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 appointed Professor of National Economics in the National University. In 1910 he resigned his seat in Parliament, as he found it impossible to combine the duties of Professor and Member. It was a whole-time professorship and, further, the subject was almost a unique one, and had practically no text-books. It was therefore necessary for him to devote all his energies, for some years at any rate, to his work in the University. This he did whole-heartedly, as Economics had always attracted him; he regarded it as one of the most important branches of study in the University. He thought that Ireland was in special need of trained economists. In his own words, he set himself to "formulate an economic idea fitted to express the self-realisation of a nation which is resolute to realise itself." He did not wish either that Economics should be regarded as a dismal science. Writing of Geography, he says, "Geography is a prudent science, but one day she will take risks—even the risk of being interesting." That risk Economics, in his keeping, certainly adventured. "The Science of Economics is commonly held to be lamentably arid and dismal. If that is your experience blame the Economists, for the slice of life with which Economics has to deal vibrates and, so to say, bleeds with actuality. All science, all exploration, all history in its material factors, the whole epic of man's effort to subdue the earth