COUNCIL FOR 1855. 9 



was not furnished with any printed Guide, to explain its 

 general arrangement, and to point out those ohjects of special 

 interest with which it abounds. A Catalogue of a collection so 

 extensive and so varied, however valuable for scientific pur- 

 poses, would be too bulky for general use ; but the Council 

 believe that it is practicable to include within the compass of a 

 Manual, a large amount of valuable information. Such a 

 Manual the Keeper of the Museum has kindly undertaken to 

 prepare, in conjunction with the Curators of the different 

 departments, and the Council hope that it vrill be printed when 

 that season of the year arrives, which usually brings an increase 

 of visitors to the Museum. 



To the department of Antiquities few additions have been 

 made during the past year. Some coins have been added to 

 the cabinet by Members of the Society, but none of such a 

 character as to require particular notice. From Lawrence 

 Williams, Esq., of Pule Hill Hall, have been received the 

 mummy of an ibis and some portions of a human mummy. 

 From Lady Frankland Russell and the Yorkshire Antiquarian 

 Club, the imibo of a shield and the head of a lance, with some 

 remains of Roman and Saxon pottery, found in a tumulus at 

 Sowerby, near Thirsk. To Mr. Thomas, of York, the Society 

 is indebted for the donation of a Roman leaden cofiin, lately 

 discovered in his brickyard in Layerthorpe, near the spot in 

 which, a few years ago, a Roman stone coffin was found, now 

 in the possession of the Society, with other Roman remains. 

 It lay seven feet below the surface, and from the nails and 

 fragments of wood found with it, appears to have been enclosed 

 in a coffin of that material. It is 5 feet 6 inches long and very 

 narrow, containing a skeleton, at present enveloped in mud, 

 supposed to be that of a young person. It has a leaden lid, 

 but there is no soldering nor any inscription or ornament in 

 any part of it. 



In compliance with the request presented to him by the 

 Council of the Society, George J. Jarratt, Esq., of Doncaster, 

 has deposited in the Museum the Roman altar, dedicated to 

 the Dese Matres, found at that place in 1781. It bears an 

 inscription which may be read without difficulty, but the 



