25th July.-A donation was granted by the Society, of £200, to the orphans of the Rev. Burke Cuppage, deceased. 4th November.*-It was resolved, that an application for renewals must be made by the tenants, within three months after the expiration of the first seven years; the fines and fees not to be accepted after that period: the endorsement of a receipt by the general agent, was to be considered equivalent to a renewal.

1776.-A correspondence took place between the Society and Mr. Jackson and Mr. Thompson, on the subject of the Coleraine Corporation holdings, citadel, wastes, &c. which were particularly described, and the value estimated.

28th January, 1778.-Mr. Thomas Tomkins made a transcript of the Society's charter, for the use of the Society, who paid him two hundred and fifty guineas for the work.

1781.-A correspondence took place in regard to a proposition made to the Society, for inclosing part of the strand at Derry. A memorial, and several letters, were sent by the Corporation of Derry on the subject; a plan of the strand proposed to be embanked was delineated. A report was made on the memorial of the Corporation, wherein the Committee reprehended them for making encroachments at the Ship Quay.

* The Court and Minute Books from this period, for ten successive years, appear to be lost to the Society by fire. The proceedings of the Society, however, during this interval, are capable of illustration from the loose miscellaneous papers, consisting of agents' correspondence, law proceedings, and bills; treasurers' accounts, orders of Common Council, appointing Societies, &c. and the book of treasurer's accounts, which is regularly entered up. This is the only chasm in the Society's journals since the last charter of incorporation, and from a minute investigation of the various documents, the Society do not appear to have sustained any considerable injury by the loss of such journals, no circumstances having arisen which involved or affected any of their rights, but what are capable of explanation.

4th June.—The Londonderry Association was established for the defence of the country, and for which they received the approbation of the legislature. The following is a copy of the communication they received on the subject.

"To the Volunteer Corps in the City and County of Londonderry.

"GENTLEMEN,

"Castletown, 6th November, 1779.

"The late distress in my family prevented me from doing my duty to the volunteers of the city and county of Londonderry, in transmitting them sooner the thanks of the House of Lords, which I now do; and hope that they will think that I should have particular pleasure in doing it in person, if my duty in Parliament did not prevent me; and, likewise, in communicating to them the thanks and approbation of the House of Commons, for their spirited exertions in defence of their country at this period.

"I am, Gentlemen, &c.

"THOMAS CONOLLY.

"Die Jovis, 14° Octobris, 1779.

"Resolved, by the Lords spiritual and temporal, in Parliament assembled, that the thanks of this House be given to the different Volunteer Corps in this kingdom, for their spirited and (at this time) necessary exertions in its defence. "W. W. GAYER, "EDWARD GAYER, S

Clerks of Parliament.

"15th November, 1779.

“SIR,

"Above, you have the thanks of the Houses of Lords and Commons, which we have a particular pleasure

in forwarding to you.

"We have the honour to be, &c.

"DAVID ROSs,

"WILLIAM SWETTENHAM, Sheriffs."

K

24th April, 1780.-A letter was received from the Secretary of the Association, of which the following is a copy:

" SIR,

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By an order of the Committee for managing the affairs of the Londonderry Association, I am desired to request that you will be so kind as to lay the inclosed address before the Society, proprietors of this place, in hopes that they will contribute to the Association; and am, also, desired to request, that you will please to transmit, as soon as possible, their answer to your's, &c.

"WILLIAM PATTERSON.

"Resolved, That the following Address of this Committee to the public shall be printed.

"At a time of national danger and national calamity, the volunteers of Ireland, in the virtuous and manly character of citizen and soldier, stepped forth to preserve their country. They have, we behold, with heartfelt pleasure, been, in a great degree, crowned with that success which their laudable and judicious exertions merit. Their truly patriotic associations, cherished by the legislature of the kingdom, have prevented foreign invasion, stifled domestic tumult, and made no small progress in the acquirement of civil liberty. A state ardently to be wished for, on account of its natural attendants, affluence and happiness.

66

Among these associations, the volunteer corps of Derry hold a high and conspicuous situation. They early perceived the wants of their country, and, like their volunteer brethren, generously and liberally assisted her with their persons and their purses. To this salutary assistance, every neighbouring individual and proprietor are particularly indebted, for the enjoyment of their possessions in peace and security. It sems, therefore, agreeable to the dictates of reason, justice, and equity, to conclude, that every non-associated person,

power,

thus protected, ought to contribute, as much as in his to so useful and glorious an undertaking. Influenced by those just principles, the Committee of the Londonderry Battalion declare it to be a duty which they owe to their country, to solicit personal and pecuniary assistance from every residenter in the city and liberties of Derry, and from every non-residenter who has property therein, who have not yet contributed to the Associations. To this solicitation, the Committee are the more strongly urged, by perceiving that much still remains to be done; that now is the moment for doing it; and that a considerable expense must be unavoidably incurred in the performance. "For these cogent reasons, it is hoped and intreated, that every friend to his country will no longer hesitate to bestow his services or contributions.

66

Signed by order,

"WILLIAM PATTERSON, Secretary."

23d May, 1781.-The Society contributed £100 towards the Association.

22d March, 1782.-A memorial was sent to the Society by the Corporation of Coleraine, for removing obstructions on the river Bann, and improving the navigation. Letters and proposals were received relative thereto.

23d November, 1784.-A report was made by the Committee, on a memorial presented by the rector of Coleraine, relative to dilapidations, repairs, and an increase of glebe land.

30th December.-The Committee recommended a lease to be granted to the Corporation of Londonderry, for twenty-one years, renewable septennially, of part of the strand of Lough Foyle, proposed to be embanked, from the Old Wharf and Quay, and the road or street from Inishowen to Butcher's Gate. 14th Jannary, 1785.*-It was declared to be the invariable

* About this time, a fire happened at Guildhall, by which part of the Irish Chamber was consumed, and many of the records burnt and damaged.

rule and practice of the Society, not to grant any new leases, till the old ones were surrendered up.

17th January.—Alderman Alsop, the Governor, resigned. 18th February.-Brass Crosby, Esq. was Governor.

7th December. The Society applied to the Committee of City lands, for leave to repair the Irish Chamber. The plan was submitted to the Common Council.

20th December.—The muniments and records of the Society were removed to the Chamberlain's office, in the presence of several members, to remain there during the repairs.

22 February, 1786.-The Right Honourable Thomas in 1768 Harley, Lord Mayor, was on the Society.

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4th April, and 29th June. The books and papers rescued from the late fire, were ordered to be examined and arranged, and a list to be made.*

8th June. The Society assented to the proposition for erecting a bridge at Londonderry, over the river Lough Foyle.

26th January, 1787.—The Governor was requested to sit for his portrait, to be executed by Mr. Thomas Hardy, and placed in the Irish Chamber.

7th February. The Commissioners of the Lottery applied for the use of the Irish Chamber, during the drawing, but were refused.

18th May.-Counsel were consulted, on the steps necessary to be taken, to defend the right of the Society to their fishery in the river Bann.

9th April, 1788.-The Committee made a report as to what

* This important work was very negligently performed. No care was taken to investigate the burnt fragments. They were pronounced ⚫ useless, and thrown together in a mass, and deposited in that state under more than half a ton of rubbish, consisting of City records burnt to crusts, still remaining in the recesses of the Irish Chamber. Both the lists made of the records in 1774 before the fire, and in 1786 after it, are inaccurate.