§ LORD TALBOT DE MALAHIDEsaid, that last year a Commission was issued to inquire into the working of the Royal Dublin Society and other institutions. In several of the suggestions made by that Commission he fully concurred; but one of them—that the Royal Irish Academy should be placed under the control of the Royal Dublin Society—had given rise to a great deal of complaint among those connected with the former establishment. The Royal Irish Academy had existed for a great number of years, its object being partly of a scientific and partly of a literary character, and it had highly distinguished itself in both characters. The Royal Dublin Society was formed for the purpose of advancing the industrial interests of Ireland, and it had done much to improve its agriculture. Hitherto no antagonism had arisen between the two Societies, their objects being distinct; and as there existed among scientific and literary men a considerable amount—not of quarrelsomeness, but of biliousness—no step should be taken which would be likely to irritate them. He asked, therefore, the noble Earl the President of the Council, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to carry out the Recommendation of the Commissioners on the System of Scientific Instruction in Ireland, to affiliate the Royal Irish Academy to the Royal Dublin Society, and to place it under the control of that body?
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, that in a very able Report which had been made by these Commissioners last year the suggestion alluded to had been made. At the same time, the Government, having heard from the Lord Lieutenant reasons why it was not desirable to adopt that suggestion, had determined not to carry out this portion of the Report.