HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S ROOMS.

307

by possibility be repeated, the real friends of this very interesting and useful society have every hope and confidence, that past experience, and consequently those just and rational views of the true position which it should maintain in the University, will be a sufficient guarantee against any recurrence of those mistakes by which its utility was checked, and its very existence long held in abeyance. We use this term advisedly, for it appears that, although twice under the ban of college authority, it always preserved a real existence, as we find by the speeches delivered at the openings and closings of various sessions, which have come into our hands occasionally. (The society had chambers out of College.) We very much regret not being able to obtain copies of all those orations, but from those which we have seen, we are decidedly of opinion, that the true spirit of practical improvement in history, poetry, and oratory, which characterized the Historical Society in its most palmy days, has always, like the "sacred fire," been

a

Only two of those publications are now in the author's hands, namely, that of W. Archer Butler, delivered at the closing of the session of 1834-5; and that of William Ribton, on opening the session 1835-6; both these were justly honoured by the thanks of the society.

b The author had several of these speeches, but having lent the greater part of them, has not the advantage of them at present. He greatly regrets that one of these publications, a debate on the propriety of abolishing the punishment of death, has got out of his hands; it was sent to him as "Secretary to the Society for Diffusing Information on the Criminal Code." The debate was a most interesting one, and displayed the true spirit of justice combined with humanity.

Well aware of the capabilities and integrity of the judges to whose examination their works were to be submitted, the members would not venture to deliver a hasty speech, or produce a composition not maturely considered. Their close reading and examination of all the available authorities, gave them habits of industry; it extended their knowledge whilst it concentrated their ideas; it drew them from the paths of unmeaning levity and enervating pleasure, to those of quiet mental exertion and invigorating knowledge. Within this sanctuary were developed and exercised the early efforts of talent that in mature years have shone conspicuous in the senate, the pulpit, at the bar, and in the field of military renown, as the names of Magee, Moore, Wellington, Spencer, Hutchinson, Plunket, Curran, Doyle, Donoghmore, Wellesley, Bushe, and others fully testify.

308

PARLIAMENT SQUARE.

kept alive-nourished, unquestionably, by the remem

brance of

"the mighty dead,

That rule us from their urns."

Transferred, therefore, as this noble and ennobling spirit will be, into the renovated system of the society, we cannot hesitate to believe, that it will prepare and send forth into public life numerous men of cultivated talents, who will prove themselves to be the legitimate and worthy successors of "the great departed," whom they so wisely emulate, and whose memories are enrolled amongst the imperishable records of Fame.

SECTION II.

When the old Chapel and Hall were taken down in 1796, a large space which they occupied was left open in the range of brick buildings parallel to the front, and which separated the Parliament Square from the Library Square. In this space it was intended to erect a triumphal arch of the Doric order, with side passages. This arch was to have supported a square tower with four circular-headed windows, ornamented with Corinthian columns and pilasters surmounted by colossal urns. In this tower was to have been placed the great bell, (which is considered to be the finest in Ireland,) and the clock. The whole edifice was to have been finished with a lofty obelisk of an octagonal form; but this design is quite given up.

The old Library Square has merged in the Parliament Square; it was 270 feet long by 220 feet broad, bounded on three sides by brick buildings, except the opening above mentioned: the south side was formed by the north face of the library. The brick buildings in this square were eighteen in number, capable of accommodating sixteen pupils each: at No. 32, were the rooms which Dodwell and afterwards Oliver Goldsmith occupied. These have recently been pulled

a A set of chambers in this building was allotted to the late Sydney Taylor, and George Downes, on their obtaining the foundation scholarships; and in these chambers were wont to assemble of an

LIBRARY BUILDINGS.

309

down and entirely removed; other buildings, however, and in an elegant taste, have been erected in the park to accommodate the pupils.

The Library.-This fine edifice was opened in 1732, having been about twenty years in building; its basement story, except the pavilion at each end, is a piazza, or arcade, open to the north and south, but divided longitudinally by a wall, which materially assists in supporting the immense weight of books in the great room. In this wall is a door to admit the fellows into their garden and promenade, on the south side; the piazza on the north being only for the pupils. The walls of this building are of solid brickwork, four feet thick, faced originally, except the piers of the piazza, with well cut sand-stone, which, though perfect in some parts, had suffered so much in general from the action of the weather, that the whole of it (with the balustrading above the cornice) was removed and replaced by a new ashlaring of granite, of a fine hard texture. The balustrade was renewed with a similar kind of stone. The piers and arches of the piazza are faced with a black building stone, called calpe, found a little to the westward of Dublin. On this, though exposed more than 110 years, there is not the slightest indication of decay. The plan of the building is simple, being merely an extended centre terminating at each end in a projecting pavilion, in the same taste. The lower part of the eastern pavilion is composed of two large apartments, called the Astromony and Natural Philosophy Schools, being appropriated to the lectures on these two sciences. The lower part of the western pavilion is occupied by the

evening the late Rev. Charles Wolfe, author of the poem on the death of Sir John Moore, &c., the Rev. Samuela and the Rev. Mortimer O'Sullivan, Dr. Dickenson, late Bishop of Meath, A. Russel, (Archdeacon of Clogher,) G. A. Grierson, LL.D. and other "premium men," to enjoy the feast of reason and the flow of soul, and certainly nothing in college life could be more delightful: wit, learning, and good humour were the characteristics of those social parties.

a Author of the work "On Divine Providence."

b Master of Ardmagh School, and an eminent preacher (now D.D.).