QUEEN'S COLLEGE,

BELFAST.

FOUNDATION AND CONSTITUTION.

THE College is a Corporation under the name and style of "THE PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, AND PROFESSORS OF QUEEN'S COLLEGE, BELFAST," It was founded under the provisions of the Act 8 and 9 Victoria, cap. 66, intituled "An Act to enable her Majesty to endow new Colleges for the Advancement of Learning in Ireland." Under the powers given by this Act, it was determined to found three Colleges, Belfast, Cork, and Galway were selected as the sites of these Colleges; and on the 30th day of December, 1845, letters patent were issued, incorporating them, and appointing the Reverend Pooley Shuldham Henry, D.D. President, and Thomas Andrews, Esq. M.D. Vice-President of Queen's College, Belfast; Robert Kane, Esq. (now Sir Robert Kane) M.D. President, and John Ryall, Esq. LL.D. Vice-President of Queen's College, Cork; and the Very Rev. William Kirwan, D.D. President, and Edward Berwick, Esq.Vice-President of Queen's College, Galway.* The Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the three Colleges were formed into a Board called "The Board of Queen's

* In the end of 1849, the Very Rev. Dr. Kirwan died, and early in 1850, the Vice-President, Edward Berwick, Esq. was promoted to the Presidentship of Galway College, the Rev. Dr. O'Toole being at the same time appointed Vice-President.

A

Colleges," for the purpose of drawing up the statutes and arranging the system of education to be pursued in them. This Board met frequently in Dublin during the years 1846, 1847, 1848, and 1849.

On the 4th of August, 1849, the Professors were appointed, and the Colleges opened for the reception of students on the 30th of October, in the same year.

Letters patent, constituting the statutes, were issued on the 11th of December, 1849.

ANNO OCTAVO ET NONO

VICTORIE REGINE.

CAP. LXVI.

An Act to enable Her Majesty to endow new Colleges for the Advancement of Learning in Ireland.

66

"FOR

[31st July, 1845.

OR the better Advancement of Learning among all Classes of Her Majesty's Subjects in Ireland," be it enacted by the Queen's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That in case Her Majesty shall be pleased by Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Ireland, to found one or more new Colleges for the advancement of learning in Ireland, the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for the time being shall be empowered, by Warrant under the hands of any three or more of them, to charge the Consolidated Fund of the said United Kingdom (after providing for all preceding charges, and in preference to all future charges), and to direct to be issued or paid thereout, such sum of money as shall be needed by the trustees hereinafter-mentioned for purchasing or providing lands, tenements, and hereditaments for the use of such College or Colleges, and for the necessary buildings, with the appurtenances thereof, and for establishing and furnishing the same, not exceeding the sum of one hundred thousand pounds in the whole,

II. And be it enacted, That the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland for the time being shall be Trustees for the purpose of purchasing or providing, as hereinafter mentioned, any buildings, lands, tenements, or hereditaments that may be necessary for the said Colleges and the sites thereof, and the premises to be occupied therewith, respectively, and for erecting thereon suitable buildings, and for repairing, enlarging, and improving the same from time to time, and for upholding and furnishing the same from time to time, for the use of the said Colleges, respectively.

III. And be it enacted, That for the purposes of this Act the said Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland for the time being, and their successors, shall be a Corporation by the name or style of "The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland," and by that name, for the purposes of this Act, shall have perpetual succession and a Common Seal, to be by them made, and from time to time altered, as they shall think fit, and shall and may sue and be sued, plead or be impleaded, in all Courts and before all Justices and others, and in that capacity shall be deemed promoters of the undertaking authorised to be executed by this Act.

IV. And be it enacted, That in order to enable the said Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland to purchase and provide the buildings, lands, tenements, and hereditaments which may be required for the said Colleges and the sites thereof, it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners, with the approval of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, to contract and agree with any person or persons, or body or bodies corporate, for the purchase or renting of any buildings, lands, tenements, or hereditaments required for such Colleges or the sites thereof, and also for the purchase of any subsisting leases, terms, estates, or interests therein, or charges thereon; and the buildings, lands, tenements, or hereditaments so contracted and agreed for shall be conveyed, assigned, or demised to or in trust for Her Majesty, Her heirs and successors, in such manner and form as the said Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury shall direct.

V. And be it enacted, That the "Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845" shall be incorporated with this Act,

except the clauses with respect to the purchase and taking of lands otherwise than by agreement: Provided always that all things by the said Act required or authorised to be done by the promoters of the undertaking may be done by any two of the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, subject to the approval of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury in the cases provided by this Act.

VI. And be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners of Public Works, if they shall be so directed by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, to employ the County Surveyor, or any other competent surveyor or architect, to make a survey and estimate of any of the said proposed works, and to prepare such plan, section, or specification thereof as may be necessary, and send the same to the Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury for their approval; and if the said Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury shall think fit to authorise the work in any such plan, section, or specification, or any modification thereof which they may think proper, to be undertaken, they shall, by warrant under their hands, direct the said Commissioners of Public Works to execute such work at and for an amount not exceeding a sum to be specified in such warrant; and the said Commissioners of Public Works shall, upon receipt of such warrant, forthwith cause the construction of the work mentioned therein to be proceeded with.

VII. And be it enacted, That the said Commissioners of Public Works shall cause detailed accounts in writing of their proceedings under this Act, of the several sums received by them as such Commissioners for the purposes of this Act, and of the sums expended by them for such purposes, and the mode of such expenditure, and the several works made or in progress under this Act, to be made up to the 31st day of December in each year; and such accounts shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament within six weeks thereafter, if Parliament be then sitting, or if not, then within six weeks after the first meeting of Parliament subsequent to the 31st day of December; and the said Commissioners shall, as often as they shall be required so to do by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, transmit to the said Commissioners of the Treasury like accounts made up to such period as the said Commissioners