4 The Very Rev. H. R. Dawson on the 



their beauties, and detailed their intentions. Italy can point to Anthony Count 

 Caietani explaining the various works of the middle ages contained in the cabinets 

 of Mazzuchelli ; and to Venuti, Nobili, and Mollnet those of the Popes of Rome 

 are indebted for a great addition to these attractions. England can refer to the 

 works of Evelyn, Vertue, and Edwards noticing and illustrating the varied spe- 

 cimens of skill which have been produced by those artists whom the country 

 encouraged, and whose works have served to perpetuate the actions, good or 

 evil, of her devoted servants. I could refer to many other countries of Europe, 

 where the proud records of their fame have found studious chroniclers both with 

 pen and hand ; but no attempt has yet been made to record historically the 

 medals of Ireland ; and while some pains have enabled me to rescue the works of 

 her artificers from, I should say, undeserved oblivion, I venture to call the atten- 

 tion of the members of the Academy to some of the productions of the Irish 

 Coining Press, as well as to some medals connected with our country, and exe- 

 cuted by foreigi;! artists, in the expectation that their countenance may be the 

 means of eliciting some of the latent, and stimulating the neglected talents of 

 our countrymen. 



For some few years past I have been endeavouring to collect and arrange in 

 historical order the medals connected with this part of the United Kingdom ; and 

 though with considerable diffidence I present these brief notices of my researches 

 to you, (brief, because I find these records of our national deeds very few,) yet 

 I am not without hopes that they may excite some interest even amongst those 

 who have not hitherto turned their attention to this pursuit. I purpose, there- 

 fore, to offer you some notices of such medallists, and such designs, emanating 

 from their studla, as have fallen under my observation. I regret to say my ma- 

 terials are scanty, owing, I believe, mainly to this, that the country has not 

 hitherto fostered nor encouraged that beautiful branch of art. 



The earliest medal that I have met with, as connected with Ireland, is of the 

 time of Charles II. ; a small silver piece, of very beautiful execution, and I con- 

 sider it to be the work of some English or foreign artist, as both sides are 

 obviously taken from two medals which were struck to commemorate the mar- 

 riage of that Prince with Catherine of Portugal. It bears on the obverse a 

 figure of St. Catherine with her wheel, and the legend pietate insignis. The 

 reverse has Fame blowing a trumpet, and in her left hand she carries an olive 



