens of the distinct styles of design _ and ornamention which belonged tothe widely separated periods of their fabrication.
Having described these characteristic features to the meet-
ing, and expressed his concurrence in the opinions formed by Dr. Russellas tothe age and country of these remains, Dr. Petrie
avowed an ardent hope, in which he was sure the meeting and the people of Ireland generally would warmly sympathize, that the distinguished possessor of the more ancient crozier, which could now be only regarded as an object of historical and national interest, would see the wisdom as well as propriety of restoring
G 2
84
this remain to Ireland, and of securing its preservation by pla- cing it in its most fitting depository, the national museum of our Academy.
Dr. Petrie then moved that the warmest thanks of the Aca- demy be presented to Dr. Russell, for his kindness in permitting these interesting remains to be exhibited at this meeting, and for allowing them to remain so long in the museum of the Academy.
This motion was seconded by Dr. Todd, and passed unani- mously.
i
Marcu 16, 1851.—(Srarep Mzetnc.)
HUMPHREY LLOYD, D. D., Presivenrt, in the Chair.
Tue Secretary of the Academy read the following Report from the Council :
The second part of the twenty-second volume of the Transac- tions of the Academy has been published, and the third part is in an advanced state.
The fourth volume of the Proceedings has also been completed, containing an account of the papers read and communications made to the Academy from November 8, 1847, to the 24th June last.
During the past year, as the Academy arealready aware, considerable progress has been made in the meteorological and tidal observations, which have been for some time going on under the superintendence of the Committee of Science. The annexed Report, presented by that Committee to the Council, will give the Academy full information as to the progress and present state of this important undertaking.
The Academy are aware that there has been a great effort made during the past year to raise by subscription the amount necessary for completing the purchase of the Betham MSS. There remains now to be collected only the small sum of £38 12s., in order to fulfil the engagement made with Sir William Betham by Mr. Graves, and
ee ae ee
fs oa. Pt ‘
85
to render that curious and valuable collection of MSS. the property of the Academy. The Council cannot but express the hope that the friends of Irish literature will soon enable Mr. Graves to report that this sum has been raised, in order that the full balance due to Sir William Betham may be at once handed over to him, and this transaction, so long pending, may finally be wound up.
The following articles of antiquity have been purchased by the Committee of Antiquities during the past year, from the small funds intrusted to them by the Academy:
October 16, 1850.—A bronze figure, curiously inlaid with gold, representing a bishop iz pontificalibus, holding his crozier in both hands. This figure is supposed to.have belonged to an ancient box or shrine; and from the style of art, and the form of the mitre and crozier, is probably a work of the twelfth century.
A gold bracelet, consisting of a solid cylindrical bar, weigh- ing 30z. 15dwts.: the extremities rudely ornamented by engraved lines.
The following articles having been purchased from different par- ties by Mr. Clibborn, were approved by the Committee, on the same day:
1. A brass pipe-stopper, with the head of King Charles I.
2. A wooden tray, with a very rudely carved head in wood, found in the bog of Allen. The ear is peculiar, resembling that of a satyr; and a fragment remains of one hand applied to the right cheek. y
3. The seal of the clergy of Emly, in bronze, fourteenth century.
4, Ancient bronze chisel of a peculiar and rare form.
October 21st, 1850.— A gold lunette or collar, weighing loz. 10dwts. 12grs. is
November 11, 1850.—A similar gold crescent (but with pecu- liar and very ancient ornaments) in three fragments, weighing 16dwts. An ancient bronze vessel, with small feet of an unusual
construction. Found near Dungiven, in the county Derry.
A large deep pan, of thin bronze. Found in the county Fer- managh.
December 2, 1850.—An ancient Irish crozier head, supposed to
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be the remains of the crozier of St. Blathmac, of Rath-Blathmac, near Corofin, in the county Clare; and two ancient bronze ecclesi- astical bells from the same place.
December 18.—The shaft and upper boss of a very ancient cro- zier, supposed to be the crozier of St. Columba, formerly belonging to the abbey of Durrow, in the County Meath ; also eleven Anglo- Saxon coins, found at Durrow ; two bronze pins, one of them very ancient, found at Moate; with a silver bodkin, anda horn powder- flask of the reign of William III.
This crozier, although unfortunately much mutilated, is of pe- culiar historical interest: it still retains some traces of its original magnificence, and must have been a beautiful specimen of ancient Trish art. It was preserved, since the dissolution of monasteries, by the Macgeoghan family, lately represented by Sir Richard Nagle, Bart., at whose death it became the property of Mr. Nugent, who consented to part with it for the Museum, along with the other an- tiquities here mentioned.
Several valuable donations have also been made to the Museum, which have already been acknowledged by the thanks voted to the several donors by the Academy. A list of them will appear in the forthcoming volume of the Transactions.
The Mias Tighernain, an ancient relic which was deposited in the Museum, by its owner, at the instance of Dr. Wilde, and which was the subject of a valuable paper by that gentleman, published some time ago in the Transactions,* has recently been returned, through Dr. Wilde, to its proprietor, Mr. Knox, of Rappa Castle. The thanks of the Academy are due to Mr. Knox, and to the other possessors of remarkable antiquities, for the important service they have rendered to the science of archzology, by depositing such an- tiquities for a season in our Museum, and permitting the Academy to preserve correct drawings of them.
* The Council regret very much that no steps appear to have been taken during the past year towards the preparation of the Catalogue of the Academy’s Museum. é
* Vol. xxi.
87
During the past year the following new Members have been elected :
Signor Basilio Angeli. Daniel Griffin, M. D. William H. Hardinge, Esq. Henry Hennessy, Esq. Robert Fowler, Esq. Andrew John Maley, Esq. Hugh Carlile, M. D. Sir Francis Waskett Myers. R. Clayton Browne, Esq. William Harvey Pim, Esq. James Gibson, Esq- Ewing Whittle, Esq.
Rev. Orlando T. Dobbin, LL.D. St. George Williams, M.D. Samuel Gordon, M. D. William Oliver Barker, M. D.
The following Honorary Members have been elected :
In THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE. Alexander D. Bache.
In THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITE LITERATURE. Augustus Boeck. Victor Cousin. Washington Irving. A. Thiers.
2 THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES. G. T. Grotefend. L. C. F. Petit Radel.
The following Members have been removed by death during the past year:
1. Anprew Armstronc, Esq., A.M.; elected a member of the Academy, 30th November, 1833: died in Trinity College, on the 22nd of December last.
2. ApraHaM ABELL, Esq., died at his house in Cork, on the 12th February, 1851, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. He was elected a member of the Academy 11th May, 1840. Mr. Abell was well known in his native city for his zeal and activity in pro- moting the welfare of the literary, scientific, and charitable socie- ties of Cork. He was one of the founders of the Scientific and Lite- tary Society, as well as of the Cuverian Society of that city. He was treasurer of the Cork Library, and a manager of the Cork Institu-
88
tion. To him we are indebted for having directed the attention of the public and the renewed zeal of Irish antiquaries to the subject of the Ogham inscriptions. He collected from various places a great number of stones inscribed with Ogham characters, and pointed out the importance of examining the inscriptions themselves, instead of depending upon hastily made copies of them, as had previously been the usual course adopted by those who attempted their inter- pretation. This valuable collection of Ogham stones is now in the museum of the Cork Institution. Mr. Abell was a member of the Society of Friends, and was remarkable for his enlightened philan- thropy, and the variety of his literary tastes.
3. The Right Honourable WinpHam Henry Wynnum Quin, Earl of Dunraven and Mount Earl, &c., died at Adare Manor, in the County Limerick, August 6, 1850, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.
Lord Dunraven was elected a Member of the Academy on the 22nd May, 1843. He had been a Member of the Imperial Parlia- ment for several years, having been first elected as representative of the County Limerick in 1806. He succeeded to the peerage on the death of his father in 1824, and was chosen a representative peer in 1839,
4. Ricuarp Suarpe, Esq., elected a Member of the Academy, 13th January, 1845.
Mr. Sharpe had an hereditary claim to eminence in the noble de- partment of practical science, to which his life was devoted. The chronometers made by his father are still highly prized by those who possess them, and the equatorial made by him for the Obser- vatory of the University is probably more steady than any other instrument of equal dimensions in existence.
The son, however, with equal practical dexterity and zeal for his profession, exceeded the father in inventive powers. Many of his contrivances have been honoured with medals from the Royal Dub- lin Society and other scientific institutions. But those which have in this way become known to the public bear a very small propor- tion to the numerous inventions of which no record is preserved. Three of the more remarkable of these may be here noticed.
1. His method of figuring the acting surfaces of the dead beat,
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a scapement which, after the experience of a century and a half, still holds the first place with astronomers ;
2. The chronograph, in which he carried out the views of Mr. Bergin; and
3. The apparatus which he applied to the pendulum of the prin- cipal clocks of the Armagh Observatory.
In the first of these the pallats must combine extreme hardness with perfect truth, especially on the cylindric surfaces from which
__ the scapement derives its peculiar properties. By a simple applica-
tion of the revolving lap, which when seen is self-evident, he con- structed them, even in hard steel or sapphire, with alniost mathe- matical truth.
In the chronograph the task required was to trace on an uni- formly revolving disc a spiral line, which could be dislocated during the continuance of any phenomenon, and thus preserve a graphic record of the time on a highly magnified scale.
A little before his death Mr. Sharpe was engaged by Mr. Cooper to combine this principle with the conical pendulum, and would proba- bly have made an instrument capable of being applied with singular advantage to the electro-telegraphic mode of observation, recently invented in America. .
The third was intended to obviate a defect which Dr. Robinson suspected to exist in the means of connecting a pendulum with the wheel-work which maintains its motions. This is done in general by a crutch connected by its arbor with the pallats, and at its ex- tremity driving the pendulum rod; the axis of that arbor should be in the same line with the centre of the pendulum’s rotation, but this condition can neither be certainly fulfilled nor verified. Mr. Sharpe joined the rod and crutch by aspring resembling a flattened figure of 8, which is of scarcely appreciable elasticity in the ver- tical direction, but sorigid in the horizontal that it transmits undi- minished the full power of the train.
Mr. Sharpe died at his house in Dublin on the 13th of April, 1850, at the early age of thirty-one.
5. Rev. Nicuotas Joun Harin, electeda Member ofthe Academy, 10th February, 1845. He was born 18th of October, 1790, at Portar- lington, in the Queen’s County. He entered Trinity College, Dub-
90
lin, in the year 1810, and was early distinguished for talent in lite- rary composition. While an undergraduate he gained several Vice- Chancellor’s Prizes, and medals at the Historical Society, for Eng- lish verse. He was ordained in 1816, and appointed soon after to the curacy of Oldcastle, in the diocese of Meath, which he held for nearly twenty years. He was struck with paralysis on the 4th of April, 1850; and, after a painful illness, expired on the 22nd of No- vember, 1850, aged 60. Except a few sermons, and other profes- sional tracts, Mr. Halpin published little; but he has read here from time to time some essays on subjects connected with the dramatic and poetical literature of the Elizabethan period. His principal publications were in connexion with the Shakspearian Society. ‘**Oberon’s Vision,”’ a beautiful illustration of a remarkable passage in the ‘“ Midsummer Night’s Dream,” was published in 1843, and attracted considerable attention. ‘‘ The Bridal Runaway,” or an examination of a passage in “‘ Romeo and Juliet,” appeared in 1845. Both these tracts are among the Shakspearian Society’s publi- cations.
His last work was entitled‘ The dramatic Unities of Shakspeare.” This was published in 1849, and is an ingenious examination of the way in which Shakspeare managed to preserve the illusion neces- sary for the purposes of the drama, and the artifices by which, in his works, he overcomes the difficulty of exhibiting, within the time which the performance of an hour or two occupies, the inci- dents of a story occupying, in their actual occurrence, a much longer period. The principle by which Mr. Halpin thinks that Shakspeare’s management of time is governed, he illustrates by an examination of the story of the ‘‘ Merchant of Venice.” Mr. Halpin was a Member of the Council of the Academy, on the Com- mittee of Polite Literature, for the last two years.
The following Honorary Members died during the past year:
1. The Ricut Hon. the Marquis or NortHamprTon, died 16th January, 1851. :
2. Wintiam Worvsworrty, died 25th April, 1850.
3. Tuomas Amyot, Esq., died 28th September, 1850.
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THIRD REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF SCIENCE RELATIVE TO THE METEOROLOGICAL AND TIDAL OBSERVATIONS.
[Received by the Council, March 8, 1851.]
The Committee of Science, having been intrusted with the or- ganization and superintendence of the Meteorological and Tidal Observations, believe it to be their duty to submit to the Council an account of the progress of that undertaking, from the period of their last Report on the subject to the present time.
At the period referred to, the plan of observation had been de- finitively arranged; the coast-guard stations had been selected, with the sanction of the Comptroller-General; and the necessary orders had been issued by that officer to the inspecting commanders of the several districts. The Committee, in consequence, placed them-
-selves in communication with these officers, and the result of that
communication has been a partial modification of the arrangement of the stations originally proposed. Portrush, in the county of Antrim, has been substituted for Ballycastle; and Killybegs, in the county of Donegal, for Mullaghmore. Old Head and Ardglass were subsequently abandoned as tidal stations, chiefly on account of difficulties connected with the erection of the tide-gauges; but the Committee deeming it important that their places should be sup- plied by new stations on the north-eastern and western coasts, an application was made by the Council to the Comptroller-General on the subject, in the month of October, the result of which has been the establishment of the tidal stations of Cushendall, in the county of Antrim, and Bunown, in the county of Galway. The coast-guard stations, twelve in number, are accordingly the follow- ing:—On theEast Coast—Portrush, Cushendall, Donaghadee, Kings- town, Courtown, and Dunmore east; and on the West Coast—Bun- crana, Killybegs, Bunown, Kilrush, Cahirciveen, and Castle- townsend.
Upon the suggestion of the Committee, an application was made by the Council to the Ballast Board, requesting their co-operation. This application was favourably received, and orders were in con- sequence issued to the light-keepers at some of the principal light-
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houses round the coast, directing them to give the required aid in the meteorological observations. The situation of the light-houses being generally elevated and exposed, co-operation in the tidal ob- servations was deemed impracticable. As the result of this nego- ciation, meteorological observations are now carried on, on the plan laid down by the Council, at the light-houses of Killough, in the county of Down, Killybegs, in the county of Donegal, and Inish- gort, in the county of Mayo.
Concurrently with these arrangements, the necessary instruments were ordered from Mr. Yeates and Mr. Dobbyn, the details of their form and construction having been previously considered by the Committee, and the estimates for their cost submitted to the Council and approved of. They were completed in the beginning of July last, and were soon after forwarded to the stations then agreed upon, all the thermometers having been previously compared with the standards belonging to the Dublin Magnetical Observatory. The tubes required for the tide-gauges being of considerable dimensions, and these dimensions being necessarily different in different locali- ties, it was thought advisable that they should be constructed at the stations. Directions for their construction were, in consequence, prepared, and a printed copy forwarded to each station.
In the months of September and October all the stations then agreed on were visited, on the part of the Committee, by Dr. Lloyd, Mr. Haughton, and Dr. Apjohn, for the purpose of superintending the erection of the instruments, and of instructing the observers in their use. The visitors likewise conveyed, by hand, the barometer tubes (previously filled with care), to the several stations, mea- sured the heights of the cisterns, and compared the instruments, when erected, with the standard barometer of the Dublin Magneti- cal Observatory, by means of good portable barometers. They also measured the differences of level between the zeros of the tide- gauges and the Ordnance bench-marks, where such existed in the locality.
In the end of December the recently added coast-guard stations of Cushendall and Bunown, and the light-houses of Killough and Inishgort, were, in like manner, visited by Dr. Lloyd, Mr. Haugh- ton, and Mr. Galbraith, and were soon after in full operation. The
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expenses of these tours of inspection having been undertaken by the parties themselves, are thereby saved to the Academy. The following is a memorandum of the principal facts con-
“nected with the several stations:
East Coast Stations.
Portrusu (Co. Antrim),—The tide-gauge is erected in an angle of the northern pier, close to the spot at which the tidal observa- tions were made in 1842. It was found necessary, however, to deepen the spot by the removal of rubble, and to protect the dial, by cross beams of timber, from the hawsers of vessels approaching the quay. The zero of the tide-gauge is 12-33 feet below the bench- mark on the quay.
The barometer is put up in the guard-house, which is situated on an eminence facing the harbour ; and the thermometers and the rain-gauge in a small attached garden. The height of the cistern of the barometer, above the bench-mark, is 23:4 feet. The diameter of the tube is 0:28 of aninch. The four thermometers at this, and at every other station, are inclosed in a shallow box with a sloping roof, open in front.
A vertical gnomon is fixed in the window sill of the guard-house, for the purpose of deducing the time of noon; and the observers are furnished at this, and at all the other stations, with a table of the equation of time computed for the present year, and for the mean longitude of Ireland.
CusHENDALL (Co. Antrim).—The tide-gauge is erected on the landward side of the new pier in Red Bay. The pier not being completed, it was found necessary to place the gauge at some little distance, so as to stand clear of the sloping side. It is fixed in its place by a frame-work of wooden spars, bound together by ropes and chains ; and is connected with the pier by a platform, on which a hurricane-house is erected for the shelter of the observer. The time of noon is obtained from a meridian line, marked by a picket driven into the ground, to the north of the coast-guard flag-staff.
No meteorological observations are taken at this station.
DonacuangE (Co. Down).—This ‘is an excellent station for both meteorological and tidal observations. The tide-gauge is erected on
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the side of the pier, close to the Ordnance bench-mark, and near the guard-house; it is well sheltered, and in deep water. The zero of the tide-gauge is 19°80 feet below the Ordnance bench-mark.
Themeteorological instruments are likewise favourably placed: the barometer in the guard-house, and the thermometers and rain-gauge in an inclosed yard connected with it. The meridian line is traced on the sill of a window in the guard-house. The height of the cistern of the barometer was not measured; it is between 3 and 4 feet above the bench-mark. The diameter of the tube is 0°30 of an inch.
KitLouca (Co. Down).—Lighthouse, St. John’s Point.—This is a meteorological station only, and is well circumstanced for such observations. The barometer is put up in the hall of the light-keeper’s dwelling; the other meteorological instruments are well placed in a garden attached to it. The meridian-line is traced on the flagging, at the south side of the house, the shadow being given by a vertical iron rail. The cistern of the barometer is 7°8 feet above the base of the light-house tower; the diameter of the tube is 0°28 inch.
Krnestown Harzour (Co. Dublin).—This is a station for tidal observations only. The tide-gauge is erected in the angle at the inner side of the new harbour. This locality is very favourable, as the water is deep, and the case is protected by the pier from the waves which enter the outer harbour from the north-east. The time at this station is taken from the clock of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway.
Courtown Hargour (Co. Wexford).—The tide-gauge at Cour- town Harbour is erected beside the wooden pier, which is now used for the unlading of vessels, in consequence of the filling up of the harbour originally built. The situation of the gauge is very much exposed ; but as the station was considered by the Committee to be important, it was determined to attempt making the observa- tions with the gauge lashed to the pier. - Hitherto the observa- tions have been but seldom interrupted by the violence of the sea.
The barometer is erected in the guard-house belonging to the sta- tion ; the thermometers and rain-gauge in the garden attached to it, and are in charge of the chief boatman. The diameter of the baro-
=
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meter tube is 0°28 of an inch. The time, at noon, is taken from a brass vertical gnomon, erected on the sill of the guard-house win- dow, facing the south.
Dunmore East (Co. Waterford).—The tide-gauge at this station is erected in an angle of the pier, by which it is sheltered from the large waves which enter the mouth of Waterford Harbour from the south and south-west; it is also protected by a strong chain from the injuries which might be caused by the accidental rubbing of the large fishing-boats which frequent Dunmore Harbour. Al- though the water is not very deep, there is sufficient depth at spring tides to secure the accuracy of the observations recorded by the instrument. The zero of the tide-gauge is 17-34 feet below the bench-mark on the pier.
The meteorological instruments are erected at the guard-house of the station, which is at a higher elevation than the tide-gauge ; the cistern of the barometer being 55:4 feet above the bench-mark. The diameter of the tube is 0°32 of an inch. The time at noon is found by means of a brass vertical gnomon erected in the window of the guard-house.
West Coast Stations.
Boncrana (Co. Donegal).—The tide-gauge was at first erected at Bunerana, attached to a rock near the mouth of the river, by means of iron stanchions; but, on inspection, the site was found to be wholly unsuitable. The instrument was, therefore, with the consent of the inspecting commander of the station, removed to Rathmullan, at the opposite side of Lough Swilly, where it is erected in a good situation, at the head of the pier. A hurricane house has been fixed on the pier, for the shelter of the observer. The meridian line is laid down to the north of the coast-guard flag- staff.
The meteorological instruments are put up at the guard-house at Buncrana, in charge of the chief boatman ; the site is not as fa- vourable as could be wished. The height of the cistern of the barometer above high water (spring tides) is forty feet. The diame- ter of the tube is 0°34 of an inch.
Kintyzecs (Co. Donegal).—Much difficulty was experienced
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in making the arrangements for the tidal observations at this sta- tion. There are three piers at the town, all well sheltered; but, unfortunately, all dry at low water spring tides. The tide-gauge was consequently abandoned, and two tide-poles employed in its stead. One of these is fixed to the pier in the immediate vicinity of the guard-house, and the other fastened to a rock at a short dis- tance from the shore, the latter being used only when the base of the pier is dry at low water spring tides. The term observations alone are taken. The gnomon, for the time, is fixed to the sill of the window in the guard-house.
Tt was found advisable to separate the meteorological from the tidal observations at this station, and to intrust the former to the keeper of the light-house at St. John’s Point, near Killybegs, the permission of the Ballast Board having been previously obtained. This light-house is admirably circumstanced for meteorological observations. The Academy’s barometer was not put up, the ba- rometer belonging to the light-house being found sufficiently good ; it is favourably placed in the sitting room of the light-keeper’s dwelling. The thermometers are in an angle of the yard at the back of the house ; the rain-gauge is attached to an iron railing in the front yard. There is a sun-dial in the front yard, the posi- tion of which was examined, and found correct.
Inisucort Ligut-HousE, CLew Bay (Co. Mayo).—The whole of Clew Bay was examined with the intention of erecting a tide-gauge; but as there is no pier in the bay which is not left dry at low water, the Committee of Science were obliged reluctantly to give up tidal observations at this important locality. The meteorological instru- ments are erected at the light-house of Inishgort, and are in charge of the keeper. The barometer belonging to the light-house was found sufficiently good for the observations. It is placed, with a thermometer near it, in the sitting room of the light-keeper. The external thermometers and rain-gauge are erected in a favourable site in the small garden attached to the light-house.
Bunown Bay (Co. Galway).—The tide-gauge is erected at the inner side of the new pier erected in this bay for the accommodation of fishing boats. It is protected by the pier from west and south- west winds, and has the advantage of deep water at the lowest
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spring tides. So far as position is concerned, this is one of the most important stations on the west coast. The time at noon is found from a brass vertical gnomon, erected in the garden of the chief boatman’s house.
No meteorological observations are taken at this station.
Kitrvusu (Co. Clare).—The importance of having as many tidal stations as possible on the west coast, induced the Committee of Sci- ence to undertake the erection of a tide-gauge at Kilrush, although, from its being so far up the Shannon, the station was not as valuable as could be wished. The only place in which the gauge could be erected was at the extremity of the stone pier, facing the river, and conse- quently exposed to violent gales from the south-west. During the first few weeks of its existence it was twice washed away by the violence of the waves. The zero of the tide-gauge is 20°59 feet below the bench-mark at the pier-head. The time at noon is found by a gnomon attached to the flag-staff near the guard-house.
The meteorological instruments are erected in the guard-house of the station, and arein charge of the chief boatman. The cistern of the barometer is 6:4 feet above the bench-mark. The diameter of the tube is 0°32 of an inch.
CauircivEen (Co. Kerry).—The tide-gauge at this station is ' placed in an angle above the bridge, in a very sheltered situation, and having the advantage of deep water at the lowest tides. The only objection to its position is that it is not situated on the open sea, and the tide at Cahirciveen must be considered as a river tide. There is no Ordnance bench-mark at this station. A provisional mark was therefore placed on the corner coping-stone of the bridge; and the zero of the tide-gauge was found to be 23°51 feet below it. The barometer is erected in the house of the officer of the station, in the town of Cahirciveen, and the thermometers and rain-gauge in the garden attached to it. Their site is not very favourable. The cistern of the barometer is 37:0 feet above the mark on the bridge. The diameter of tube is 0:38 of an inch. The brass vertical gnomon, for finding the time at noon, is placed on the sill of a window of the officer’s house. CasTieTownsznn (Co. Cork).—The tide-gauge at “ee station is _ in an excellent position, although rather exposed. It is erected in the open sea, and is held in its place by guys and chains which are VOL. V. H
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made fast to the solid rock. The zero of the tide-gauge is 31°88 feet below the bench-mark at the foot of the flag-staff.
The meteorological instruments are placed in the guard-house, close to the tide-gauge. The cistern of the barometer is 7-0 feet below the bench-mark. The diameter of the tube is 0°26 of an inch. The time at this station is found by means of a brass gnomon, placed on the sill of the guard-house window, and a dipleidoscope belonging to the officer in command of the station.
In addition to the foregoing stations organized by the Academy, meteorological observations are also taken, on the plan laid down by the Council, at the Magnetical Observatory, Trinity College, Dublin ; at the Observatory of Armagh, under the direction of Dr. Robinson ; at the Observatory of Markree, under the direction of Edward J. Cooper, Esq.; at the Queen’s Colleges of Belfast and Galway ; at Portarlington, by Dr. Hanlon; and at Athy, by Alfred Haughton, Esq. There are thus, in all, eighteen meteorological, and twelve. tidal stations, co-operating in the plan of the Academy.
It remains to say a few words of the financial position of this important undertaking.
The sum of £225 has been voted by the Academy, in two se- parate grants, for the purchase and erection of the instruments. This sum has been expended; and a detailed account of the ex- penditure is herewith laid before the Council.* Other sources of expenditure, not originally contemplated, have, however, arisen. The duties of the men employed in the tidal observations being very onerous, the Committee deem it important that they should be enabled to offer a moderate pecuniary reward to those observers who shall discharge them faithfully. In addition to this, other contingent expenses have been in¢urred, arising from accidental in- juries to the instruments, and other causes.
To defray these additional expenses, a further sum of about £200 will be required; and, as the financial resources of the Academy are not such as to afford so large an outlay, .it is proposed to raise it by subscription. A circular has accordingly been prepared, and is now in course of circulation, inviting the friends -of science in he Academy, and in the country generally, to contribute, and thus
* See Appendix, No. I.
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Se a
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to enable the Committee to carry out to a successful issue an un- dertaking of great national and scientific importance.
The Committee cannot close this Report without recording the large measure in which the success of the present undertaking is due to the effective co-operation of the Comptroller-General of Coast Guard; and they feel sure, that the Academy will avail themselves of the earliest opportunity to express their grateful acknowledg- ments to that enlightened officer. They desire also to suggest, that the thanks of the Academy are likewise due to the Ballast Board,
- and to the other public bodies and individuals who have ‘taken
part in the undertaking, for their valuable aid.
Iv was Resotvep,—That the Report of the Council be adopted, and printed in the Proceedings.
Ir was Resotvep,—That the special thanks of the Aca- demy be given to the Comptroller-General of the Coast Guard, for the zeal with which he has seconded the efforts of the Aca- demy in the meteorological and tidal observations ; and also that the thanks of the Academy be given to the Ballast Board, and other public bodies and individuals who have aided this
undertaking.
The Ballot for the annual election having closed, the Scrutineers reported that the following gentlemen were elected Officers and Council for the ensuing year:
President.—Rev. Thomas R. Robinson, D. D.
Treasurer.—Robert Ball, LL. D.
Secretary to the Academy.—Rev. James H. Todd, D.D.
Secretary to the Council.—Rev. Charles Graves, D. D.
Secretary of Foreign Correspondence. — Rev. Samuel Butcher, D. D.
Librarian.—Rev. William H. Drummond, D. D.
Clerk and Assistant Librarian.—Mr. Edward Clibborn.
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Committee of Science.
Sir William R. Hamilton, LL. D.; Rev. Hasigivey Lloyd, D.D.; James Apjohn, M. D.; Robert Ball, LL. D.; Sir Robert Kane, M. D.; George J. Allman, M. D.; Rev. Samuel Haughton, A. M.
Committee of Polite Literature.
Rey. William H. Drummond, D.D.; Rev. Charles W. Wall, D. D.; John Anster, LL. D.; Rev. Charles Graves, D. D.; Rey. Samuel Butcher, D. D.; Digby P. Starkey, Esq.; Rev. John H. Jellett, A. M.
Committee of Antiquities. George Petrie, LL. D.; Rev. James H. Todd, D. D.; J. Huband Smith, Esq., A. M.; Frederick W. Burton, Esq. ; Samuel Ferguson, Esq.; Aquilla Smith, M.D.; the Earl of
Dunraven.
The Rey. Humphrey Lloyd, D. D., having left the Chair, and John Anster, LL. D., V.P., having been called thereto,
Ir was ResoLveD UNANIMOUSLY,—That the most sin- cere and affectionate thanks of the Royal Irish Academy be, and that they are hereby presented, to their late President, the Rev. Humphrey Lloyd, D. D., for the dignity, diligence, and zeal, with which he has filled their chair, and otherwise attended to the interests of their body, during the last five years.
Sir William R. Hamilton communicated to the Academy a generalization of Pascal’s theorem, to which he had been led by the method of quaternions.
Equation of Homodeuterism: = (+ ABCDEF.GHIK)=0; ABCDEF = aconic function of a hexagon ; GHIK = volume of a pyramid.
Sir Wm. R. Hamilton proposes to give a more full expla-
nation of the nature of this equation of homodeuterism, and of
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what he calls the aconic function of a hexagon, at a future
. meeting of the Academy. The equation itself was exhibited
en ee ee eee ee
i - nl al
~ ~~,
by him to some scientific friends so long ago as the August and September of 1849; and also at the Meeting of the British Association, at Edinburgh, in 1850.
>
AprRIL 14Tn, 1851.
THOMAS ROMNEY ROBINSON, D.D., Presivent, in the Chair. Joun Barxer, M.B., and William Kelly, M.D., were elected Members of the Academy. George Petrie, LL. D., presented a specimen of a vitrified
font in the County of Derry. The President delivered an inaugural Address.
Ir was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY,—That the President be
| requested to allow his Address to be printed in the Proceedings.
The President’s Address was as follows:
GENTLEMEN,—It is my first duty to express my grateful ac- knowledgment of the honour which you have conferred on me; an honour high in the estimation of mankind, highest in mine. Other titles are attained most frequently by the accidents of posi- tion or birth; are even sometimes acquired by means which are positively degrading: they are occasionally the prizes of successful intrigue ; sometimes even the reward of crime. They are, there- fore, no accurate exponents of an individual’s superiority in that which constitutes the real nobility of man; their value is conven- tional, rated highest by the meanest minds, and negative, an actual dishonour, unless they be accompanied by the more sterling deco- rations of wisdom and virtue. But it is far otherwise with this. In naming me your chief, you have given me the first rank in a Soci- ety where all are noble; a Society whose franchise is based on per- sonal excellence, on moral worth, on intellectual superiority; whose
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guiding principles are the most exalted on which the human mind can rely, love of knowledge, sense of duty, reverence of truth! To be one of your number is itself a high distinction; how much ‘ higher to be chosen as your head! how much the highest to be so honoured in one’s own country !
Yet I cannot but feel, that in proportion to the dignity of such an office so are also the weight of its duties and the burden of its responsibility; which become still heavier when 1 compare myself with those who have preceded me in this proud station. Not to speak of the illustrious men who, in the earlier years of the Aca- demy, upheld it by their energy and prudence, and flung over its infant struggles the glory of their own fame, I cannot fail to re- member that I follow in immediate succession two of that great triad, who, in this latter time, have especially contributed to win for you that lofty position which you now hold in the realm of science. I know how painfully all here feel, that the third would as surely have filled the place which I now hold, had he been spared to pursue his brilliant career.
But though I may not compare myself to those mighty ones in achievements or power, there are qualities in which I yield neither to them nor to any, and on which, with your aid, I rely to preserve untarnished the sceptre which you have committed to my hand. The first is, devoted attachment to this Academy, which I have cherished and prized above the other scientific societies with which Iam connected, during a series of years equalling half the ordi- nary extent of human life. The second, love of Ireland; pride in all that reveals the value and exalts the renown of my country; in- tense interest in all that tends to develope the powers and dignify the character of my countrymen. To carry into active effect this sentiment, has been with me a guiding principle through life; and whenever I have had access to the ear of power, or in the ordi- nary intercourse of scientific and social life, to give it extension and enforcement has been a main motive of my exertion, the aim of my ambition. I love my countrymen, not merely because they are my countrymen, but because there is in them a rich endowment of noble qualities. Their faults are but too apparent; they lie on the surface, and so do the causes ofthem; but beneath we find anex-
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haustless treasure of kind and generous feelings; a deeply imagina- tive and poetic character, which elsewhere is fast disappearing under the influence of affected civilization and utilitarian philosophy, but without which nothing of transcendent excellence is ever ac- complished ; and lastly, an energy and acuteness of intellect not surpassed by any people in the world. Surely these are heavenly gifts, and ought to unfold into a glorious future! Whatever, there- fore, tends that way, whatever trains and guides these noble powers in their legitimate direction, or counteracts the deceptive influences that would make them instruments of evil, is a national blessing.
And such a thing I hold our Academy to be; not merely as an example and encouragement at home, or an evidence abroad of what we can perform, but because the habits which it requires of united exertion, of calm and dispassionate judgment, of steady and unvarying application, are among the most important elements of national happiness and glory. Without them the brightest quali- ties are a curse instead of a blessing.
It may, perhaps, be expected that I should now make some re- ference to those rich contributions which this Society has given to the treasury of knowledge; some estimate of their brilliancy and worth. This, for the present, I must decline; first, because it has already been admirably done on many occasions by my immediate predecessor ; and secondly, because the train of thought into which I have been led is so completely in unison with the anticipations by which the founders of the Academy seem to have been guided, that it may not be unprofitable to develope it more fully.
In the Preface to the first volume of our Transactions, all of which is well worthy of your attentive consideration, this passage occurs, among many others of similar import :—‘‘ Whatever tends by the cultivation of useful arts and sciences to improve and facilitate manufactures ; whatever tends by the elegance of polite literature to civilize the manners and refine the taste of the people ; whatever tends to awaken the spirit of literary ambition, by keeping alive the memory of its ancient reputation for learning, cannot but prove
of the greatest national advantage. To a wish to promote in these
important respects the advancement of knowledge in this kingdom, the Royal Irish Academy for Science, Polite Literature, and Aniiqui-
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ties, owes its establishment; and though the members who com- pose it are not entirely without hope that their efforts may become extensively useful, yet the original intent of the institution must be considered as confining their views, for the present, more imme- diately to Ireland. If their endeavours shall but serve to excite in their countrymen some sense of the dignity of mental exertion, if their exhortation and example shall be so far successful as to be- come the means of turning vacant thoughts to science and to utility, their labours are abundantly recompensed.”
You see they designed the Society which they were organizing to be an instrument of moral as well as intellectual cultivation ; and to this we owe our peculiar constitution, admirably suited to such a purpose, but having no exact counterpart in any scientific body with which I am acquainted. It stands almost alone in the extent of its objects. Others are limited in general to a single de- partment of inquiry, or even a small section of one: we have three, connected by no closer union than what exists between demonstra- tion, conjecture, and fancy. It might be thought, that they could scarcely be brought into any harmonious co-operation, and that there could be but little sympathy between those who cultivate them. It might be expected, that the archeologist could not take any very strong interest in scalars and vectors, or the transcendental geometrician in the half-obliterated legend of a battered coin, and that they would only agree in their contempt of Punic dialogue or Assyrian orthography. Our plan is also liable to these objec- tions, that polychrest machines seldom work well; that an object is best attained by undivided effort; and that the energy which, when confined in a single channel would be irresistible, is lost if you divide it into many streams. This opinion has latterly prevailed so far, as to induce philosophers, in many instances, to split into secondary societies those previously existing: it, however, seems to me to grow from a narrow and imperfect view of the subject. It is true that, in some respects, though not in all, the cultivation of particular branches of science may be benefited by this system of isolation; but there is ample ground for doubting whether it be equally beneficial to the cultivators. The mind that is restricted to some engrossing pursuit, and shut out from a wide range of
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thought and activity, cannot but suffer; for it seems to me that a variety of objects and employments is as essential to a healthy de- velopment of man’s intellectual powers, as a variety of food and exercise to those of his body. You may in the latter nourish par- ticular muscles to enormous strength, if you confine yourself to the exclusive and unremitting practice of some one kind of exertion; but you do it at the expense of the rest; they waste away, and the individual who is deformed by such disproportion can never be considered a perfect specimen of the human figure. And so is it also with the mind: it may indeed, by a concentration of its acti- vity on one object, acquire in respect of that an intensity of power ; but on the whole it loses: the balance of its powers is disturbed; the decay of those faculties which are left inert more than: com- pensates the partial vigour, and the result is far