On January 10, 1833, Mr. Drewett was appointed Superintendent at a salary of £100 a year, with £20 per annum for house-rent, until such time as a house could be provided. The Society met on November 19 at Hunt’s Hotel, Dawson Street, and Dr. Whitley Stokes read the first report of the Committee of Management. It would appear that from the opening of the Gardens, September 1, 1831, up to November 1, 1832, 36,497 visitors had paid for admission. The Treasurer’s statement gave the following items:
| £ | s. | d. | |
| For subscriptions | 508 | 5 | 0 |
| Admissions (September 1, 1831, to November 1, 1832) | 912 | 8 | 10 |
| ———————— | |||
| 1,420 | 13 | 10 | |
| Entire expenses since the commencement | 1,331 | 9 | 9 |
| ———————— | |||
| Balance in Treasurer’s hands | 89 | 4 | 1 |
| ================ | |||
A list of the animals in the Gardens is also furnished. This includes forty-six mammals, of which fifteen were monkeys, seventy-two birds, and a few other animals.
Without question, the most important meeting of the Society since its foundation up to the present day was that which was held in Hunt’s Hotel, Dawson Street, on May 15, 1833. Mr. W. Tighe Hamilton, who had in the previous year given notice that he would propose a new code of laws for the government of the Society, again brought this matter forward. The keynote struck at that meeting was that the Zoological Society should be developed as a Scientific Society, and that its leading aim should be to stimulate a love of natural history amongst the people. A protracted and animated discussion took place on the new code of laws submitted to the Society. Captain Portlock, R.E., was elected Honorary Secretary in place of Dr. Stokes, who had opposed the new code of laws. The Surgeon-General, Mr. Philip Crampton, became the first President, and Mr. James Pim retained office as Treasurer.
It is pleasant to note that the Society showed its indebtedness to Mr. Vigors, and its appreciation of the high scientific reputation which he had earned, by electing him one of its first Vice-Presidents.
The code of laws which was passed in 1833 is the same as that which now regulates the affairs of the Society. In the course of the sixty-seven years which have elapsed since the code was adopted few alterations have been made, and for the most part they are of a trifling character. The laws, as originally adopted, rigidly limited the tenure of office of the President to one year. It is now competent for the Society, should it so desire it, to re-elect the President annually for a period of five years. Under the present regulations only three instead of five members of Council retire each year. Other slight changes have taken place in the laws since 1833, but it is not necessary to specify them.
We have noted that, on its institution, the Society was designated the Zoological Society of Dublin. It bore this name for eight years, and it was only after her late Majesty Queen Victoria graciously consented to become Patron that it assumed the title which it now bears.
A special feature in connection with the management of the affairs of the Zoological Gardens consists in the fact that the members of the Council take breakfast together each Saturday morning in the Gardens before proceeding to transact the weekly business. These breakfasts have become one of the social features of Dublin, and there cannot be a doubt that they exert a most important influence in advancing the interests of the Society. Not only do they promote good-fellowship amongst the members of the Council, but they have a remarkable effect in obtaining a regular attendance at the business meetings which follow. They are also recognised as a powerful agent in obtaining recruits for the Society. Curiously enough, it would appear that an impression has got abroad amongst some of those who are not acquainted with the management of the Zoological Gardens that the expense of these breakfasts is defrayed out of the funds of the Society. Such a conception is absolutely erroneous, and it may be well also to state that even the furniture of the room in which the breakfasts are held, and the table equipment, are the personal property of the members of the Council.
At least one anniversary dinner has taken place in the Gardens (in the summer of 1838). This dinner, held always in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Society, was continued for some years; but, except on the one occasion referred to, it appears to have been held in an hotel.
In having no salaried officers outside those actually engaged in the Gardens, the Zoological Society of Ireland differs from most, if not all, kindred societies.