251 
Monpay, JuNE 257TH, 1855. 
THOMAS ROMNEY ROBINSON, D.D., Presipent, 
in the Chair. 
His Excetitency THe Haru oF Caruisie, Lord Lieute- 
nant, attended the meeting. 
On the recommendation of the Council, it was Resolved 
to place £50 at the disposal of the Council, for the purchase 
of Antiquities. 
George Petrie, LL.D., read an account of the ancient 
shrine or cover of the Gospels of St. Molaise. 
J. F. Waller, LL.D., read a paper on the revival of Ita- 
lian literature in the fourteenth century, especially in relation 
to Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio. 
Robert Mallet, Esq., read a paper on the bursting of ord- 
nance when firing heated shot. 
The Rev. Dr. Todd read the following paper by the Rey. 
Dr. Hincks on certain animals mentioned in the Assyrian in- 
scriptions :— 
«« It may be questioned whether there be any two branches 
of human knowledge between which it would be safe to say 
_ that no connecting link could possibly exist. It is, at all 
events, certain, that studies which appear at the first glance 
to have nothing in common, have been often found capable of 
rendering valuable assistance to one another. And it is no 
small advantage that a society like the Royal Irish Academy 
possesses, the meetings of which are attended by persons 
who are engaged in all manner of dissimilar investigations, 
