Viii REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE the present year, reached to about 10,000 /.,
being a much greater sum than the Society required.
A sum of 150 /.
has been annually granted out of the Parliamentary Vote in aid of these exhibitions, and the Council have applied that this sum should be increased to 300 /.
4.
Museum of Natural History.
The Museum of Natural History owes its origin to an Act of the Irish Parliament (32 Geo.
3, c.
14), by which an extensive collection of specimens of Natural History, but chiefly of minerals, was purchased, and entrusted by the same authority to the Society, in whose hands, owing to the annual grants from Parliament, but mainly from private donations, the collection thus formed ex¬ panded into the present extensive Museum of Natural History.
For many years the Museum was in a very defective state, chiefly in conse¬ quence of insufficient accommodation.
In the year 1854, however, the Society obtained a grant from Parliament of 5,000/.
for the erection of a suitable building, on condition that the Society should raise from other sources a sum amounting to at least 2,500 /.
This condition the Society has more than ful¬ filled, having by its exertions raised for this object nearly 6,000 /,, which^ together with the sum voted by Parliament before referred to, and a further grant of 800 /.
for fittings, have been entirely expended.
The Museum is stiU unfinished, and cases for the reception of the specimens are necessary.
For these a sum of 4,500 /.
is estimated ; in reference to which the Treasury Com¬ missioners observe, lS that it is desirable that these funds should be provided," in order that the large "sum already expended may be turned to some useful " account, and that the deterioration of the articles stowed away in packing-" cases, or standing exposed in unaired rooms, may be arrested."
Vide Appendix.
The entire sum now available for the support of the Museum is 650 /.
The Council of the Society consider that a sum of 1,700 /.
is required fully to main* tain it.
5.
Botanic Garden.
The Botanic Garden was founded in the year 1790 by Act of Parliament (30-Geo.
3, c.
28), and money was voted to the Society for the purchase of the ground, and it has since been maintained by annual Parliamentary Grants.
The garden contains 43 statute acres, laid out most tastefully, and, considering the small amount available for its support, is creditably maintained.
Judging from the very large numbers who visit the gardens, especially on Sundays, Your Com¬ mittee infer that the garden is a highly popular department of the Society; and not only on this account, but considering its importance in a scientific and educational point of view, they consider it is deserving of liberal support.
The gardens are now open on four days in the week as well as Sundays, from half-past two o'clock in the afternoon, free; and on two days at 6 d.
for adults, and 3 d.
for children.
According to the Report of the Commissioners of 1862, a sum of 1^000/, for building a Museum of Economic Botany was recommended.
The Council of the Royal Dublin Society have since obtained, from the Archi¬ tect of the Hoard of Public Works in Ireland.,
a more accurate estimate of the cost of completing such a building, which is stated to amount to 3,000 /.
Owing to the extreme narrowness of the passages in the conservatories, great incon¬ venience has been felt by the large concourse of persons wdio now visit the gardens at one time.
As the only remedy for this evil is by doubling the houses, the Council also obtained an estimate from the same officer of the cost of the alteration, which amounts to 3,000 /.
The Council have also introduced an item under the head of Nursing and Propagating Houses, which are, in their opinion, necessary for the work of the garden; also one for rebuilding the dwelling-house of the Curator, which has been long since reported upon as being in a state beyond the possibility of sub¬ stantial repair, amounting to 700 /.
The doubling of the conservatories involves the necessity of the removal of +he rooms for the apprentices.,
and of building a new set of apartments, the
cost
