The Royal Dublin Society for the improvement of husbandry, manu factures, and other useful arts and sciences, was founded in 1731, and incorporated by royal charter in 1749. It possesses a valuable museum of natural history; an agricultural museum ; an excellent library; a museum of sculpture, casts, &c. From its establishment, we believe, it has had its schools of painting, sculpture, and the fine arts, from which many of the beat native artists have proceeded. It has also a good chemical laboratory ; and a convenient theatre for the delivery of lectures. The Botanic Gardens at Glassnevin belong to the Society, and the Zoological Gardens, Phoenix Park, are in connection with it. Though amalgamated with the Department of Science and Art, the Society is conducted wholly by its own council, the duties of the department being confined to supervision and suggestion.
The Museum of Irish Industry was established by the government in 1845, and placed under the direction of Sir Robert Kane, so honour ably for investigations in connection with the industrial pursuits of Ireland. In object, the Museum of Irish Industry resembles pretty closely the London Museum of Practical Geology, but takes a somewhat wider and more diversified range. It has a staff of professors who lecture in the theatre of the Royal Dublin Society ; the professors, since the union with the Department of Science and Art, being common to the two institutions. The system of lectures, which has some pecu liarities, is an extension of that previously adopted by the Royal Dublin Society. Short courses are given during the day, chiefly to the upper classes; and other courses are given in the evenings, chiefly to the sons and assistants of persons engaged in trade, and to artisans. Exami nations take place at the end of every course, when prizes are awarded to the more successful students, and a geuelal competitive examination is held at the end of every year. In addition to this, lecturers on science are sent to the provincial towns, and local examinations take place at stated periods in connection with their instruction.
The institutions which were united to form the Department of Science and Art, it will have been noticed, all belonged to England and Ireland. But in 1S54 the necessary steps were taken for the formation of an Industrial Museum for Scotland, similar to those of London and Dul lin. A site was purchased by the government near the University of Edinburgh for the building; and the museum belonging to the town-council, and the valuable collection of models, minerals, &c., of the highland Society were transferred to the Crown, and thus an excel lent basis was obtained for the proposed museum. The museum was -placed under the direction of Dr. George Wilson, through whose zealous exertions singularly rapid progress was made in forming the collections, which at his death, in November, 1859, already numbered upwards of 10,300 specimens. A Museum of Natural History, Edin burgh, has also been formed in connection with the Department of Science and Art. A building is now in course of erection which is intended to contain both these museums.
Originally the Department of Science and Art was constituted a section of the Board of Trade, but in February, 1856, it was, by an order in council, transferred to the Committee of Privy Council on Education. Of that committee it now forms a distinct division : its
functions having reference to the secondary instruction of all classes of the community in those principles of art and science which conduce to the industrial interests of the country, while the functions of the other division of the Committee of Education refer to the primary instruction of the young ; the two divisions being kept entirely unconnected. The Department itself consists of two sections—a School of Science, with its connected museums and affiliated institutions, having its head quarters at Jermyn Street ; and a School of Art, with its various col lections and associated schools, having its head-quarters at South Kensington, where also are the offices of the Department. The sum voted for the Department of Science and Art in 1860 was 94,9511., being an increase of 11,709/. over the previous year, and more than .double the sum voted for the several institutions prior to their con It remeine to notice shortly the present position of the two sections of the Department. The Metropolitan School of Science, applied to mining and the arts, has, in the words of the official prospectus, " for its chief object. and distinctive character (to which everything else is ,subsidiary), to give a practical direction to the course of scientific study." And the course of instruction which is imparted to the etudent, while it does not profess to qualify him to undertake the direction of mining or other technical operations, is intended in com bination with future training, to "render him in the highest degree competent, not only to engage in any special branch of industry, but to promote its further development." The institution is under the general supervision of a director, Sir It. 1. Murchison, the eminent geologist, who succeeded the late Sir If. T. de la Beebe, and the instruc tion is given by professors of chemistry, natural history, applied to geology, physical science, applied to mechanics and mechanical drawing, metallurgy, geology, and mining and mineralogy, each men of the highest standing in their respective departments. The 'mode of instruction is by lectures, by written and oral examinations, by practical teaching in the laboratories and drawing office, and by field surveying and geological and natural history excursions. The field of study is separated into--a general division, for those who desire a general knowledge of science; a mining and metallurgical division ; a technical division, for those who propose to engage in arts or manufactures depending chiefly either on chemical or on mechanical principles. For each of these divisions the course of study extends over two years, of three terms in each. Students must be at least 16 years of age on admission. Several exhibitions have been founded, to be competed for by matriculated students. The lectures are open to occasional or non matriculated students, on payment of a somewhat higher fee ; and special short courses of evening lectures, at an extremely low fee, are given every session to working men only, and are attended always by as large a number (600) of diligent students of that class as the theatre will accommodate.