451 
thus showing that, even in spiritual administration, the ele- 
ment of clanship regulated the bestowal of authority, and 
that the election of the religious superior was subject, among 
the Irish, to qualifications of blood, similar to those which 
constituted eligibility to secular chieftainship.* 
Dr. Petrie stated, that in 1832 he had made an analysis 
of the monumental inscriptions at Clonmacnoise, which proved 
that the ecclesiastical successions at that Abbey were con- 
tinued amongst persons of the family of Malone for several 
hundred years. 
DONATIONS. 
1, A collection of twenty-nine heel-ball rubbings, taken 
by Mr. Du Noyer from monuments and inscriptions in different 
parts of Ireland. Presented by George Du Noyer, Esq. 
2. Three bronze brooches; four large beads; and an or- 
nament with pendants in silver, collected by Mr. Jennings at 
Mogadore, in Africa. Presented by Francis M. Jennings, Esq. 
The Secretary of the Academy read a letter from Mrs. 
Hitchcock, explaining that it was the last wish of her husband, 
the late Mr. Richard Hitchcock, that his books should be 
presented to the Royal Irish Academy. 
* The reader who is curious on this subject will find the question treated 
of in the Life of St. Columba, lately published by the Irish Archeological 
and Celtic Society, p. 342; where there is a Genealogical Table of the early 
abbots of Hy, constructed from the pedigrees in the Book of Lecan. 
