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Read February 22nd, 1918, This paper naturally divides itself into three sections:? (1) The financial steps taken at the outbreak of war; (2) The methods by which the expenditure of the war have been met; and (3) Some observations upon the facts set forth in the preceding sections.

Read 16th April, 1855, The present war has already taught two important lessons. It has shown how vain were the expectations of those who had flattered themselves that the principal nations of Europe had grown too wise to appeal to the sword as the abiter of their differences; and it has also demonstrated that, much as we condemned our ancestors for contracting national debts, and leaving us to pay the interest until we choose to redeem the principal, we are quite ready to imitate their conduct when the choice lies between ourselves and posterity. These are lessons which ought not to be forgotten, and which I trust we may profit by when peace returns.

Read Wednesday, 16th March, 1864, My attention has been directed to the "Report of the Special Committee of the Municipal Council of Dublin on the state of the Public Accounts between Ireland and Great Britain," and I design to lay before you the results of a careful examination to which I have subjected that Report. I take all the figures there stated as correct; but I believe I can show that they do not support the inference which the Committee have drawn from them.

Read December 17th, 1855, The embarkation of England in a war; the failure of the anticipations at first indulged in by some parties, that this contest could be carried on out of the revenue of the country; the recent addition of sixteen millions to the national debt, and the probability of its progressive augmentation during every year of the continuation of hostilities, all tend to impart interest to the question, whether any means should be taken to provide for the reduction or ultimate extinction of the debts incurred in the prosecution of past and present wars ; and if so, by what means this object can best be effected.

Read before the Society, 28 November 1958, Since the establishment of the State the annual Finance Accounts have contained statements of the liabilities and assets of the Exchequer. These statements have shown a growing but unexplained excess of liabilities over assets and they have been in some respects incomplete. It has long been felt that this annual account was not sufficiently informative or scientific and should be supplemented, if not, indeed, replaced by a statement in the form of a balance sheet which would explain fully how borrowed moneys have been applied. The main purpose of this paper is to set out the basis adopted in the preparation of that Balance Sheet, and to give some information on the principal items which appear in it.