Address of the President. 25 



King, for it must be trcasurc-tYoxe " (Coke, Inst. iii. 

 p. 132). 



Or it may be otlierwise put : — 1. The Crown claims all 

 silver and gold ; 2. The finder all other relics. But what- 

 ever be the reading, all jeivels, glass, i^ottcry, jwrcclaiii, etc. 

 etc. are excluded. 



The directions of Sir G. Grey to the police in 1860, and 

 their interference in consequence, has done great harm, and 

 to it the concealment of various pieces may be attributed. 

 The value of these articles cannot be overrated. Whether 

 old deeds or writings, utensils, ornaments, or coins, etc., they 

 constitute the old history of our country, and give us the 

 details of manners and customs long gone by ; for, notwith- 

 standing the advance of civilisation, there is yet much to 

 learn in studying any ancient people, and we may gather 

 many tilings from their primitive customs, simple virtues, 

 rude manufactures, and modes of government. 



It is right and expedient that there should be some public 

 collection where such relics may be j)reserved, and where 

 they can be easily referred to ; but I must say that I should 

 gi'udge to see all the old relics of Scotland transferred to the 

 British Museum, useful as that great institution is. These 

 public museums, even the British, were at one time very 

 badly managed, and anything getting into them might have 

 been said to have been consigned to oblivion. Now it is 

 different. 



In Edinburgh the Society of Antiquaries is an excellent 

 institution, and their collection, in charge of Mr. Maccidloch, 

 is in good order, and the specimens can be at once referred to. 

 I have received great assistance here in making out some of 

 the relies which have come into possession of our members 

 since this Society was constituted, and any one calling there 

 will receive every assistance and information. Scotch 

 antiquities that cannot find a resting-place elsewhere should 

 be sent to Mr. MaccuUoch. 



